YOLO, Fly SOLO: United Airlines Shares How Travellers Can Treat Themselves Ahead of National Plan a Solo Vacation Day

United Airlines’ Solo Travel Tips

This February, as love fills the air, solo travel is gaining popularity. United is offering travel tips, showcasing favourite destinations, and highlighting app features to inspire adventurers to get ready for National Plan a Solo Vacation Day on March 1. Embrace the ultimate travel mantra: YOLO (You Only Live Once), Fly SOLO.

Over the last ten years, Google searches for "solo travel" have surged by 223%, and in 2024, solo travellers took 5% more flights with United than they did in 2023.

"We know our customers want to make memories all over the world and our goal is to help them do this as easily as possible - whether they're traveling with a companion or flying solo," said David Kinzelman, Chief Customer Officer for United.

"When you travel with United, you have access to more unique international destinations than any other U.S. airline and the self-service features in our app mean you can explore a new city with confidence knowing that no matter where you are in the world, United has your back."

According to United data:

• Solo travel spikes from January to May, and again from September to November;
• Those most likely to go it alone are Gen Z (approximately 70% fly solo), followed by Millennials at 65% and 57% of Boomers;
• Solo travellers are alson't intimidated by flying somewhere new or far from home. The most popular destinations for solo travellers include far-flung international destinations like China, Korea, Brazil, India, and Nigeria. As the world's largest airline, United flies to nearly 70 destinations worldwide, which no other primary U.S. carrier flies to.

United Makes Adventuring on Your Own Easy

United empowers solo travellers to embark on their journeys independently, offering personalized suggestions, real-time updates via the United app, and a supportive onboard experience.

• Personalized wayfinding – Customers can receive customized day-of instructions to navigate certain airports with United's Terminal Guide – from finding the most ideal airport entrance to getting to the gate.
• Juggle travel details single-handedly with ease—The juggle is real for solo travellers, but using Live Activities for iPhone allows customers to get live, personalized flight notifications without opening the United app. Similarly, with Live Activities on Apple Watch, customers can access important flight information right from their wrists.
• Share your preference for the ideal seat – Whether you like gazing out the window, sitting aisle-side, the United app Seat Map feature has your back. Just click "Choose Seat Preference" to indicate your ideal seat. If a more preferred seat opens before departure, the app will move you automatically.— orapp's
• Ask GenAI for destination recommendations – Hemispheres®, United's digital inflight magazine, now offers an AI-powered trip planning feature for every destination the airline offers covers. Get recommendations for where to eat, where to stay, what to do, and more. Choose "Explore with GenAI" here.
• Explore using our search by map – Travelers can use an interactive destinations map to compare and shop for flights based on departure city, budget and even travel interests like beaches, national parks, hiking and more.
• Connection Saver – Making a love connection or flight connection this February should be the last thing any traveller is stressing about. We know flying solo can be freeing, but missing a connecting flight can be stressful, which is why United's Connection Saver can help take away that worry and help save more than 725,000 customers who missed connections in 2024.
• More places, more miles and more adventures – With United's free-to-join MileagePlus program, members can earn miles that never expire and book international trips starting at just 20,000 miles each way. They can also take advantage of Money+Miles where members are able to apply as little as 1,000 miles toward a ticket.

Tips from the Pros: United's Employees

United employees share a deep passion for solo travel. With the world at their fingertips, many have become seasoned solo travellers. A recent survey revealed that Japan is their top choice for solo adventures. Here are some of their best tips:

• Safety First – Be aware of your surroundings, research the destination ahead of time avoid areas that are unsafe and consider sharing your location with family and friends back home: avoid unsafe,
• Be open-minded – Read about the local history prior to your arrival and learn basic customs and greetings.
• Plan but be flexible – Create a plan with what you want to see, eat and do at your destination, but always leave extra time in case you want to try something different.
• Soak it all in –Solo travelling is a great way to reflect on life and grow.
• Download apps before your trip – Save on international data by researching and downloading any apps you need before you leave home. Don't forget the United app!

About United

At United, good leadership is our priority. United, with hubs in cities like Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., boasts the most extensive global route network among North American airlines and has become the world's largest airline based on available seat miles. To learn more about joining the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers. Additional information about the company can be found at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker "UAL."