Future travel trends: Aussies want flying cars and space

With trips to space and flying cars on their way, Aussies are embracing futuristic travel now more than ever. But this trend for 2020

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity, aka SpaceShipTwo

Travel company Luxury Escapes has today released extensive research into how Australians will travel in the next decade and what inventions we’re most interested in.

Taking into account the votes of more than 20,000 Australian travellers, smart hotel rooms took the No.1 spot as what they’d like to see more of, while greener airlines and cures for jet lag also rated highly.

Find out the complete list of trends below.

1. SMART HOTEL ROOMS – 36 PER CENT

More hotels are investing in smart technology in a bid to improve and enhance experiences for guests and to make the workload easier for staff. Powered by the internet, these innovative features can do almost anything such as opening doors, dimming lights, and playing specific songs with the press of a button (on your smartphone) or through voice command.

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“Alexa, turn off my alarm.”

2. FACIAL RECOGNITION TECH AT THE AIRPORT – 29 PER CENT

There’s nothing more satisfying than a speedy run through airport checkpoints. The lengthy and tiring aspect of catching a flight is slowly being phased out thanks to the introduction of facial recognition software at customs, arrivals and departures gates. Just make sure you don’t rock up to the gate looking like this.

Facial recognition software is a gift to travellers.

3. SMART LUGGAGE – 24 PER CENT

Forgot to pack a phone charger? No problem. It seems Aussies are all for the smart luggage movement, whereby bags incorporate modern technology like battery packs to charge your items and even GPS locators to keep track of your belongings at all times.

4. GREEN AIRLINES – 23 PER CENT

As growing environmental values and commitment to sustainability increases, more travellers are doing their party by choosing to fly with a green airline – whereby carriers adopt environmentally friendly standards like offering meatless meals, and investing in carbon-efficient aircraft.

Charge everything from your suitcase.

5. JET LAG PILLS AND CURES – 22 PER CENT

As long-haul plane flights get longer, airlines are studying ways to help passengers adjust to their destination time zone – a factor that is of increasing importance for travelling Aussies. Anti-jet lag and sleeping pills like Melatonin are on the up.

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6. HYPERLOOP AND FAST SPEED TRAVEL – 22 PER CENT

Engineers are working on speeding up the time spent on journeys, particularly with the proposal of Hyperloop trains, which promise to take people from London to Scotland in 45 minutes. Additionally, a company called Boom Supersonic – backed by Richard Branson – are working on developing a quiet flight which travels at the speed of light.

et lag could soon become a thing of the past.

7. SPACE TRAVEL – 18 PER CENT

Sure, it seems farfetched, but space travel will soon be a thing and Aussies want in with 1 in 5 saying they’d be down for an orbit. Virgin Galactic plans to start taking people to space on its SpaceShipTwo next year – with 90-minute flights costing $US250,000. Elon Musk’s SpaceX is planning its first cargo mission to Mars in 2022, while Blue Origin is targeting the moon for passenger trips by 2024.

8. JETPACK TRAVEL – 14 PER CENT

A few things come to mind at the mention of jet packs – The Jetsons and any cool action movie – and Aussies want a piece. Jetpack travel is worn on the back and propels the wearer through the air – but with a current price tag of $400K, we likely won’t see them around for a bit.

Forget the “romance” of train travel — all we want is speed.

9. UBER CHOPPER & DRONE TAXIS – 14 PER CENT

With the prospect of no traffic, who wouldn’t want to order an Uber helicopter to work? Flying public transport is an increasing topic of interest among Aussies. So far it has yet to properly catch on Down Under – minus the odd occasion – but choppers are already available in New York with rides costing about $500 a pop one-way, per person, and 2020 is set to see Melbourne become one of the world’s first cities to trial Uber Air.

10. VIRTUAL REALITY – 14 PER CENT

In the digital age, we can do anything we want, like travel to Paris without leaving the house. Virtual reality technology has taken the world by storm in recent years, with VR headsets becoming a mainstream gadget. One of its best uses is being able to taking virtual tour of a hotel room before you book it.