Indian travellers are increasingly favoring last-minute bookings, with 78% of domestic flights and 30% of international flights booked within 15 days of departure, especially to visa-free destinations like Thailand and the Maldives. This shift is driven by flexible work schedules, rising disposable incomes, and appealing last-minute deals offered by platforms like EaseMyTrip, MakeMyTrip, and Cleartrip. 

Unlike their European and American counterparts, who typically plan trips well in advance, many Indians are more spontaneous in booking, with industry data showing a 4x increase in instant bookings for short-haul, visa-free trips. Hotel bookings reflect a similar trend, with 77.5% of bookings made between 14 to 2 days before check-in.

This booking behavior underscores a cultural preference for flexibility among Indian travelers, who prioritize spontaneity over structured planning. However, for longer or more popular destinations, some Indian travelers still opt to plan ahead, booking international trips 30 days and domestic holidays 15-30 days in advance. The global average planning window remains at about 71 days, suggesting that while Indian travelers lean toward spontaneity, the trend varies by destination and trip type.