Gen Z and boomers mirror each other’s tech habits as mobile-first booking reshapes travel across every generation.
New PYMNTS data shows mobile is dominating travel bookings—except when Gen Z opens their laptops like it’s 2009.
Mobile-first travel is the new norm—for almost everyone
If you’re still optimizing for desktop-only checkout flows, you’re leaving money on the tarmac. According to the latest PYMNTS Intelligence report, 73% of U.S. consumers now prefer mobile devices for booking local travel—think taxis, Ubers, trains, and buses. Even for longer-haul trips and car rentals, phones beat laptops.
But here’s the kicker: Gen Z and boomers are booking travel in surprisingly similar ways.
📊 Preferred Device for Travel Booking by Generation (%)
| Generation | Mobile Device | Computer (Laptop/Desktop) |
|---|---|---|
| Generation Z | 64.1% | 40.4% |
| Zillennials | 70.9% | 31.7% |
| Millennials | 67.1% | 32.2% |
| Bridge Millennials | 63.2% | 35.9% |
| Generation X | 53.2% | 44.7% |
| Baby Boomers | 28.3% | 44.5% |
Gen Z acts like boomers—sort of
You’d think the TikTok generation would be glued to their phones for everything. And mostly, they are. But when it comes to booking travel, a weird parallel pops up:
- 40% of Gen Z prefers using computers over mobile
- 45% of boomers do the same
Why? Context. Gen Z is often locked into laptops for school, and when they do book, it’s likely through desktop browsers—not apps. Meanwhile, boomers still trust their good ol’ desktops. This makes Gen Z a digital paradox: phone-native, but desktop-functional when it comes to certain big-ticket buys.
Travel is leading the mobile-first revolution
Mobile travel bookings aren’t just a Gen Z thing—they’re the sharp edge of a broader commerce shift. Across all consumers:
- 📱 51% prefer mobile for travel purchases
- 🛍️ 45% for retail
- 🍔 42% for restaurants
- 🥦 26% for groceries
Even 28% of boomers go mobile-first when booking travel. That’s their highest share across all purchase categories.
Don’t sleep on the research phase
Before they book, 73% of digital-first travel shoppers do their homework online. Gen Z leads at 79%, but the gap is slim across generations—baby boomers clock in at 69%. This means your pre-purchase content matters: product pages, reviews, pricing transparency, and mobile site performance aren’t nice-to-haves—they’re deal-clinchers.
👉 Bonus stat: Despite being digital-savvy, only half of consumers factor in rewards and credit card perks. So if you’re in travel ecommerce or fintech, there’s a massive opportunity to own that perk education layer. Bridge millennials lead the charge here at 56%.
Who’s actually traveling?
In the last 12 months:
- 36% bought local transport (rideshare, mass transit)
- 36% booked long-distance travel
- 21% rented a car
But not everyone’s hitting the road equally: boomers and Gen Z are least likely to make purchases in any of those categories—likely due to retirement or student life, respectively.
Operator POV: What this means for ecommerce teams
- Mobile UX is king. Don’t assume “mobile-friendly” cuts it. Be mobile-obsessed.
- Don’t ignore desktop just yet. Especially if your audience skews Gen Z or Boomer.
- Capture the research moment. SEO, YouTube explainers, FAQ pages—own the zero-click zone.
- Push the perks. Consumers aren’t connecting the dots between booking and rewards—your messaging can.
- Test generational messaging. Gen Z ≠ millennials. Treat them like boomers with iPhones.
Bottom line?
If you’re not building your travel ecommerce strategy around mobile-first behavior—with room for generational nuance—you’re handing margin to someone else.
📱✈️ Boomers are adapting. Gen Z is zigzagging. And mobile is winning either way.
