Yahoo! Travel: 'big spenders are moving online'

Yahoo! Travel has revealed customers are beginning to spend more money online as it released its latest analysis of search behaviour.
The study of travel searches through the Overture Network - Yahoo, MSN, Lycos and Wanadoo – found more long-haul destinations are featuring in flight searches while increasing numbers of online shoppers are seeking upmarket product.
Yahoo! Travel Europe general manager Tim Frankcom said it confirmed a gradual migration from low-value spend to transactions of a higher value.
"The popularity of the search terms 'luxury holiday' and 'cruise' across the Overture network clearly indicate customers now have the confidence to purchase high-value products online," he said.
"This can be partially attributed to a maturing market, but the high number of big-name travel brands now operating online is also a key factor.
"The top flight search destinations indicate users are expanding their horizons beyond short-haul European destinations to consider flights to the US, Australia, Thailand and India."
In the top travel search terms last month, 'cheap flight' remained the most commonly used term, followed by 'flight', 'summer holiday', 'holiday car hire' and 'holiday'. The term 'cruise' was the seventh most popular term with 'luxury holiday' eighth.
For flight searches, Orlando topped the list followed by Palma, Barcelona, Perth, Malta, Las Palmas, Las Vegas, Melbourne, Vancouver and New York.
For full details of the findings, see the launch issue of Travolution magazine, out on November 11.