Community Blog

2009 Archive

2008 Archive

2007 Archive

Category Archive

The Way We Travel: 25 Years of Innovations

Posted on August 29, 2007 in Travel News

The Way We Travel: 25 Years of Innovations Photo

Photo by alancf

Whether or not you agree with the list, USA Today’s picks for the top 25 changes in travel over the last quarter-century are a welcome invitation to consider the evolution of our travel habits. From the advent of online booking to the introduction of flying beds (we suppose those changed the way someone travels), their picks cover a wide swath of the industry. While not all of the changes are positive, here are our glass-half-full favorites from the list:

Roll-aboard luggage: A perennial favorite for “why didn’t I think of that?” laments, it’s hard to believe that roller suitcases weren’t sold to the public until 1991.

Airports as malls: We’d be even more disturbed by the recent increase in flight delays if WH Smith didn’t have our backs. Thanks, Pittsburgh International Airport, for pioneering the airport mall.

Airline e-tickets: Remember when checking in took forever and impulsive flight-booking was difficult? Boarding has been a lot smoother since the first paperless tickets were sold in 1993.

What do you think are the most important innovations in travel over the last 25 years, for better or for worse? Let us know! Log in or register to join this discussion on the IgoUgo Forums.

Tags: trends

Get Community Blog Updates by Email

About the IgoUgo Community Blog

Because you can't spend all day every day journeying around IgoUgo, editors round up the highlights: members' notable trips, newest reviews, favorite destinations, contests, and more. Have a question or idea? Let us know!