International flights are a high-prestige, moral expensive to a certain social-media-happy subset of the population, i.e. elite-educated, otherwise anti-consume

International flights are a high-prestige, moral expensive to a certain social-media-happy subset of the population, i.e. elite-educated, otherwise anti-consumerist young liberals. Spending a similar amount of money on something like electronics reeks of consumerism and financially irresponsible behavior. You'll do it, but you'll feel a vaguely ashamed, and you probably won't brag about it. International travel is definitely something you want to do and be seen doing. People who would be disgusted to hear about how awesome your new car is will go on for hours (and hundreds of social media photos) about how their perspective was expanded by their equally-expensive three months backpacking across Europe instead of working. Add the much simpler Fear of Missing Out onto the photos where your friends are all having a great time together in Paris, and Facebook sells a lot of plane tickets.