Older Americans Want To Travel More, But the Industry Is Leaving Them Behind, New Luggage Forward Survey Reveals

New survey finds that airports’ physical barriers, like long walks between gates and carrying heavy luggage, can make older travelers feel like an afterthought

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Older Americans aren't ready to slow down on travel. Luggage Forward, the exclusive luggage delivery provider for many of the world's leading travel brands, today announced findings from its 2026 Travel + Health Trends for Older Americans survey, revealing that 78% of respondents view travel as genuinely good for healthy aging. But while they have the time and money to travel, physical barriers throughout the travel experience are making 23% feel the industry treats them as an afterthought, with 21% even saying airport and luggage logistics have already reduced how often and how far they travel.

Older Americans are still traveling, and want to do more

Gathering insights from over 1,000 U.S. citizens, aged 55+, the survey found that travel remains a priority for this group. Nearly 90% of older Americans take at least one to two trips per year, with one-third traveling three to five times annually. Seventy percent say they travel the same amount or more than they did five years ago, driven by having more time (62%), more money (46%) and a desire to spend time with family (44%). For those opting out of international travel, rising costs are the biggest deterrent, cited by 52%.

When planning trips, rest, relaxation and rejuvenation rank as the top travel philosophy among 59% of respondents, followed by visiting family and staying connected to loved ones (55%). As they age, 41% say they want to travel as much as they can while they're still able.

Travel may be the fountain of youth for older travelers

For many older Americans, travel helps 29% maintain an active, connected lifestyle. Nearly half (49%) say travel makes them feel healthier, and 39% say it makes them feel younger.

That motivation continues even after the trip. More than one-third (39%) of respondents say they sustain their fitness year-round specifically because they want to be able to keep up while traveling. Another 33% prioritize rest and recovery between trips to maintain their travel stamina.

Older Americans want to keep moving; airports can make it hard

Despite the health benefits and their enthusiasm for travel, older Americans encounter physical hurdles long before reaching their destination. Airports are a particular pain point: 37% struggle with long walks between gates, 31% find lengthy check-in and security lines taxing, and 24% have difficulty lifting and carrying heavy luggage. Another 19% experience pain or fatigue simply navigating large airports, while 46% say their health at least moderately impacts how they plan their trips.

These challenges aren't necessarily stopping them. Only 27% have canceled or skipped a trip because of health or physical limitations, and just 11% have forgone a trip because they feared they wouldn't be able to physically keep up. More than half (54%) say they rarely or never let their health factor into their travel decisions at all.

Those that do are adapting how they travel. Thirty-seven percent check bags despite frustration with baggage fees, choosing convenience over cost. Among those who have used a luggage shipping service, 36% say avoiding the physical effort of carrying bags through the airport was a reason, while 42% cite peace of mind.

The need for greater convenience is clear: 28% of older Americans say they would travel more if travel burdens were lifted.

“Older Americans want to travel. What’s slowing them down are the physical barriers that come with it,” said Audrey Kohout, co-CEO of Luggage Forward. “When navigating an airport, carrying luggage or simply moving from point A to point B becomes unnecessarily difficult. Travelers are finding workarounds, like luggage shipping services, because they don't want those obstacles to dictate how they live.”

Methodology

The Propeller Insights survey commissioned by Luggage Forward surveyed 1,000+ U.S. citizens, aged 55+, in May 2026. Survey responses were representative of the U.S. population for age, gender, region and ethnicity. The maximum margin of sampling error was +/- 3.0 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

About Luggage Forward

Luggage Forward was born out of the simple idea that travelers should enjoy the journey as much as the destination. We set out to replace waiting at the baggage carousel with more vacation time by shipping luggage and gear from doorstep to destination. Nearly two decades later and countless bags shipped around the world, convenience is still core to everything we do. We are proud to be the leading global provider of door-to-door luggage and sports equipment delivery.