Author: Sara B

With more than five million U.S. travelers relying on wheelchairs, air travel can be a daunting experience. In 2024 alone, nearly 890,000 wheelchairs and scooters were boarded onto U.S. airlines. When traveling with a wheelchair, it is always important to make this known to your airline, along with finding out their protocol for wheelchair assistance and the options available for accessibility when embarking and onboard.

Here at InsureMyTrip, we analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to shed light on airlines that have areas to improve upon for creating a positive and helpful environment for wheelchair users. This research looked at how many wheelchairs and scooters were mishandled in 2024, along with looking at negative and positive opinions based on reviews mentioning ‘wheelchair’ and social media sentiment.

Worst Airlines for Wheelchair Users

The top five with the lowest scores are as follows:

1. Frontier Airlines – 2.19 overall
2. American Airlines Network – 3.25 overall
3. Spirit Airlines – 4.49 overall
4. Allegiant Air – 5.03 overall
5. United Airlines Network – 5.22 overall

Frontier Airlines has the lowest score of 2.19, with 535 mishandled wheelchairs or scooters which is equal to 1.76% of 30,448 boarded devices. It also had 83% negative sentiment, while 51% of reviews containing ‘wheelchair’ received a 1-star rating.

In second place is the American Airlines Network, with an overall score of 3.25. In 2024, they mishandled 2,635 wheelchairs and scooters out of 161,287 boarded mobility devices. They also have a relatively high negative sentiment score of 59% while also having 25% of their reviews containing ‘wheelchair’ rated at 1-star.

Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air come in third and fourth respectively. Spirit Airlines mishandled 576 wheelchairs and scooters, with the largest percentage of mishandled mobility devices at 2.07%. Allegiant Air mishandled 207 out of the 27,575 wheelchairs and scooters it transported in 2024. Despite having a lower mishandling rate, Allegiant received a higher proportion of 1-star reviews mentioning wheelchairs, at 32%, compared to 28% for Spirit Airlines.

In fifth position is United Airlines Network, which mishandled 1,511 wheelchairs and scooters out of 156,528, which comes out to 0.97% of the total boarded devices.

Best Airlines for Wheelchair Users

The top five with the highest scores are:

1. JetBlue Airways – 7.44 overall
2. Delta Air Lines Network – 6.89 overall
3. Alaska Airlines Network – 6.65 overall
4. Hawaiian Airlines – 6.36 overall
5. Southwest Airlines – 6.34 overall

JetBlue is in first place as the best airline overall for wheelchair users with a positive sentiment of 97% – the highest of all the airlines in the study. In addition to this, 51% of travel reviews including ‘wheelchair’ were 5-star reviews. In 2024, the airline mishandled 464 wheelchairs and scooters, which equates to 1.59% of all boarded mobility devices.

Delta Air Lines Network is second with the lowest percentage of mishandled mobility devices in 2024. Just 0.63% (464) of their 155,000 boarded wheelchairs and scooters were mishandled. From 901 reviews, they had 436 reviews containing ‘wheelchair’ that received 5-stars.

In third position, is Alaska Airlines Network which mishandled 547 wheelchairs and scooters in 2024, out of 35,430. Overall, they had a positive sentiment rating of 58%, while 58% of reviews mentioning ‘wheelchair’ are 5-star ratings.

Hawaiian and Southwest Airlines are in fourth and fifth position respectively, with Hawaiian Airlines having 66% positive sentiment online, while Southwest has a 50% split for both positive and negative. Hawaiian Airlines also had 37% of their reviews mentioning ‘wheelchair’ at 5-star, while Southwest Airlines had 61%. Hawaiian Airlines did have a lower number of boarded wheelchairs and scooters. Of the14,997 mobility devices boarded only 156 were reported as mishandled, while Southwest had the largest number of boarded mobility devices in the study. In 2024, there were 260,565 mobility devices boarded and 3,744 were reported as mishandled.

Methodology

The airlines included within this study were taken from the Air Travel Consumer Report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which was also used to source the number of mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. This was then calculated against the total number of boarded wheelchairs and scooters to gain further insight into the percentage of mishandlings to the overall number across 2024. Each data point consists of the latest research available from reputable sources. The data was standardized using minmax normalization. The minmax normalization value is multiplied by 10 to create a score (between 0-10). A score of 10 is always the best result, while a score of 0 is the worst. Each airline is ranked, higher scores equating to airlines that reflect their positive treatment of wheelchair users.

