There’s a moment every solo traveler experiences—that mix of excitement and nervous energy just before stepping onto a plane, train, or bus alone, heading into the unknown. It’s that electric realization that you’re truly on your own, responsible for every decision, free to do whatever you want, whenever you want. It’s liberating, intimidating, and, quite honestly, one of the best things you can ever do for yourself. Flying solo as well!

Solo travel is on the rise, and United is sharing travel hacks, popular destinations, and app features to empower adventurers to get ready for National Plan a Solo Vacation Day on March 1 with the ultimate travel mantra: YOLO (You Only Live Once), Fly SOLO.

Google searches for “solo travel” skyrocketed 223% in the past decade, and solo fliers took 5% more trips with United in 2024 compared to 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.”

Flying solo facts 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 travelers also aren’t intimidated to fly somewhere new or far from home; the most popular destinations for solo travelers include far-flung international destinations like China, Korea, Brazil, India, and Nigeria. And as the world’s largest airline*, United flies to nearly 70 destinations around the world no other major U.S. carrier flies.

United Makes Adventuring on Your Own Easy

United gives solo passengers the confidence to take off on their own, whether that’s through the airline’s tailored recommendations, real-time communications in the United app or its 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 travelers, but using the Live Activities for iPhone allows customers to get live, personalized flight notifications, all without opening the United app. Similarly, with Live Activities on Apple Watch, customers can access important flight information right from their wrist.
• 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.
• 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 traveler 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 helped save more than 725,000 customer 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 are also passionate about flying solo. As employees, the world is truly at their fingertips, and many have become solo-travel experts. In a recent survey, employees identified Japan as their favorite solo destination. Here are some of their top 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.
• Be open minded – Read about the local history prior to your arrival and learn basic customs and greetings.
• Plan ahead 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 as a person.
• 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!

Why You Should Try It At Least Once

Solo travel isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve never tried it, you owe it to yourself to take at least one trip alone. It doesn’t have to be an international adventure—it could be a weekend getaway to a nearby city. The important thing is to experience what it’s like to rely on yourself, to explore at your own pace, and to embrace the joys of solitude.

The first solo trip is always the hardest. But once you do it, you’ll realize how capable, independent, and brave you really are. And who knows? You might just fall in love with the experience.

So if you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to travel solo, this is it. Pack your bags, book that ticket, and take the leap. The world is waiting for you—and trust me, it’s going to be amazing.