American travellers are spending less on summer flights this year whilst luxury preferences vary dramatically by state, according to the 'Big Spenders' report from Kayak. Olivia Palamountain reports

Kayak's "Big Spenders" report has revealed that average US summer flight spending has decreased 3% from last year's US$511 to US$496 nationally, providing travellers additional budget for accommodation and activities. However, significant regional variations persist, with some states spending nearly double the national average.

Hawaiian residents lead flight spending at an average of US$714, followed by Alaskans at US$656 - unsurprising given their geographical isolation requiring long-haul mainland connections. More unexpectedly, New Jersey travellers rank third at US$648 average despite Newark serving as a major airline hub, suggesting residents prioritise premium cabins or international destinations over convenient domestic options.

The most budget-conscious travellers emerge from Minnesota and Colorado, spending under US$400 on average and likely favouring shorter trips closer to home over expensive long-haul flights.

Destination preferences reveal distinct regional patterns, with 32 states searching primarily for London. California, Hawaii and Oregon travellers favour Tokyo, Iowa and Kansas residents eye Dublin, whilst Virginia shows unusual interest in Hyderabad, India. Mexican and Caribbean destinations maintain popularity across all regions for budget-conscious beach escapes, with Cancún, San Juan and Punta Cana appearing consistently regardless of origin state.

Premium service searches vary considerably by travel category. California leads both first-class flight searches and luxury hotel bookings, alongside Hawaii and Nevada for flights, and Florida and New York for accommodation. Missouri and Tennessee unexpectedly dominate luxury car rental searches.

European destinations dominate Northeast travellers' searches, who favour Dublin, Lisbon and Athens alongside classic Paris and Rome. West Coast explorers gravitate toward dynamic Asian cities including Manila and Ho Chi Minh City, reflecting regional cultural affinities and flight accessibility.

International versus domestic spending patterns show Americans willing to splurge more on overseas accommodation than domestic stays. Texas travellers invest US$434 average per night for Bahamas hotels, their highest spending destination, indicating Southern luxury extends beyond mainland borders.

The data reveals contrasting state behaviours. Florida, California and New York consistently search for four and five-star hotels, whilst Iowa, South Dakota and West Virginia prefer keeping accommodation costs low. Wisconsin appears among the most budget-conscious states for both flights and hotels, demonstrating consistent frugal travel behaviour.

Hawaii presents an intriguing contradiction - residents rank near the top for premium flight searches whilst showing least interest in luxury car rentals, suggesting comfort matters more for lengthy island departures than local transportation.

The findings reflect broader American travel behaviours as tourism continues recovering. The 3% spending decrease may indicate either increased price sensitivity or improved airline efficiency creating better value options.

Kayak's real-time data provides insight into American travel intentions, tracking actual search behaviour rather than post-trip surveys. The state-by-state breakdown reveals how geographical location, economic conditions and cultural preferences shape travel spending decisions across the diverse US market.

The platform's artificial intelligence features enabling easy flight upgrade searches may be contributing to increased premium cabin interest, making business and first-class options more accessible to price-conscious travellers seeking optimal upgrade timing.