Travel expert Rick Steves says he only flies in economy: 'It never occurred to me that I'm suffering'

02.05.2024 - 21:41 / insider.com / Rick Steves

For someone behind a company that gains $120 million annually in revenue, it might be surprising to learn that Rick Steves proudly sits in economy class for all his flights.

"It never occurred to me that I'm suffering," the 68-year-old travel writer told The Washington Post. "As long as I've got an aisle and a seat that reclines, I'm happy."

In a profile written by Natalie B. Compton, Steves shared how he grew his business and donated millions toward philanthropy. He also shared a few of his hot takes when it comes to traveling.

Steves leads a multimillion-dollar European tour company, and according to the Post, he spends about three months a year overseas. The trips involve everything from updating travel guides to researching and writing.

To get to the destinations, Steve often takes long-haul flights. And while the Post states that Steves could afford a business-class or first-class seat, he opts for the back of the plane in economy.

It's because Steves has an egalitarian worldview when it comes to flying, the Post reported. In this case, he thinks how you get to your destination should be the same regardless of how much you can spend on a plane ticket.

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And if it were up to Steves, airlines would offer just one cabin class.

He also told the Post that he "refuses" to sign up for an airline's loyalty program "because he believes they bully us into complicating our lives."

Outside sharing travel packing tips and encouraging travelers to visit "second cities" or less-touristy destinations, Steves spends time focused on activism and philanthropy.

And his views have often stirred up heated discussions. In 2013, for instance, he posted a video supporting a progressive wealth tax. At the time, Steves wrote that this video generated "more comment than anything else we've ever posted" with plenty of anti-government sentiment.

Fast-forward more than a decade, and today, Steves continues to hold similar views as a progressive Lutheran. He told the Post that he's both anti-Trump and pro-cannabis.

His efforts are also hyper-localized, too. In 2001, he donated $1 million to the arts center in his hometown, Edmonds, Washington. It was part of a political statement when the president at the time, George W. Bush, approved tax cuts, the HeraldNet reported.

He's also donated a $4 million apartment complex to the local YWCA for transitional housing for women and children.

And that just scratches the surface of what Steves has done outside of becoming a leading expert in the travel field.