Booking travel requires navigating complex websites, yet many popular travel booking sites have significant accessibility barriers, creating frustrating experiences for disabled users. Choosing accessible booking platforms enables smoother travel planning and reduces stress.
This guide reviews accessibility of major travel booking websites, explaining what makes sites more or less accessible and recommending platforms with better accessibility.
Accessibility Challenges in Travel Booking
Understanding common barriers helps you identify and avoid inaccessible sites:
Navigation and Menu Complexity
Complex navigation hinders disabled users:
- Confusing menu structures requiring multiple clicks to find options
- Hidden navigation requiring scrolling to discover menus
- Inconsistent navigation changing across pages
- Too many options overwhelming screen reader and cognitive accessibility users
- Menu overload creating decision paralysis
Accessible alternatives:
- Clear, consistent navigation structure throughout site
- Logical menu organization
- Searchable options reducing navigation needs
- Skip links enabling jumping past repetitive content
- Breadcrumb navigation showing page location
Form Accessibility Issues
Booking requires completing complex forms with common accessibility problems:
- Unlabeled form fields—fields without associated text descriptions
- Unclear error messages—errors not clearly linked to problematic fields
- Required field ambiguity—not knowing which fields are required
- Inaccessible date pickers—calendar selectors difficult for screen readers
- Missing instructions—complex forms without explanatory text
- Captcha requirements—inaccessible security verification
Accessible form practices:
- All fields clearly labeled with associated text
- Clear error messages identifying and explaining errors
- Required fields clearly marked
- Alternative date entry methods besides calendars
- Clear form instructions and guidance
- Accessible security verification (not image-based CAPTCHA)
Visual Design Issues
Visual design significantly affects accessibility:
- Poor contrast between text and background colors
- Tiny fonts difficult for low-vision users to read
- No text alternatives for images and graphics
- Color-only information relying on color to convey meaning
- Unorganized layout making pages difficult to navigate
- Animations creating distraction and sensory overwhelm
Accessible design:
- High contrast between text and background (WCAG AA or AAA standards)
- Readable font sizes (minimum 12pt)
- Text alternatives (alt text) for all images
- Information not relying solely on color
- Organized, clear layout
- Animations that can be disabled or respect motion preferences
Detailed Accessibility Review of Major Travel Platforms
Here's how major travel booking platforms compare on accessibility:
Airlines
Airline websites require significant accessibility due to complex booking:
Most Accessible Options:
Delta Airlines
- Clear, consistent website navigation
- Accessible booking forms with clear labeling
- Good contrast and readable fonts
- Accessible baggage allowance and seating information
- Mobile app with accessibility improvements
United Airlines
- Straightforward booking process
- Accessible seat selection mapping
- Clear special services information
- Accessible mobile app
- Good overall keyboard navigation
Moderately Accessible:
American Airlines
- Standard booking accessibility
- Some form complexity
- Good informational accessibility
- Mobile app with standard accessibility
- Adequate visual contrast
Less Accessible:
Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines
- More complex booking processes
- Some form accessibility issues
- Mobile apps with limited accessibility
- Smaller accessibility teams and resources
Accessibility tips for airline booking:
- Use airline phone booking (1-800 numbers) if website is inaccessible
- Contact accessibility departments explaining issues and requesting accommodations
- Use discount airline accessibility services (TSA PreCheck, etc.) reducing complexity
- Book in advance avoiding pressure from tight timelines
- Request special accommodations (wheelchairs, service animals, dietary) when booking
Hotel Booking Platforms
Most Accessible:
Accessible Hotels
- Purpose-built for accessible hotel information
- Detailed accessibility details for each property
- Clear filtering by specific accessibility features
- User reviews from disabled travelers
- Simple, accessible website design
Hotels.com
- Accessible search and booking
- Clear hotel accessibility information
- Filterable accessibility features
- Straightforward booking process
- Good keyboard navigation
Moderate Accessibility:
Booking.com
- Adequate accessibility overall
- Some form complexity
- Accessible property descriptions
- Good search functionality
- Improving accessibility over time
Expedia
- Standard booking accessibility
- Some navigation complexity
- Accessible property information
- Mobile app with standard accessibility
Less Accessible:
Airbnb
- Complex interface design
- Limited accessibility filtering
- Some form inaccessibility
- Inconsistent property accessibility information
- Accessibility concerns in both website and app
Hotel booking accessibility tips:
- Call hotels directly for detailed accessibility information
- Read reviews from disabled travelers accessing real experiences
- Ask specific questions about accessibility features
- Request written confirmation of accessibility features discussed
- Book refundable rates allowing flexibility if accommodations don't match expectations
Activity and Attraction Booking
Most Accessible:
Viator (TripAdvisor's activity platform)
- Decent accessibility overall
- Activity accessibility information available
- Straightforward booking
- Keyboard navigable
GetYourGuide
- Activity information accessibility
- Filterable search options
- Clear booking process
- Good keyboard navigation
Moderate Accessibility:
Klook
- Standard accessibility overall
- Activity information available
- Some form complexity
- Mobile-focused design
Eventbrite (for ticketed events)
- Accessible event information
- Clear booking process
- Some navigation complexity
Less Accessible:
Ticketmaster (venue and event tickets)
- Complex navigation
- Form accessibility issues
- Limited accessibility information
- Better for major events than smaller attractions
General Travel Booking Aggregators
Most Accessible:
Google Flights
- Clean, simple interface
- Accessible flight search and filtering
- Clear price comparisons
- Excellent keyboard navigation
- Straightforward design
Momondo
- Simple flight search interface
- Accessible filtering options
- Clear results presentation
- Good keyboard navigation
Moderate Accessibility:
Kayak
- Standard accessibility
- Functional search features
- Some presentation complexity
- Adequate keyboard navigation
Less Accessible:
Skyscanner
- Complex interface design
- Some accessibility issues
- Mobile-focused design
- Navigation can be challenging for keyboard users
Accessibility Features to Look For
When evaluating travel booking sites, assess:
Form Accessibility
- Are form fields clearly labeled?