Sources

Social Media Sentimentality Percentage (excluding neutral sentiment) – https://brand24.com/

Airline Reviews containing ‘wheelchair’ – https://www.tripadvisor.com/

Number of Mishandled Wheelchairs and Scooters – https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/air-travel-consumer-report-archive

Each year, millions of tourists flock to the world’s best attractions, from natural wonders to man-made spectacles, however the realities of environmental hazards are often forgotten and are an important factor when planning your next vacation.

At InsureMyTrip, we conducted a study that looked into the most popular theme parks and tourist attractions from around the world, gaining an understanding of possible seismic hazards, future sea levels, and environmental impacts that could shape future plans for visitors when deciding which attractions to visit over the coming years.

Which Tourist Attractions are at High Risk of Being Destroyed by a Natural Disaster?

European countries have the highest number of tourist attractions that are unlikely to be impacted by a natural disaster with cooler temperatures and fewer recorded hazards, while South America has the highest number of locations that are more at risk with higher sea levels and hotter climates.

Tourist Attractions Most at Risk of Natural Disasters

In first place is Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, with an overall safety score of 5.36, because of its geographic location. Earthquakes are a common likelihood at this attraction due to the vicinity to tectonic plates. High temperatures are also a concern – with temps reaching a high of 100.4 °F in 2024. The second most at-risk destination is Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, with one of the highest recorded number of hotspots in 2024 at 1982, leaving it with an overall safety score of 5.52.

Waterbom Bali in Kuta, Indonesia is in third place, with an overall safety score of 5.95, because of a large amount of land below annual flood level due in 2030. In fourth is the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador. Known for giant tortoises and conservation, it’s high number of recorded natural hazard events (31) and temperature highs of 102.2 °F, earned the Galapagos an overall safety score of 5.99. Next is Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, with a small amount of land projected to be below annual flood level by 2030, but with strong heats reaching up to 105.8 °F.

Brazil has two more attractions in the top 10. At sixth is Nautico Praia Clube in Caldas Novas and at ninth is Beto Carrero World in Penha, both with minimal seismic hazard intensity, but with a shared high number of hotspots across the country in 2024. Their overall safety scores are 6.07 and 6.35 respectively.

Tourist Attractions Least at Risk of Natural Disasters

On the other hand, the Lazienki Palace in the capital of Poland is the least likely to be at risk from natural disasters, with no natural hazard events listed and no land below annual flood level by 2030, giving it an overall score of 9.13. Stockholm’s Vasa Museum is in second place, with an overall safety score of 8.89, with no hot spots recorded in 2024, and the highest temperature recorded at 84.2 °F. In third place is Niagara Falls, located at the border of New York state in the U.S. and Ontario, Canada. Despite it being known for its water, it has no land beneath annual flood level by 2030 and no recorded natural hazard events, leaving it with an overall safety score of 8.82.

The Eiffel Tower is in fourth place, with only five recorded hotspots across France in 2024. Due to the location of Paris, it has no land below annual flood level by 2030 and has had zero natural hazard events, which gives the Eiffel Tower an overall safety score of 8.73. In fifth is the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, a much-loved attraction with a high attraction rating at 4.8 out of 5 and no recorded natural hazards which gives it an overall safety score of 8.7.

France appears again in the top 10 with the Palace of Versailles in tenth with an overall safety score of 8.29, having a low number of five recorded hot spots, but with a higher temperature recorded at 100.4 °F.

Conclusion

When planning a trip to an exciting new location with well-known tourist attractions, it is always important to make sure your trip is timed right to have the best time, without searing temperatures or during certain seasons that have increased likelihoods of natural hazards. It is always best to research the environment and ensure you have the best travel insurance in place in case of any plans going awry. However, there are always precautionary alerts that can assist in familiarizing yourself with the safety measures put in place so that everyone can enjoy the most incredible destinations around the world.

Methodology

For this study, reputable data sources were used across various environmental hazards which were then compiled based on the locations of popular global tourist attractions. These scores were standardized using minmax normalization. The minmax normalization value is multiplied by 10 to create a score (between 0-10). A score of 10 is always the best result, while a score of 0 is the worst. These were then ranked to find the safest tourist destination for 2025.

