Let’s talk about what’s happening in your clients’ search bars right now.
Long-haul flight searches from the UK are up 20% this September compared to last year. Asia bookings jumped 15.2%. Dubai welcomed 711,000 UK visitors in the first half of this year, a 13% increase. The Caribbean saw 9% more travellers booking stays of two weeks or longer.
Translation? Your clients aren’t just dreaming about bucket-list trips anymore. They’re booking them.
Why This Matters Right Now
Here’s what the numbers are telling us:
Clients are staying longer. Stays of 14+ nights climbed 9% in Q3. The average UK traveller is taking 1.7 international trips per year now, up from 1.4—fewer trips, but bigger ones.
Shoulder season is winning. Bookings for September-October rose 20% year-on-year. That’s nearly three times the growth we saw in July-August (7%). May-June bookings? Up 13%.
Why the change? Three reasons: cost, climate, and crowds. Flight prices to Asia dropped 33% compared to peak summer. Hotel prices in shoulder months are down 14% internationally. And clients are dodging 35°C+ heatwaves in the Med by booking autumn trips instead.
Bucket-list travel is trending. 70% of UK travellers say checking off once-in-a-lifetime experiences is a top priority this year. Japan, the Maldives, South Africa, Kenya, Australia—all seeing double-digit growth.
What This Means for Your Commission
Long-haul bookings often deliver higher margins and stronger returns for agents—especially when you’re packaging bespoke or luxury itineraries.
Let’s look at the revenue potential:
A £4,000 Dubai package can generate strong commission returns per booking.
Sell three of those this week, and your monthly revenue picture changes significantly.
A £20,000 family trip? Even better.
Add travel insurance, upgrades, and excursions? Your average booking value just climbed.
Your Booking Window Opens This Week
Virgin Atlantic is offering limited-time savings on select Caribbean packages—book by 28 October for the best rates. The higher the hotel star rating, the bigger the client saving.
That gives you eight days to reach out with a deadline-driven offer.
British Airways is expanding its Middle East network starting this October, adding daily flights to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Riyadh, and Jeddah—9,000 extra seats annually on the Bahrain route alone. They’ve also resumed flights to Kuala Lumpur and launched new routes to Rabat (November).
Dubai packages for October half-term start from £879 per person for a family of four. Five-star options run £2,317-£2,599 per person.
Conversation Starters to Use Today
Your clients are already thinking about bigger trips. Here’s how to reframe the conversation:
Instead of: “Where do you want to go?”
Try: “Have you thought about finally doing that Japan trip? September-October bookings are up 20%—clients are finding better pricing and fewer crowds.”
Instead of: “Summer’s the best time to travel.”
Try: “Autumn travel saves clients 27% on flights and 14% on hotels. Plus, Dubai in October is a comfortable 30°C instead of 40°C+ in summer.”
Instead of: “A week should be enough.”
Try: “Clients are booking 14+ night trips now—it’s a better value, and you can add a stopover in Dubai en route to the Maldives or suggest a two-week Caribbean cruise instead of a one-week beach stay.”
The Data Behind the Change
Asia is leading long-haul growth—Japan, Thailand, India, and China are all up. The USA saw bookings rise 11% across this year. Africa and the Middle East are climbing steadily at 10% growth each.
34.2% of UK consumers plan to visit long-haul destinations in the next 12 months, up from 28.2% last year.
Flight searches for business and first-class seats jumped 60% during shoulder months. Five-star hotel searches rose 19%. Clients aren’t scaling back—they’re using off-peak savings to upgrade their experience.
Suppliers Are Expanding Capacity
Airlines are adding routes. Cruise lines are running their biggest Caribbean seasons yet. Tour operators are reporting strong demand for Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
The Maldives, USA, UAE, Caribbean, and Thailand are the top five long-haul destinations for UK travellers right now. Malta bookings surged 117% compared to last year.
P&O Cruises unveiled its winter 2027/2028 Caribbean collection. CLIA projects 37.7 million cruise passengers globally in 2025, with 82% planning to book again.
Practical Next Steps
Book early for best availability. Long-haul flights should be booked six to eight months in advance for optimal pricing. Clients planning summer 2026 trips to Greece, Italy, or Japan should book now.
Leverage flexible payment options. Many suppliers now offer low deposit or flexible payment options, making long-haul travel more accessible for your clients.
Highlight ATOL and ABTA protection. 38% of UK travellers used agents in 2024, up from 34% in 2023. 41% feel more confident booking with a professional who can tailor their experience.
Focus on niches. Solo travel is surging—34% of Brits want to take a “Me-Moon” before year-end. Women make up 84% of solo travellers globally. Luxury, family, and multi-generational holidays are all growing.
Bottom Line
UK outbound travel revenue is expected to exceed £65 billion in 2025, driven by long-haul demand. Clients are booking earlier, staying longer, and spending more.
The move toward shoulder-season travel extends your selling window beyond July-August. That means more opportunities to convert enquiries year-round.
Long-haul bookings are where commissions grow. This is the moment to lean into those conversations and position yourself as the expert who can make bucket-list trips happen.
