Hi Gordon! Tell us what you do, and how you ended up there

I’m a freelance journalist with a focus on the aviation industry—essentially this covers the three 'A's—airlines, aircraft and airports. I studied journalism at university in Scotland, before scoring my first graduate gig as a newsroom assistant at BBC headquarters in London. After climbing up the food chain, I dabbled in travel PR for a couple of years before returning to journalism and specialising in aviation.

Wow! So, is it all perks & luxury when you’re on press trips?

The industry isn’t exactly famed for its 9-5 routine or big salaries, so getting to travel on the job is a big part of why people enter and remain in the sector. But it absolutely isn’t all luxury – there’s a lot of hard work involved, particularly if you need to file your report and social media content while on the road.

I should also add that press trips are a slightly controversial topic. Most (but not all) media organisations will be transparent and flag when a journalist has been a guest or invited by a particular company. The key is not to blur an invitation with keeping your editorial independence and credibility.

Sounds like travel itself is the perk! Where are the most interesting places your work has taken you, then?

Going into this job, it’s impossible not to have a conscious (or at least subconscious) list of places you’d like to visit. But some of the most fascinating places I’ve visited were never on my initial radar.

Exploring a country beyond its capital city tends to be what piques my interest the most. I’ve been lucky to visit some really fascinating areas in Finland, Brazil and Mexico—many of which I had never heard of, let alone considered travelling to, had it not been for work.

You obviously love to travel – tell us, what has been your favourite ever trip – either for work or pleasure?

In this business, there can be a fair amount of what we call in Scotland (ahem) ‘willy waving’. It’s a rather shallow sense of one-upmanship and heading to really exotic, niche destinations on the other side of the globe, all in the pursuit of having the edge.

A far-flung adventure can be fantastic, but the destination that really surprised me was Madeira. I visited with a few friends last summer and was blown away by the nature and scenery. It soon became one of my all-time favourite trips.

Like many people, I had an impression of a temperate Portuguese island full of British retirees—and while it’s undoubtedly a lovely place for granny and grandpa, it has so, so much more to offer.

The flora and fauna is unlike anything I’ve seen in continental Europe, with a dramatic coastline flirting alongside lush semi-tropical forests separated from the blue ocean by phenomenal cliffs. The food scene is also top-notch, and that’s before you even consider the delicious wine.

As an added bonus, it’s just three hours from the UK and also has a really cool (if slightly scary) airport for any AV-geeks!

Where in the world are you now? What do your 2023 travel plans look like?

I’m currently in Taipei, waiting to board a shiny Airbus A350-900 from new local carrier Starlux. I’m in Asia for a couple of months to dodge the worst of the European winter, and to gather stories from a part of the world that has been relatively difficult to access until recently due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The next trip I have in my diary is to South Korea in a couple of weeks—I first visited in 2017 and was instantly in awe of the culture, food and people. Even looking beyond Seoul, it has a really youthful, "work-hard, play-hard" energy that I love.

I’m due to return to Europe in May and plan to base myself in either Spain or Portugal (visa-permitting!). I’m looking forward to visiting new destinations in that part of the world as I set down some Iberian roots.

And now the traditional final question—what’s one under-discovered place that you’d recommend to fellow Jack’s Flight Club members?

I’m now into my third week in Taiwan and I absolutely love it. The street food is truly world-class, the countryside is incredible (and accessible), and the people are warm and welcoming.

Given the history of the island, it still has strong Japanese influences, fused with Chinese tradition and its own unique characteristics. There’s a super-efficient bullet train running north to south, making it easy to get around and explore secondary cities such as Tainan, which is famed as a foodie haven.

While it isn’t as cheap as some parts of Southeast Asia, it’s definitely better value than some of its near neighbours. I’d previously overlooked Taiwan as a potential destination, but now I’m a firm convert and would encourage anyone looking for a more authentic East Asia experience to consider visiting.

Thanks so much for chatting to us, Gordon. We hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Taiwan!