Why Do We Neglect the Return Journey?
When we think about travel, it’s clear the outgoing journey gets all the love and attention. We meticulously plan every detail: the packing lists, the airport transfers, the kennel bookings for pets, the house clean-up before departure, and even the perfect snack or meal for the road.
It’s a ritual of anticipation, fuelled by the excitement of what’s to come.
But what happens when that perfection unravels? A delayed train, a closed restaurant, an offhand comment from staff—and suddenly, what was meant to be a dream becomes a test of patience.
And yet, the return journey is often worse. It’s the forgotten sibling of the holiday experience. Why? Because we don’t plan for it—nor do many travel providers.
Busy train station with lots of people
The Return Journey Blues
The return journey becomes a cocktail of exhaustion, practicality, and post-holiday blues. You battle queues at understaffed airports, face delayed or overcrowded transport, and return to an empty fridge, a mountain of laundry, and the endless chores that scream back to reality.
We asked our Trixtalk community to reimagine the return journey. What would it take for the homecoming to be as joyful and seamless as the departure?
Here’s what they dreamed up:
A fridge restocked with essentials, courtesy of a Deliveroo-style service.
A clean home with fresh linens waiting, organised by a return cleaning service.
Luggage pickup and drop-off services to spare you the post-travel unpacking.
A coordinated pet return that matches your actual arrival time.
A seamless service wash to make the suitcase of dirty clothes disappear.
Travel is about experiences—not just the destination it’s about every step of the journey.
By rethinking the return journey, we can create a holistic travel experience, where coming home feels like the satisfying conclusion of a great story, not the start of a to-do list.
So, how are you helping your customers (or yourself) make the journey home just as memorable as the journey out?
Of course whilst the examples used here are about travel – what is your ‘metaphorical’ return journey like with your clients or customers?
Sending the final invoice, saying goodbye when you leave the pub, a follow up CX survey ……………. You get my point!
Making your experiences memorable
In our report, "From Commodity to Experience: Unlocking Growth in the Travel Industry," we dive into the key trends shaping the future of travel. We provide an in-depth analysis of emerging trends, spotlighting the crucial data and actionable insights travel companies need to thrive in this ever-evolving environment. Find out more and download your free copy.