Unpacking Travel Behaviour: AirAsia MOVE Shares Key Trends and Tips for the Upcoming School Holidays

Couples and Families Lead Travel Trends as Travellers Prioritise Value, Convenience, and Reward Benefits

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2025 – As the school holiday season approaches, AirAsia MOVE, the region’s leading travel platform, is gearing up to meet rising travel demand with seamless and affordable experience. Drawing insights from user activity during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri peak period, AirAsia MOVE presents key travel trends and practical planning tips that reflect the travel behaviour of today’s consumers.

“Our recent internal data reveals strong interest in Penang, Bali, Bangkok and Manila amongst the top booked destinations for this upcoming school holiday period. We are seeing sustained momentum in travel demand, particularly for regional destinations that appeal to families and couples,” said Ravi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at AirAsia MOVE. “Our data showed that travellers are becoming more intentional, prioritising value and convenience while maximising the benefits of rewards. Our goal is to make the entire journey—from planning to booking—more accessible and rewarding.”

Key Travel Insights from AirAsia MOVE’s Peak Season Data

1. Early Bookings Help Secure Better Prices

Learning from this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, over 65% of flight and hotel bookings were made within 30 days of the departure date, indicating that a significant portion of users still prefer to book towards the last minute. This trend underscores the importance of planning further in advance to secure better availability and more competitive prices, especially during peak travel seasons.

2. Multi Airlines Bookings Drive Regional Travel Momentum
Flight bookings during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri period through AirAsia MOVE covered an extraordinary 684 million kilometers — or roughly equivalent to circling the Earth approximately 17,000 times. In terms of journey time, travelers collectively logged 67 million minutes in the air — the equivalent of listening to over 22 million songs non-stop. These figures not only showcase the scale of movement across the region but also reflect rising traveler confidence and mobility.

To discover the best airlines that meet smarter travel needs, users can browse and book multiple carriers across a wide range of price points. With access to the world’s best low-cost carrier, AirAsia, and other 700 global airlines, including Royal Brunei Airlines, Air Mauritius, Etihad Airways and more, travelers benefit from greater flexibility, affordability, and convenience when planning their journeys.

3. Rewards and Promotions Drive Smarter Spending

Over 360 million AirAsia Points were earned through user transactions during the most recent peak period, with an average redemption value of RM60 per transaction. In AirAsia MOVE, the accumulated points can be used for flights, hotels, or even duty-free product purchases.

In addition, more than 4,000 promo codes were successfully redeemed during the same Raya period. These figures reflect a growing shift towards value-driven travel, where loyalty rewards and ongoing promotions play a central role in the decision-making process.

Following this trend, AirAsia MOVE encourages all users to take full advantage of the rewarding AirAsia Points and in-app promotions. Special until 9 May, the AirAsia MOVE 5.5 Mega Sale is back with a humongous range of mega deals. Users can sweeten up their school holiday planning with special offer Fly to London, Paris, or Istanbul from just RM555*, get RM70 OFF for your hotel booking, shop your favourite duty-free items starting from RM55 and more. 

4. Couples and Families Dominate Travel

The data showed that 71% of hotel bookings were for two-person stays, with an average nightly spend of around RM300. Coupled with the fact that 83% of peak season travellers fall within the Millennial and Gen X age groups (24–55), the majority of bookings are likely made by couples or families. This trend points to a preference for mid-range accommodations that strike a balance between comfort and cost.

AirAsia MOVE continues to elevate its offerings with smarter products like SNAP, which automatically adjusts flight and hotel combinations based on the number of travelers and their age groups. Through features like this, alongside dynamic filters for hotel preferences, users can plan their holidays more easily, tailored to both their budget and specific needs.

For the latest updates, follow @airasiamove on Instagram & TikTok. Download the app from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery for a smooth and enhanced booking experience.

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About AirAsia MOVE

AirAsia MOVE, formerly known as airasia Superapp is the newest online travel agent+ (OTA+) in town, providing a seamless and personalised experience for travellers at the best value in Asean and beyond. It envisions a comprehensive travel ecosystem, providing various travel offerings, such as flights and hotel bookings from over 700 airlines, including AirAsia, and over 900,000 hotels world-wide, plus ride-hailing, insurance, duty-free shopping and much more. The services are complemented by a community-led experience through features such as airasia chat, games, gifting, and a strong loyalty program that rewards users across its expansive ecosystem. It has been voted by World Travel Awards as ‘Asia’s Leading Online Travel Agency’ for two consecutive years since its first nomination in 2023.