It turns out Australians are catching flights—and feelings. A new Cathay Pacific study reveals that travel has become our main love language, with many of us choosing a romantic getaway over roses, chocolates and fancy dinners this Valentine’s Day.
According to the survey of more than 2000 Australians, more than two in five have travelled or want to travel for Valentine’s Day. For younger generations, it’s practically become tradition. Nearly 30% of Gen Z and 27% of Millennials have already done it, proving that romance now comes with a boarding pass.
“Airports and aircraft have always had a sense of magic — they’re where so many love stories begin,” says Genevieve Brock, Cathay’s Head of Marketing for Oceania. “Australians are increasingly using travel to prioritise connection, from spontaneous getaways to long-distance reunions.”
Jet-Setting For Love
For modern Australian couples, distance doesn’t dampen the romance. In fact, over half of us say we’d travel internationally, even halfway across the world, to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Engagement rings and passports clearly go hand-in-hand, with two-thirds of engaged Aussies saying they’d happily cross countries for a romantic escape because the miles between make the moments together even sweeter.
When it comes to destinations, the votes are in: Paris still reigns supreme as the world’s most romantic city, but Aussies also dream of beachside sunsets, indulgent spa breaks and mountain escapes closer to home. From sunlit coasts to rolling vineyards, it’s less about where you go and more about who’s beside you.
A New Kind Of Romance
And who said love only starts on ground? Almost one in five Australians confess they’ve shared, or secretly hoped for, a flirtatious moment on a flight. Gen Z travellers are especially open to the idea, keeping the high-altitude “meet-cute” alive (and the mile-high club that follows).
If airlines offered more Valentine’s extras—from surprise upgrades to romantic getaway packages—travellers say they’d jump on board. Because really, who could resist a little romance at 35,000 feet?
In the end, two-thirds of Australian agree that travel strengthens relationships. From airport embraces to sparks that ignite somewhere over the Pacific, love is well and truly airborne.
So, this Valentine’s Day, skip the flowers and check in your feelings instead. Because for Australians in 2026—love isn’t just in the air, it’s in plane sight.