United Airlines is seeing a nearly 30% increase in bookings to European Christmas markets compared to 2019, with a 10% rise over last year.

These festive destinations are drawing Americans who are prioritizing holiday experiences over physical gifts, aligning with a Deloitte survey that predicts a 16% increase in holiday spending on experiences this year.

Renowned for their rich history and festive ambiance, European Christmas markets offer visitors mulled wine, artisan crafts, live music, and picturesque backdrops. United is poised for its busiest holiday season yet, with nearly 60 nonstop flights daily from its U.S. hubs to Europe during November and December, more than any other U.S. airline. Partnering with Lufthansa Group and Deutsche Bahn, United offers seamless air and rail connections to over 130 European cities.

United’s most popular European destinations during the holiday period include London, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris and Brussels – and as the world’s largest airline, United offers more nonstop flights to Europe than any other U.S. airline. Holiday schedule highlights include:

Daily nonstop flights to 16 European cities with holiday markets from United’s U.S. hubs, including Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Edinburgh, Zurich, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Paris and more, and nearly 60 nonstop flights each day from U.S. hubs.

United also operates 17 daily nonstop flights to London from its U.S. hubs.

Nearly 100 additional European holiday market destinations, like Cologne, Helsinki, Salzburg and Strasbourg, that customers can visit with a simple one-stop flight from United’s U.S. hubs.

Travelers can visit even more European holiday markets thanks to United’s Lufthansa Group partnership and Deutsche Bahn railway partnership that connect travelers to more than 130 additional destinations across Europe.

United Airlines Enhances Travel with Innovative Tools and Services

United Airlines is preparing for its busiest holiday season in 2024, expecting to serve around 25 million passengers—a 6% increase compared to 2023. Despite the record-breaking numbers, the airline assures customers of a safe, reliable, and efficient travel experience, supported by its advanced digital tools. Notably, United has consistently ranked first or second in on-time departures among the eight largest U.S. carriers over the past five months, even during its busiest summer.

Weather Preparedness: 150 de-icing trucks ready to ensure smooth operations in cold weather.
• ConnectionSaver: Proprietary tech saves 2,000 connections daily by holding flights a few extra minutes.
• Touchless ID: TSA PreCheck® with facial scanning speeds up security and bag drop at key U.S. airports.
• Agent on Demand: Virtual service for video chats, texts, or calls with customer service reps at the airport.
• Personalized App: United is the only U.S. airline offering Live Activities, providing real-time access to boarding passes, gate info, and a departure countdown on your phone, plus a Terminal Guide for easy navigation.
• Free Family Seating: Dynamic seat maps ensure kids under 12 sit next to adults in their party for free.
• Real-Time Updates: Personalized trip alerts, including live radar maps, gate changes, and weather events.