by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Sun July 26, 2026
AI continues its march forward, permeating every facet of daily life and increasingly, that includes leisure travel planning among U.S. travelers. Though just how much Americans turn to AI for vacation planning and their level of trust in the information provided, varies significantly by generation.
Among U.S. travelers aware of AI, usage is now “widespread,” with roughly seven in 10 consumers having used AI for travel planning or assistance on at least one leisure trip in the past year, according to recently released 2026 travel trends data from Phocuswright. That usage also spans multiple stages of the planning journey with the strongest
concentration of AI usage centering around tasks like researching flights,
accommodations, activities and even destinations.
“This pattern suggests that AI is already trusted to help shape the
essential building blocks of a trip, from where to go to how to get
there and what to do,” says the Phocuswright report.
Though it seems consumers aren’t entirely sold on the benefits of AI for travel assistance. Engagement with AI continues to skew toward lighter use, according to the Phocuswright report. Nearly half of travelers, for instance, say they've used AI on just one or two trips. This reality suggests that for many, AI remains an occasional aid rather than a consistently relied‑upon part travel planning.
Chat with Artificial Intelligence technology. (Photo Credit: Supatman / Adobe Stock)
Depth of AI conversations
The way U.S. travelers are using AI also varies by age or generation. For example, younger travelers are more likely to use AI for back-and-forth exchanges that support key travel planning decisions. In fact, nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials say AI conversations helped them work through important planning choices.
And a smaller share of younger travelers use AI to shape most of their decisions, which reflects a deeper level of comfort with conversational tools, according to Phocuswright.
Gen X and Baby Boomers, meanwhile, are more inclined to keep their interactions with AI very limited, using it for a single question or a brief check-in.
Trust in AI-generated results
The level of trust exhibited by AI users with regard to the travel information it provides also ranges based on consumer age.
Here too, younger travelers are more confident than older travelers: Gen Z and and millennials are more likely to fully trust AI summaries, while baby boomers skew toward limited trust or downright skepticism.
Standalone AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini are the source of the sharpest divide among generational attitudes toward AI, with Millennials and Gen Z more willing to rely on them. Boomers however, are far more likely to say they don’t trust the platforms at all.
There’s slightly more trust when AI tools are embedded in well-known travel websites and apps, with all users saying the information feels more credible. This is especially true among Millennials.
Booking travel directly within AI platforms
Are you comfortable giving an AI platform or interface your credit card payment details? It seems for a small (but growing) number of U.S. travelers, the answer is yes.
Phocuswright data reveals that U.S. travelers show cautious but meaningful openness to AI‑managed booking. About four in 10 say they would be willing to book travel directly inside an AI platform, while a similar share would allow an AI assistant to book flights and hotels on their behalf.
In both cases, neutral responses account for roughly a quarter of travelers, and resistance to booking with AI remains sizable, particularly when booking authority is delegated to an AI assistant. Overall, interest is slightly higher for completing transactions within an AI interface than for fully automated booking.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
