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

In this bonus episode Iain talks with Helen Coffey, travel editor at ‘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. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. 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