Overnight Trip to London, Paddington Bear and the World's Worst Airline Seat
Read my review of JetBlue Mint and decide, is it the world's least accessible airplane seat? Plus a trip to London and the House of Commons.
“In London everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.”
— Paddington Bear
Hey there!
Traveling abroad is often a stressful experience for those of us with disabilities, largely because there is so much uncertainty around accessibility. Even as a constant traveler, I experience a bit of apprehension each time I depart the United States. But, when I depart for London on Wednesday, I’ll face no such concern.
You see, London is a city where, after arriving to the airport, I can take a nonstop train to the city center (check out my review of the Heathrow Express), hail a wheelchair accessible taxi with a wave of my hand (100% of London Black Cabs have a wheelchair ramp), and ride the iconic city buses for free (read my guide to accessible public transport in London). For me, London is a dream destination for its high level of accessibility — it truly is one of the best cities in the world.
London was also a dream destination for the fictional bear named Paddington, who moved there following a natural disaster in the Peruvian forest. If you haven’t seen the 2014 feel-good film, it’s currently streaming on Netflix and I highly recommend it — for adults and children alike! When I arrive to Paddington Station later this week, I’ll be sure to snap a photo with the statue located on Platform 1.
My trip to London will be a quick one — I’m staying for just one night! My friend Christopher Wood, the visionary behind the Air4All wheelchair securement space for airplanes, has invited me to attend a #RightsOnFlights reception at the House of Commons. The timing is inconvenient for me, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go inside the Palace of Westminster for the first time. I am also looking forward to connecting with many of the UK’s top advocates for equal access in air travel.
A night at the ballpark with a Wheelchair Travel reader
Herb, a Wheelchair Travel reader from Canada, recently reached out to me about visiting Boston (my hometown). He and his wife invited me to attend a Red Sox game, and I accepted! It was fun to share accessible travel stories and enjoy a game inside America’s oldest ballpark!
The couple used my Trick to Save Money on ADA Accessible Seats at Sporting Events and Concerts to get a better deal on Red Sox tickets. It really does work and I plan to employ the strategy myself this weekend, when Florida State University (my alma mater) visits Boston College for a football game. How about those undefeated and third-ranked Seminoles?
Meet me in Lake Tahoe for ZorkFest 2023!
Next month, from October 13-15, 2023, I’ll be in Lake Tahoe for ZorkFest, an annual gathering of travel enthusiasts that teaches attendees how to earn free and discounted travel through airline, hotel and casino rewards programs. The event is put on by Michael Trager, one of my best friends and the founder of TravelZork — the web’s ultimate source for Vegas and casino loyalty news.
At ZorkFest, you’ll learn how to earn perks like complimentary flights, hotel rooms, meals and shows, all while enjoying the company of me and other savvy travelers. If you’d like to learn more, check out the ZorkFest event website. For a limited time, you can take $55 off the ticket price using promo code lateearly88. If you decide to make the trip, please let me know — I’d love to connect with you at ZorkFest!
Accessible Air Travel Advocacy Initiative
Later this week, I’ll be sending along details about my latest advocacy initiative that is targeted at improving the accessibility of air travel. It will contain details about how you can get involved to accelerate the adoption of a wheelchair space on airplanes. Thank you in advance for your support!
Thanks for your continued readership,
— John
Latest Accessible Travel Articles
Is JetBlue’s Mint Business Class seat the most inaccessible airplane seat in the world?
I recently flew JetBlue’s new Mint Business Class product on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles — and was nearly choked during the transfer process. Take a look at the seat and read my thoughts in this detailed review.
Wheelchair won’t fit on the airplane? Air Canada will soon have to swap it with a larger one to accommodate disabled passengers.
In cities across the country (including in California, where I snapped this photo), wheelchair users desperately wait for accessible taxis — sometimes for hours. Here, I propose a new set of regulations to improve accessible taxi service.
Must-Have Accessible Travel Gear
What’s inside the bag of a wheelchair travel blogger? Each item that I carry in my travel bag has a purpose, so take a look inside my luggage and learn what items I couldn’t live without while exploring the world with a wheelchair.
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The Things We Collect While Traveling
Tourists often purchase souvenir trinkets, t-shirts and keychains — but physical objects aren't what matter most.
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From the Archives (In Case You Missed It)
On a previous trip to London, I stayed in a wheelchair accessible hostel. Yes, really!
This wheelchair accessible hostel in central London is both affordable and conveniently located, but is it worth trading the comfort and privacy of a hotel room for dorm room bunk? Join me for a tour and decide for yourself!
Check out these articles too:
Review: InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco — Take a look inside the InterContinental Mark Hopkins, a wheelchair accessible San Francisco hotel that blends history with modern and accessible amenities.
American Airlines Dropped my Wheelchair (And Planned to Hide It!) — Airlines frequently damage wheelchairs, but even when a power wheelchair is dropped, they can't be trusted to inform passengers. Read about my wild experience in Los Angeles.
A wheelchair user had to pay more than the taxi meter fare to attract the attention of a cab driver — In cities across the country, wheelchair users desperately wait for accessible taxis — sometimes for hours. Here, I propose a new set of regulations to improve accessible taxi service.
My favorite fantasy series is finally being acted out: The release of the second season of The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime coincided with my Covid infection, so I had something to watch while I endured what was thankfully a mild case. The TV show is an adaptation of Robert Jordan’s book series of the same name. While I find the adaptation satisfying, the books are no doubt better and, if you’d prefer to start there, the first volume is titled The Eye of the World.
I love London! And think it’s fantastic that 100% of cabs are wheelchair accessible. Keep hoping that the US will move in that direction as accessible cab service is awful just about everywhere here. Have a great trip!
So where in London do you plan staying. I’m planning a trip in October.