United Airlines has airlifted no fewer than 175 million passengers across its routes worldwide in 2024.
This was contained in a statement made available by the airline over the weekend. The statement said the figure was a record number for the airline in one year.
The statement hinted that the airline has a unique insight into what the everyday person was interested in watching, eating, and more when travelling.
It therefore pulled together some of the top trends its passengers were watching onboard.
According to the airline, travellers were in their Eras era. On average, United saw a 25 per cent boost in demand for flights as fans filled one blank (calendar) space at a time, travelling around for the biggest concert tour of the year.
United was well-prepared to fly travellers swiftly and safely for some of the biggest demand increases during summer tour dates in Europe, including Milan and Munich, both up 40 per cent when compared to 2023.
Other travellers were also said to be in their raw dogging era. “On average, travellers spent 60 minutes watching the flight map versus other seatback entertainment options like movies, TV shows, or games.
“The most-watched TV show on board this year was… Bluey, according to the airline. This included adult and kid passengers. Top popular shows also included classics like Friends, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Big Bang Theory.”
The airlines also noted that the Coca-Cola versus Diet Coke debate remains strong, “as the most consumed sodas onboard ranked as 1. Coca-Cola 2. Diet Coke and 3. Seagram’s Ginger Ale.
“The Barbenheimer showdown made its way to the skies: The most-watched movie on board this year was Barbie… followed closely by Oppenheimer.”
Other popular films include Anyone But You, The Beekeeper, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.
Vodka and sparkling wine reign supreme, as passengers opted for Tito’s Handmade Vodka as their go-to alcoholic beverage, and sparkling wine was the most popular wine varietal across every cabin.
Savoury beat sweet when it came to onboard snacks, with the most popular snacks being the complimentary Summer Harvest Savoury Snack Mix and for-purchase Tapas Snackbox and Pringles.
While some speculated Millennials only book flights on their computers, United saw that approximately 1/3 of Millennials do book their United flights on United.com, though another 1/3 of Millennials book their United flights on the United app.
Overall, “more than eight million customers booked through the United App this year—a 15 per cent increase compared to last year.
“If United’s new 2025 summer destinations, like Greenland, Mongolia, and Senegal, are any indication, there are some unforgettable experiences on the horizon.”
