Call Me Old-School, But I’m Not Booking a $1000 Flight on My Phone
I am a millennial.
I survived dial-up internet. I used MSN Messenger. I remember when WiFi wasn’t something you could rely on in airports.
And yet somehow, in 2026, I still refuse to book expensive travel on a 6-inch screen.
It’s not because I don’t love technology. I do. I use travel apps constantly.
Skyscanner? Yes.
Booking.com? Obviously.
Google Maps? Emotional support system.
But the second I decide I’m actually planning something real?
I close my phone and say out loud,
“This requires my laptop.”
Every time.
Ten tabs open. Zero regrets.
I don’t casually browse flights on my phone.
If I know I’m going somewhere, I sit down properly.
Laptop open.
Ten tabs minimum.
Possibly more if accommodation is involved.
Flights, for me, are usually straightforward. I know my dates. I know where I’m flying from and to. I’m comparing time, price, baggage fees (still bitter about that one), and layover length.
And can we talk about baggage fees for a second?
There was a time when booking an international flight automatically meant your suitcase came with you. No add-ons. No surprise $85 charge because you dared to pack more than a toothbrush.
We truly did not appreciate how good we had it.
Now I’m clicking through three different screens just to confirm my bag exists.
And no, I’m not confirming that kind of purchase with my thumb.
I want the full breakdown visible. I want the airline website open. I want to see everything at once.
Because small mistakes are expensive.
He wanted to see what it felt like to carry a backpack. I let him find out.
In China, I once booked a flight to Tibet through WeChat on my phone.
It wasn’t in English.
But I had booked plenty of things through WeChat before. Trains. Tickets. Payments. I thought I knew what I was doing.
I was confident.
I was wrong.
I accidentally booked a flight to Hong Kong instead of Lhasa, Tibet.
I showed my coworker what I had just purchased. She stared at it for about five seconds and said, “You booked the wrong flight.”
She fixed it in under five minutes.
If she hadn’t, there was no cancellation. No refund.
That was enough for me.
Successfully booked a train to Shanghai. Flights were apparently more complicated.
Then there was the Philippines.
A volcano erupted. Air traffic shifted. I had booked separate tickets because I thought I was being strategic. There was a four-hour gap between flights.
Four hours feels safe, right?
That’s what I thought.
Apparently not.
Because they were separate tickets, the airlines weren’t responsible for each other. When the first one moved, the second one didn’t care.
I ended up paying an extra $150 to fix it.
So no, I didn’t save money.
I added stress and paid more.
After the airport chaos, I met up with my friend, Keri and ordered drinks. Balance restored.
Apps help you compare.
Experience teaches you how to book.
Flights are one thing.
Accommodation is where I spiral.
I tried booking hotels on my phone years ago and hated it. The photos were small. The reviews were cramped. You couldn’t properly compare options.
I will compare three or four places. Sometimes more. Let’s not discuss how many tabs I’ve opened for one city.
On Booking.com, I immediately switch to the map view. I zoom in on the neighbourhood. I check walking distance to attractions. I look for public transportation nearby. In smaller towns, I check if everything is within walking distance. It completely depends on where I’m going.
Now, if I’m out with my mom and we spontaneously decide to stay somewhere? Sure, I’ll book on my phone.
But planned travel?
That’s different.
Flights are logistics.
Accommodation is the vibe.
And I don’t pick a vibe on a tiny screen.
Could I do it on my phone?
Yes.
Do I want to swipe back and forth between photos, reviews, maps, and room options while trying to make the right decision?
Absolutely not.
This requires my laptop.
This is why I don’t rush accommodation decisions.
I do travel with insurance. Not because I expect disaster, but because travel is unpredictable. Insurance is backup. Planning properly is prevention.
And yes — even travel insurance companies have apps now. You can file claims, upload documents, check coverage — all from your phone.
That’s the kind of app convenience I love.
But booking a $1000 flight?
Still using my laptop.
Once I land somewhere, my phone runs my life. Maps. Translation. Currency exchange. Data. WhatsApp. All of it.
Travel apps are the reason solo travel is easier now than it’s ever been.
But when it comes to committing real money?
I open my laptop.
Not because I’m scared.
Not because I’m stuck in the early 2000s.
But because I like seeing the full picture before I press confirm.
Some things deserve more than a thumb tap.
Big decisions deserve a big screen.
And yes, I still say it out loud:
“This requires my laptop.”
Big decisions deserve a bigger screen.
