'Cuddle-class' seats, like these on Air New Zealand, will be big in 2012, Cheapflights says

If you¡¯re thinking about taking your pet with you on your next vacation, or considering running in this year¡¯s London marathon ¨C for charity ¨C you¡¯re not alone, a forecast of 2012 travel trends has predicted.

Online travel agent, Cheapflights found that as well as rising pet travel and athletic ¡®voluntourism¡¯, more travelers in 2012 will be seeking cut-rate breaks and upgraded flights whilst following their favorite reality television shows around the globe.???

When it comes to saving pennies, Cheapflights has predicted a rise in demand for package tours, all-inclusive trips and cruises, with weekend deals (to Chicago and Boston, for example) and warm-weather getaways (like the Bahamas and Mexico) among those destinations awarding fliers with cheaper flights.

Somewhat incompatible with discounted travel is the predicted increase in passengers wishing to fly with animals. This forecast comes on the back of a 2011 PetRelocation.com survey, which showed nearly a third of all pet owners planned to travel outside of the U.S. with their pets.

According to Cheapflights, next year will see the introduction of athletic voluntourism, a trend it says started with participation in races such as the New York and London marathons and spread into sports like hiking, cycling and even wheel chair racing. As well as offering travelers the chance to get fitter, athletic voluntourism has the benefit of raising money for charity.

Driving destination picks next year will be reality television shows, which have stepped up in creating episodes and entire seasons around single destinations. Top Chef and Jersey Shore have followed in the footsteps of series like the Amazing Race and Survivor by taking their audiences on the road (to Texas and Florence, Italy respectively).? ????