Key points from the survey
- Meeting the parents is the top sign of a serious relationship, chosen by 58% of the couples asked.
- Exchanging house keys (50%) and planning a holiday together (49%) come second and third.
- Saying “I love you” is sixth, at 37%, below discussing plans for the future (46%).
- The survey says it takes 5 months on average for a relationship to become “serious”.
- 82% said actions speak louder than words, and 4 in 5 had been on holiday with their partner.
All figures are from the graphic, which says Monarch Airlines asked “coupled-up Brits”. It does not give a sample size or date.
Top 10 signs you’re in a serious relationship
Title: Getting serious? The graphic opens: “Do you think you’ve reached a point in your relationship where things have gotten serious? Or are you stuck going steady and want to move to the next level? Monarch Airlines asked coupled-up Brits to reveal the telltale signs of a ‘serious’ relationship and here’s what they came up with”. The ten signs follow a winding path marked with numbered hearts.
| Rank | Share of couples | Sign of a serious relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58% | meeting the parents |
| 2 | 50% | exchanging house keys |
| 3 | 49% | planning a holiday together |
| 4 | 46% | discussing plans for the future |
| 5 | 39% | being invited to family gatherings |
| 6 | 37% | saying “I love you” |
| 7 | 34% | staying overnight at each other’s houses |
| 8 | 32% | seeing each other at least every other night |
| 9 | 29% | leaving a toothbrush at each other’s house |
| 10 | 28% | you tell each other absolutely everything |
Three further figures sit under the list:
- It takes 5 months for the average relationship to become “serious”.
- 82% say actions speak louder than words.
- 4 in 5 have been on holiday with their partner.
A final panel reads “Some couples even claim that your relationship is ‘serious’ when you…” and lists: know each other’s passwords; have pet names for each other; buy a cat or dog together; use each other as ‘+1s’ at weddings and social events.
Footer (a dash in the original shown here as a comma): “Monarch Airlines know that every couple is different, and that relationships are a tricky business. But, if you want to help tick off Number 3 in the list, we’re more than happy to help!” with www.monarch.co.uk and the Monarch logo.
What the list says about a serious relationship
Read as a ranking, the survey puts family first. Two of the top five signs involve the other person’s family: meeting the parents (58%) and being invited to family gatherings (39%). Practical steps come next, with house keys at 50% and a toothbrush left at the other’s house at 29%.
Talk about the future (46%) ranks above saying “I love you” (37%). The extra panel of signs, such as sharing passwords or buying a pet together, has no percentages, so the graphic does not say how many couples gave those answers.
About the survey and Monarch Airlines
This is a marketing graphic. Its footer points to sign number 3, planning a holiday together, and offers the airline’s help with it. Monarch Airlines was a UK airline founded on 5 June 1967. It ceased operations on 2 October 2017 [1], so the website printed on the graphic no longer offers flights.
Notes on this infographic
- Survey details missing. The graphic names no polling company, sample size, date or question wording. We could not find the original press release, so the figures cannot be checked.
- Not a ranking of importance. The percentages are the share of respondents who chose each sign. They are not meant to add up to 100%.
- Layout. Some numbered hearts sit slightly apart from their percentages; the order above follows the percentages, which run from highest to lowest.
- Dead link. Monarch stopped trading in 2017 [1], and www.monarch.co.uk returned an error when we checked in October 2026.
Questions about a serious relationship
What is a serious relationship?
The graphic does not define one. It lists the signs couples in its survey gave, led by meeting the parents (58%), exchanging house keys (50%) and planning a holiday together (49%).
When do relationships get serious?
According to this survey, it takes 5 months on average for a relationship to become “serious”. The graphic does not say how that average was worked out.
Does saying I love you mean a relationship is serious?
In this survey, saying "I love you" ranked sixth among the signs of a serious relationship, chosen by 37% of couples. It came below meeting the parents (58%), exchanging house keys (50%), planning a holiday together (49%), discussing plans for the future (46%) and being invited to family gatherings (39%). 82% of those asked said actions speak louder than words.
Who carried out the survey on signs of a serious relationship?
The graphic says Monarch Airlines asked "coupled-up Brits" for the telltale signs of a serious relationship. It names no polling company, sample size, date or question wording, so the figures cannot be checked. Monarch Airlines was a UK airline founded on 5 June 1967, and it ceased operations on 2 October 2017 [1].
Sources
- Wikipedia, Monarch Airlines.
Last reviewed 29 October 2026
