Wego, the travel app and online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region), has observed shifting travel patterns among Indian travelers planning trips to the United States, as recent disruptions across several international travel routes influence booking behavior. Travellers are showing growing reliance on fare alerts, flight tracking tools, and flexible booking strategies as they monitor price changes and assess long-haul travel options.
This period typically marks the start of early planning for summer travel between mid-April and July, driven mainly by family leisure travel and students preparing to travel to the United States for higher education.
Year-on-year, demand appears softer across H-1B and student travel, with dependent visa travel also showing an impact. Several factors may be contributing to this shift, including higher visa sponsorship costs, reduced student intake, and limited availability of B1/B2 visa appointment slots.
“During periods of disruption affecting international transit routes, travellers tend to monitor flight options more closely and plan with greater flexibility,” said Bernard Corraya, General Manager, Wego India. “We are seeing increased reliance on fare alerts and flight tracking tools as travellers look to stay informed about pricing changes, flight schedules, and alternative routing options for long-haul journeys.”
Fare alerts and flight tracking tools help travellers monitor airfare fluctuations and stay updated on delays, schedule changes, or cancellations, allowing them to adjust plans as needed.
Search trends also point to greater flexibility in long-haul travel planning, with growing interest in advance booking, flexible travel dates, alternative airports, and more efficient itineraries as travelers look to balance value and convenience.
India’s major metropolitan cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, continue to lead search demand for India–US routes, while cities such as Ahmedabad and Amritsar are also showing growing interest, reflecting broader demand beyond traditional metro hubs.