- Are error messages clear and helpful?
- Are required fields marked?
- Is date entry accessible (not just calendar pickers)?
- Can forms be completed without using a mouse?
- Are instructions provided for complex fields?
Visual Accessibility
- Is text sufficiently large and readable?
- Is there good contrast between text and background?
- Do images have text alternatives?
- Is information not relying solely on color?
- Can text be resized without breaking layout?
- Are animations minimal or disableable?
Navigation Accessibility
- Is navigation consistent across pages?
- Can the page be navigated with keyboard only?
- Are there skip links to jump past repetitive content?
- Is the page structure logical (headings, lists, etc.)?
- Is it clear where you are in the booking process?
- Can you go back and change information?
Mobile Accessibility
- Does the mobile site/app have proper contrast?
- Are buttons large enough to tap easily?
- Can the mobile version be navigated with keyboard?
- Does mobile version have screen reader support?
- Is the mobile interface simplified or equally complex as desktop?
Alternative Booking Methods
- Is phone booking available?
- Can you contact the company for assistance?
- Are customer service representatives trained in accessibility?
- Is booking possible through third-party services?
- Can specialized services assist with bookings?
Strategies for Accessible Travel Booking
Use these strategies when booking travel on potentially inaccessible sites:
Gather Information Before Booking
Research thoroughly before committing:
- Use accessible aggregate sites (Google Flights) for initial search
- Call businesses directly asking detailed accessibility questions
- Read disabled traveler reviews accessing honest experiences
- Research with OutEasily for comprehensive accessibility information
- Take screenshots documenting what you learn
Consider Third-Party Booking Assistance
Services exist helping with inaccessible bookings:
- Travel agents can often navigate inaccessible sites
- Accessibility consulting services assist with complex bookings
- Disability organization travel programs sometimes provide booking assistance
- Virtual assistant services can handle booking if websites are inaccessible
Request Accommodations from Booking Sites
Contact sites about accessibility issues:
- Report accessibility issues to website accessibility teams
- Request accommodations when booking
- Ask for phone booking assistance if website is inaccessible
- Request email confirmation of complex bookings
- Document communication about accessibility requests
Use Accessibility Tools to Improve Navigation
Enhance site accessibility with tools:
- Browser extensions improving accessibility (WAVE, WebAIM, etc.)
- Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS) enabling non-visual navigation
- Text-to-speech reading page content aloud
- Magnification enlarging site content
- High contrast mode improving visual accessibility
- Translation tools if sites aren't in your language
Key Takeaways
- Major travel booking sites vary significantly in accessibility requiring comparison before choosing platforms
- Google Flights, Accessible Hotels, and airline direct booking generally offer better accessibility
- Complex sites like Airbnb and Skyscanner present barriers requiring alternative booking strategies
- Direct phone booking may be easier than navigating inaccessible websites
- Reading reviews from disabled travelers provides essential accessibility information
- Reporting accessibility issues helps companies improve sites for all users
- Third-party booking assistance can help when sites are inaccessible
Accessible travel booking should be straightforward and supported. You deserve booking platforms making trip planning easier, not harder.
Ready to book your next accessible trip? OutEasily partners with accessible travel booking platforms and provides comprehensive accessibility information helping you choose the best booking options for your needs. Our platform integrates accessibility information with booking assistance. Visit OutEasily today to discover how to book your travels on platforms truly supporting accessibility.