Travel Blogger Defends Reviewing Airlines From Countries With Anti-LGBTQ Policies
A prominent aviation writer has addressed criticism over his recent trip to Saudi Arabia, explaining his philosophy on separating political concerns from travel coverage.
A well-known travel blogger has responded to reader backlash following his recent journey to Saudi Arabia, where he flew aboard Saudia and Riyadh Air, defending his approach to reviewing airlines and destinations regardless of their social policies.
The writer, who identifies as gay and married with children, acknowledged receiving pointed questions about why someone of his background would choose to fly certain carriers or visit particular destinations. The criticism reportedly centers on his willingness to travel to and review services from countries with restrictive policies toward LGBTQ individuals.
In his explanation, the blogger emphasized his commitment to objective airline and hotel reviews over his 18-year career, stating that he aims to document passenger experiences independent of his personal views on governmental policies. He cited his fascination with aviation as a driving factor, expressing interest in experiencing service differences across carriers ranging from major U.S. airlines to carriers like Pakistan International Airlines and Turkmenistan Airlines.
The travel writer noted several justifications for his editorial approach, including the diversity of his readership. He pointed to a substantial following from Saudi Arabia itself, suggesting these readers also value independent assessments of their national carriers. Additionally, he indicated that visiting various countries sometimes challenges his preconceived notions about their populations.
This explanation follows the blogger's recent coverage of Saudi Arabian aviation, which apparently sparked debate among his audience about the appropriateness of promoting travel to destinations with policies some consider incompatible with LGBTQ rights. The writer characterized himself as politically progressive while maintaining that travel coverage can remain separate from political commentary, though he acknowledged that travel and politics intersect on both policy and personal levels.