Kirstie and Christine are changing the travel game with On Airplane Mode, creating space for LGBTQ+ travelers to feel seen and safe. Through their bold storytelling and commitment to slow, immersive travel, they’re challenging the status quo and inspiring a more inclusive travel world.

Meet Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz of On Airplane Mode, finalists for the Creator of the Year Award. This award honors creators who have pushed boundaries and reshaped the travel industry through bold storytelling and innovation. In our interview, they share their journey, inspirations, and vision for a more inclusive, dynamic future of travel.

About the Bessie Awards

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The Bessie Awards celebrate the trailblazers, changemakers, and visionaries who are reshaping the travel industry for the better. Named in honor of Bessie Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license. These awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to empowering women and fostering inclusivity in travel.

About On Airplane Mode: Redefining Travel, One Story at a Time

Kirstie and Christine are the dynamic duo behind On Airplane Mode. A platform dedicated to redefining travel through thoughtful storytelling and meaningful exploration. With a passion for uncovering the untold stories behind destinations, they go beyond surface-level tourism. Diving into the cultural, social, and ethical aspects of travel.

Through immersive content, insightful guides, and candid conversations, Kirstie and Christine inspire travelers to move with intention. Embracing slow travel, supporting local communities, and challenging the traditional narratives of who gets to explore the world. Their work isn’t just about seeing new places; it’s about reshaping how we experience them.

Tell us your story! How did you find your way into the travel industry? 

Christine: In 2019, Kirstie and I made a life-changing decision to leave our jobs, sell our belongings, and end our leases. What was meant to be a two-month trip to Southeast Asia turned into a ten-month journey across 13 countries. Initially, we documented our travels for friends and family. However, as we continued our journey, we received messages from people all around the world. Curious about how we navigated the world safely as women and as an LGBTQ+ couple. Recognizing a lack of resources for queer women travelers, we launched our platform, @onairplanemode__. To inspire and guide all travelers, emphasizing LGBTQ+ representation. We picked up skills from Youtube on how to master content and applied my marketing background to launch our business. Our mission is to provide the representation we wished for growing up, sharing high-quality cinematography, photography, and guides about destinations, accommodations, airlines, and all facets of global travel.

Since then, we’ve expanded beyond Instagram to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Threads, and even started a podcast, “She Comes With Baggage.” Through these channels, we share our global adventures—from the deserts of Jordan to the blue waters of Bora Bora and the bustling streets of Japan. Educating and entertaining our followers on safe travel while romanticizing life’s journey.

What motivates you to do your work today?

Our passion for travel is deeply rooted in our desire to be the representation we wished we had as queer travelers. With homosexuality still criminalized in 64 countries worldwide, it’s essential to highlight destinations, accommodations, and experiences where LGBTQ+ people can feel safe and welcomed. We want people to see themselves in our content and know they can have these shared experiences too. Our online presence builds a critically important community for followers, especially those lacking local support. By sharing Pride events and facilitating in-person connections, we encourage exploration of inclusive destinations and assure locals that they’re not alone. Partnering with destinations, we highlight safe spaces, accommodations, and businesses that warmly welcome the LGBTQ+ community. Collaborating with global organizations, we’re dedicated to creating and promoting safe environments for everyone.

Beyond that, travel is such an eye-opening experience for us. It opens our minds and hearts to the incredible diversity of cultures, traditions, religions, cuisines, and communities around the world. As a first-generation latinx and asian American, I recognize the privilege of travel and am committed to learning from different people worldwide while sharing that it is possible to do so. Kirstie, having grown up in the South where leaving her hometown was uncommon, always was eager for discovery. Immersing ourselves in these experiences has not only taught us about others but also deepened our self-understanding, sparked creativity, and supported our personal growth and careers.

By sharing our journeys and the stories of those we meet, we hope to inspire others to embrace the beauty of our diverse world. We believe travel can cultivate a more inclusive and compassionate global community, and we’re excited to contribute to that movement. 

What is your proudest career accomplishment?

We’ve been incredibly fortunate to experience so many proud moments in our journey. A few really stand out as milestones. Having the opportunity to speak at TikTok, Apple HQ, and MMGY about the power of creators and especially the importance of partnering with diverse voices, was a huge moment for us. We’ve always believed that storytelling has the power to inspire action. Being able to share our perspective on creating impactful, collaborative campaigns was truly an honor.

Working with brands like Sony, Google, and United Airlines has been another major highlight. They not only valued us as creators but also prioritized authenticity in their partnerships. Seeing these global brands embrace and amplify diverse voices is a step forward for inclusivity in the industry.

