Artificial intelligence is no longer sitting on the edge of travel planning. It is already part of how many Americans choose destinations, compare hotels, find routes, and manage trips.
A new Amadeus report found that 85% of US travelers believe AI saves them time. They also say it can deliver more personalized recommendations. Around 74% have already used AI while planning a trip.
The numbers show strong adoption. They also reveal something else. Travelers like AI when it helps. They become much more cautious when it starts making decisions for them.
AI Is Already Part of Trip Planning
Nearly three-quarters of US travelers have used AI during the planning stage of a trip. They use it to find hotels, routes, and ground transportation. That makes AI more than a novelty. It is becoming part of normal travel research. Travelers can now describe what they want instead of searching through endless options. AI then helps narrow the field.
Travelers Are Using AI for Inspiration Too
AI is also shaping where people decide to go. Amadeus found that 53% of US travelers use AI for travel inspiration. That might mean finding a destination, building an itinerary, or discovering something unexpected. The shift matters because AI is now entering the process before travelers make firm plans. It can influence the destination itself, not just the booking.
Real-Time Travel Support Is Becoming Normal
The role of AI does not stop once the trip begins. Around 49% of travelers use AI during their journey. They turn to it for flight updates, navigation, weather, and local recommendations. These are simple tasks, but they are useful at exactly the right moment. That practical value may explain why AI adoption is growing so quickly in travel.
Travelers Want Personalization That Actually Helps
Personalization is one of the strongest reasons travelers use AI. Amadeus found that 55% value local guidance after arrival. Another 52% want suggestions based on their budget. Meanwhile, 49% see value in real-time rebooking when plans change. These are not flashy AI features. They solve ordinary travel problems. That may be exactly why travelers find them useful.
AI Recommendations Can Still Feel Too Familiar
Personalization is not working perfectly yet. Around 64% of travelers said AI has recommended familiar destinations or choices instead of expanding their options. That creates a strange problem. Travelers want AI to understand their preferences, but they also want discovery. An assistant that keeps recommending the obvious choice can quickly feel less useful.
Travelers Like AI Until It Starts Spending Their Money
This is where the enthusiasm drops.
Around 65% of travelers are interested in booking and paying directly inside an AI assistant. Yet only 20% would let AI spend money within a set budget without asking again. Another 43% would allow it only under certain conditions. Meanwhile, 29% would not allow it at all. AI can recommend. It can compare. But handing over financial control is still a different conversation.
Trust Is Still the Big Barrier
Amadeus says trust remains central to wider AI adoption. Travelers want useful recommendations, but they also want control. Transparency matters as well. People need to understand how decisions are made and how their data is being used. Rajiv Rajian of Amadeus said travelers increasingly want AI for inspiration and real-time support. However, they still want the final say on important decisions.
Travelers Will Share Data When the Benefit Is Clear
US travelers are not completely opposed to sharing personal information. They are more willing when they get something useful in return. Around 55% would share data to find better prices or deals. About 51% would do so to save time. Another 46% see value in sharing data for better recommendations. The trade-off seems simple: travelers want a clear benefit.
Payment and Identity Data Remain Sensitive
Comfort levels change once the information becomes more personal. Around 63% are comfortable sharing travel preferences. About 58% will share budget preferences. Previous booking history is acceptable to 48%. Payment details are different. Only 21% are comfortable sharing them. Identity information falls even lower at 19%. That gap shows where trust starts to weaken.
Most Travelers Still Double-Check AI
AI may be useful, but travelers are not blindly following it. Nearly nine in ten cross-check AI recommendations before booking. Around 42% always visit other travel websites to verify suggestions. Another 47% do so sometimes. Only 11% rely entirely on AI recommendations. That is a strong reminder for travel companies. AI is influencing decisions, but it has not replaced traditional research.
Humans Still Matter When Trips Go Wrong
The limits of AI become clearer during disruption. When something goes wrong, 37% of travelers prefer phone support. Another 25% want help in person. Only 7% prefer an AI bot or conversational assistant. The same pattern appears in trip planning. Just 17% would trust AI alone to plan a trip. A much larger 51% want a mix of AI and human expertise.
Travelers Do Not Want to Pay Extra for AI
There is enthusiasm for AI, but not much appetite to pay for it. Half of US travelers believe travel companies should provide AI assistance for free. Only 4% think AI support could become important enough to justify a premium. That could shape how airlines, hotels, and booking platforms deploy these tools. AI may become expected infrastructure rather than a paid add-on.
AI Is Becoming Part of the Travel Journey, Not the Whole Journey
The Amadeus findings show a travel market that has already moved beyond basic experimentation. Travelers are using AI before, during, and sometimes after their trips. They want faster research, smarter recommendations, and better real-time support.
They do not want to disappear from the process.
That distinction may define the next stage of travel AI. The winners may not be the platforms that automate everything. They may be the ones that know when to help, when to explain, and when to hand control back to the traveler.
Sources
- Breaking Travel News — AI now central to travel experience in United States finds Amadeus
https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/ai-now-central-to-travel-experience-in-united-states-finds-amadeus/ - Amadeus — Tailored Horizons / AI and the travel experience
https://amadeus.com/