Noted data sources used country-wide metric, or state-wide when applicable.

Sources

Land projected to be below annual flood level in 2030.

• Climate Central Risk Map – https://coastal.climatecentral.org/map/6/14.264/49.9657

This was assessed and verbally scaled according to the amount of land that was projected to be under annual flood level.

Fire Danger Hotspots

• Global Fire Dashboard – https://maps.greenpeace.org/fire_dashboard/

This can be used to find hotspots for fire danger, like volcanoes and gas flares country and state wide.

Potential Seismic Hazard Intensity

• Global Seismic Hazard Map – https://www.globalquakemodel.org/product/global-seismic-hazard-map

This was assessed and verbally scaled according to the numerical metric of peak ground acceleration.

No. of Natural Hazard Events

• National Centers for Environmental Information Natural Hazards Viewer – https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/hazards/

This can be used for recorded Tsunami Events, Significant Earthquakes and Significant Volcanic Eruptions across all time.

Hottest Temperature Recorded in 2024

• AccuWeather – https://www.accuweather.com/

Rating of Attraction

• Trip Advisor – https://www.tripadvisor.com/

As a travel agent looking to give your clients unforgettable experiences at a great value, you already know the benefits of taking an off-season vacation. However, your customers might not be as familiar with traveling during shoulder seasons. They might also need convincing (for example, they may understand that traveling to Paris in the springtime is both popular and expensive but remain determined to go because they read that it’s widely considered one of the best times to visit).

To help you have effective and persuasive conversations that grow your off-season vacation business, we have tips that will help you answer questions that start with “What is shoulder season?” become “What are the best shoulder season destinations?” and end with “How quickly can I book a shoulder season vacation?”

Share the Benefits of Shoulder Seasons

If you’re starting the conversation of shoulder season travel, stay positive, and begin with the benefits.

If they ask, “What is shoulder season?” answer that first. A succinct definition is “the period between peak and low travel seasons when travelers can enjoy lower prices and smaller crowds.”

Starting with price is important-it can be a make-or-break factor for many vacation travelers. Let them know that during peak seasons, airfare and accommodations (not to mention attractions your clients may want to visit) tend to be more expensive. By taking an off-season vacation, though, your clients can take advantage of the lower prices that come with lower demand at certain points of the year.

Next, move onto discussing the best shoulder season destinations. These can vary from client to client. However, you can come to the conversation equipped with expertise. Once you know your customers’ interests, the kinds of climates they want to enjoy, and the types of activities they want to participate in, do your homework. If they want to visit Europe, for example, you’ll know it’s typically busy from June to August, so research weather, events, and price trends for periods from April to May or September to October.

The Exclusive Deals Only You Can Provide

When you sell your clients on a shoulder season vacation, you have an opportunity to show how indispensable you are, both for this trip and any they want to plan in the future. That’s all thanks to the unique industry relationships you’ve spent time building throughout your career.

When off-season trips come your way, be ready to reach out to those contacts at tour companies, hotels, and more to see how you can sweeten the deals more than what those companies may already be offering during these lighter travel times. This may seem difficult at first glance-after all, prices are already lowered in the shoulder seasons, right? -but businesses may be eager enough to fill rooms and excursions that reaching out could pay off for your customers while making you look amazing.

You can also make yourself indispensable by keeping an eye out for last-minute deals clients don’t know to look for. If accommodations aren’t at capacity right around the time a booking is supposed to take place, for instance, lower rates may become available. Honing your ability to swoop in and save clients money right before they take off for vacation can further prove your status as a helpful travel planning partner.

The Unique Experiences You Can Help Them Enjoy

What is shoulder season if not a time for experiences most travelers won’t get to have on their expensive peak season trips? Keep that in mind and promote the experiences your client won’t be able to enjoy at the most popular times of the year. These can include lesser-known festivals, astrotourism opportunities for locales with longer nights in the off season.

If it benefits your business, you could also offer special shoulder season experience packages for one of the below:

• Special culinary events: Pair walking food tours with a cooking class and restaurant reservations that may be too difficult to book in peak seasons.
• Private museum tours: Even if a famous art museum is always en vogue, tour guides may be offering private or small-group sessions at lower prices. Promoting a package that bundles multiple tours could appeal to the intellectual traveler.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, think of what you know about the best shoulder season destinations you want to sell and see what unique adventures you’ll be able to provide.

