Helen Coffey, The Independent’s no-flight Travel Editor (Bonus Episode #29)

In this bonus episode Iain talks with Helen Coffey, travel editor of ‘The Independent’ and author of the book ‘Zero Altitude: How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More’.

We discuss her background in skiing, time at Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine and her decision in 2020 to give up flying completely – a significant decision for a travel journalist.

SHOW NOTES

• Helen was on the show in Episode 80
• She learned to ski at Hemel Hempstead (2:15)
• Her first ski season was in Les Arcs (4:00)

• Listen to our interview with ski instructor Warren Smith here (4:45)
• Helen worked as a transfer rep for Crystal Ski (6:45)
• Younger listeners may be surprised to learn that ski passes used to require photos (9:30)
• She started as a sub-editor at the Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Magazine before moving to the relatively new position of Online Editor (12:00)
• She was schooled in ‘churnalism’ at the Daily Express (14:15)
• During PyeongChang 2018 we produced a podcast every day (15:30)
• Iain founded Ski Flight Free in 2019 (16:15)
• Anna Hughes was on the podcast in our Train Travel Special episode (20:00)

• Following an interview with Anna Hughes at Flight Free UK, Helen decided to take the Flight Free pledge and to stop flying completely (20:45)
• Tagsyrt is a Swedish word loosely meaning ‘train bragging’ (25:15)
• If you’re paying £2 to offset your flight (say with Ryanair), it’s unlikely to be an effective scheme (29:30)
• Iain uses MyClimate to offset emissions from flights (30:15)
• Aviation fuel is not subject to taxation that other forms of transport are (32:00)
• Research has shown that 1% of people cause half of global aviation emissions (34:00)
• Look at Mark Smith’s excellent Seat61.com website for advice on flight free travel (37:00)
• Helen travelled on the Travelski direct Eurostar service last winter to Les Arcs (38:30)
• You can listen to our bonus episode about Iain’s experience on the TravelSki Express service here (39:30)

• You can see Helen ‘in person’ at The Independent’s virtual event for advice on your next holiday, with Simon Calder on 22 September (41:30)
• Helen’s book ‘Zero Altitude: How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More’ is available in all good bookstores