Zero Altitude: How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More

by Helen Coffey

Zero Altitude follows Helen Coffey as she journeys as far as she can in the course of her job as a top travel journalist – all without getting on a single flight. Between trips by train, car, boat and bike, she meets climate experts and activists at the forefront of the burgeoning flight-free movement. Over the course of her travels, she discovers that keeping both feet on the ground is not only possible but that it can be an exhilarating opportunity for adventure.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 26, 2022

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and educational, but also delightfully entertaining and inspiring.

[Sigrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I think being satisfied is all about your expectations of what your life should include. If you expect you will fly a lot and see everything, you will be disappointed if you switch to slow travel. If you expect to sit in an apartment for years on end, you will think a walk in the forest is something wonderful."

As a travel journalist, Helen Coffey's job has always been somewhat dependent on air travel, the kind of air travel that we have all come to depend on in this day and age - astoundingly cheap and wonderfully convenient. However, as the climate crisis accelerates and movements like Extinction Rebellion rightfully gains traction around the globe we have all growns acquainted to that little ball anxiety in the pit of your stomach even though all this might very well take place on the very periphery of our lives at the moment. Or, I don't know, at least I have.

This is where Coffey embarks on a terrestrial journey to a different mindset when it comes to travel. Beginning with examining current travel practices and the consequences of air travel for the environment, moving on to looking at alternatives - both those available right now such as staycations, rail, bike and ferry travel as well as electric air travel, sustainable aviation fuel and greenhouse gas removal strategies.

Cold, hard facts educate the reader while Coffey's own Zero Aviation travels are interwoven as alternating chapters making sure that despair and frustration over the current state of the world are balanced on equal measure with hope and eager inspiration over what we can do instead. I texted my boyfriend throughout as I was reading "I think maybe we should go hitchhiking..." Or "If I said I wanted to catch the ferry to Morocco, what would you say?" Every single flight free trip Coffey does in this book I am dying to try.

Thank you so much History Press, Flint Books and Laura Hunt for this gifted copy, it was super insightful and inspiring!

[Gemma Newbery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book. I asked for this book as a present because I don't like flying! I've learnt so much from this and I appreciate the research and the in-depth look at all the pros and cons of restricting flights, sustainable alternatives and the impact beyond carbon.

[Adam Mil · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hateful human being who purports to be Christian.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant memoir into the overland travels of a travel editor and writer. Helen writes for The Independent in the UK and committed herself to not flying, despite her job being dependent on it. Some great insights are shared into train travel, particularly in Europe, and the realistic challenges and joys giving up flying can bring.
It’s inspired me to take the overland journey as much as I can - because it’s certainly doable.