One of the moments we’re most proud of is becoming the first queer talent ever featured on National Geographic Travel. With their massive platform of 46 million followers, we had the opportunity to introduce their first-ever Pride travel guide, highlighting safe and welcoming destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers. It was a groundbreaking step for both National Geographic and Disney. It reflected a shift toward more open and accepting representation in the travel space.

Finally, we were honored to attend the Democratic National Convention for the Kamala Harris campaign and the White House holiday party as LGBTQ+ travel activists. Being recognized not just as content creators but also as advocates for human rights in travel and beyond holds a special place in our hearts. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do. Representation matters, and we’re proud to be part of that change.

What does it mean to you to have the community nominate you for a Bessie award?

We’re so grateful to be acknowledged among such an exceptional group of talented creators who are also making huge contributions to the travel world. Being nominated for a Bessie Award by our community is an incredible honor and a deeply validating moment for us. It reassures us that we’re on the right path in supporting women and LGBTQ+ travelers, as well as contributing positively to the travel industry as a whole. In a field where it’s easy to constantly chase the next goal, this recognition encourages us to pause and appreciate the impact of our efforts.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the travel industry today?

Navigating the travel industry as queer women presents unique challenges. Safety is a major concern, as many destinations still have discriminatory attitudes or lack legal protections for LGBTQ+ people and even women for that matter. 

For content creators from marginalized communities, disparities in compensation and recognition persist. Which also leads to pay gaps and disparities being a content creator as a whole. Content creators juggle multiple roles—marketers, PR specialists, creative directors, models, copywriters, and editors—while capturing and sharing authentic experiences. The travel industry sometimes perceives this multifaceted work as leisure, which leads to its undervaluation.

Additionally, finding partners who offer genuine and inclusive experiences can be challenging. It’s so important to collaborate with those who understand and respect our perspectives, ensuring that guides and itineraries reflect authentic experiences resonating with our audience.

Addressing these issues requires a collective effort from the travel industry to recognize and value the diverse contributions of all travelers and creators. Implementing equitable compensation structures, creating more inclusive partnerships, and acknowledging the professional demands placed on creators are essential steps toward a more inclusive and fair industry.

Who in the industry do you look to as inspiration?

  • Eliza Skidmore – She was the first woman elected to the National Geographic board.
  • Zina Bencheikh – Her leadership as Intrepid Travel’s Managing Director for EMEA, where she champions gender equality in tourism.
  • Shay Mitchell – BÉIS founder, a successful travel accessories brand, and creating the travel show “Thirst with Shay Mitchell”. Blending her passion for travel and entrepreneurship.
  • Oneika Raymond – an Emmy Award-winning journalist, speaker, and television host whose mission is to educate, empower, and encourage exploration.

What’s next for you in your career?

We’re excited about the future of our careers and have some exciting plans in the works. We’re diving into expanding  our YouTube to share engaging travel and lifestyle shorts/vlogs, aiming to connect more deeply with our followers and share an unfiltered version of us. Also, we’re blending our love for travel with interests in entertainment, fashion, and beauty. Our podcast, She Comes with Baggage, is returning for a second season. This time it features guests to share their unique stories. We are exploring hosting meetups and workshops, creating opportunities to connect beyond the digital space and uplift each other. We’re collaborating with travel brands and marketers to create more inclusive environments for women and LGBTQ+ travelers.

Aligning with groups like the Human Rights Campaign, we aim to support diverse travel communities. By participating in keynotes and panels, we hope to share our experiences and insights to inspire others in the travel space. We’re also exploring the possibility of hosting a travel show to reach a broader audience and expand into entertainment as travel personalities. These initiatives reflect our commitment to progress and inclusivity in the travel industry.

What do you envision for the future of the travel industry?

We see the travel industry embracing more authentic experiences and creating engaging content that makes travel feel accessible to everyone. Shows like The White Lotus offer viewers a glimpse into diverse cultures. Creating more understanding and open-mindedness toward different traditions, backgrounds, and religions.

We’re also excited about the emergence of creative platforms that allow for sharing genuine travel stories. Brands are becoming increasingly innovative with their campaigns and activations, inspiring exploration and cultural immersion. For instance, National Geographic partnered with Airbnb in the “#KeepDiscovering” campaign. It highlights off-the-beaten-path locations and unique experiences, encouraging travelers to venture beyond typical tourist destinations. We look forward to collaborating with such initiatives, contributing to the narrative of authentic and inclusive travel experiences.

As Kirstie and Christine continue to redefine travel through authentic storytelling, their work challenges us to think beyond typical itineraries and embrace the richness of diverse experiences. Their passion for representation and inclusivity in travel not only inspires us but also sets the stage for a more equitable and accessible future. Here’s to their ongoing journey and the countless travelers they empower along the way.