Let Your Clients Know about Shoulder Season Travel Insurance

Once your clients are booked and excited for their off-season vacation, let them know there’s one more thing they can do that may help them save money should obstacles arise on their trip: find the right travel insurance for their shoulder season vacation. With low-cost travel insurance, they may be financially protected in the event of delayed or canceled flights, lost or damaged luggage, or needs for medical attention.

One of the best ways they can do that is by comparing their options on InsureMyTrip.com. As the world’s first travel insurance comparison website, we are an unbiased source of information they can use to build and analyze quotes from top providers. Our dedicated Customer Care team of licensed professionals is also standing by to help travelers navigate the nuances of coverage, and answer questions as they determine the best low-cost travel insurance for shoulder season getaway.

If they’d like to get started, let them know they can start a quote on our site today.

Whether you’re a college professor looking to publish or a parent helping their kid get their summer history project done last minute before school starts, knowing how to plan a trip for research purposes can be an enormously helpful skill. With this skill you can set goals, prioritize your itinerary like a pro, and stay productive even after your travels end.

If planning for this kind of trip isn’t one of your strengths, though, we can help. Read on and use this article to build the ideal research travel checklist so you’re ready for your next educational adventure.

Before You Book:

There are two parts to a good research travel checklist. The first one (this part) deals with what you need to know before you even book your flights. With that in mind, take these steps, in this order, to master how to plan a trip for your big research project:

• Define Your Research Goals: Based on your areas of expertise, identifying what to research for vacation trips like this could include developing the hypothesis you want to confirm or data you want to capture. If you’re doing research for a creative project, you may find you’re looking to journal how a setting makes you feel, the type of architecture a character in a story would encounter, or the different lighting conditions you want to render in a photo series.
• Do Some Pre-Research: Once you figure out both what to research for vacation and what you want this trip to achieve for your overall aims, start gathering information about where you’re heading. Compile what information you can about cultural nuances that could help shape your research questions, or specific locations at your destination that could help you achieve more meaningful results.
• Secure Necessary Permissions: Depending on what you decide to research for vacation, you may need permissions from local or national authorities before you begin your studies. Areas that require such permissions include heritage sites, indigenous lands, and historic structures (be sure to check for paperwork you need to do for any special access, even if a location is generally open to the public).

On Your Trip:

The second part of your research travel checklist should be about everything you do after arriving at your destination. If you practice these steps on each of your research trips, you’ll know exactly how to plan travel that’s as productive as it is fun:

• Organize Your Time: Master this skill early when learning how to plan a trip for research. Make yourself a daily schedule that balances exploration, data collection, and rest. Give yourself leeway to make spontaneous, unplanned discoveries, but document and stick to key deadlines and appointments, too.
• Keep Family and Friends Informed: Your family and friends will want to know you’re safe, and knowing your location and activities can help them better support you in case of an emergency. However, keeping in touch with them about your progress and what you see on your research trip can help them feel like they’re sharing the experience with you.
• Stay Adaptable: When you arrive in an unfamiliar environment, staying flexible is key. Whether changes could close a road you planned to travel on a specific day, for example, or traffic delays could keep you from getting on a train you need to get to a research destination that’s vital for your project. Keep a positive mindset, look for solutions, and you’ll have an easier time finding a path to success.

Focus on Your Findings-Protect Your Trip with Research Travel Insurance

This entire checklist offers practical advice, but maybe the best tip for how to plan your research trip is to protect yourself. You have potentially life-changing discoveries to make. The last thing you need to be doing is worrying about the obstacles that could arise.

That’s why you should also consider learning how to purchase travel insurance for research trips. When you have the right plan for your needs, travel coverage may be able to financially protect you in the event of delayed or canceled flights, lost or damaged luggage, or needs for medical attention.

Finding the best plan for your research trip is easier than you might think. All you have to do to start is compare options on InsureMyTrip.com. As the world’s first travel insurance website, we are an unbiased source of information where you can build and analyze quotes from top providers. Our dedicated Customer Care team of licensed professionals is also standing by to answer your questions as you learn how to purchase travel insurance for research trips.

To begin finding the ideal insurance for your research travel, start a quote on our site. It will be one less thing to cross off your research trip checklist.