One of the most stylish and well-travelled men in journalism, Andrew Barker traded in a life in ol’ Blighty for California, where he now curates exciting happenings around the state from the helm of C magazine. Here, the Silver Member speaks to The Club about the contrasts between London and LA, the art of freshly shaken margaritas and his love of Chile

Which tier are you currently? How did you travel through the tiers?
I’m a Silver Member, which I first reached in 2018 when I was flying to LA every other month as a consultant. I had been Bronze for a decade before that.

What is your top tip for other Members looking to advance?
Visit cities like LA, Austin and New York in spring and autumn. You pay a fraction of the ticket price outside of high season and you earn the same Tier Points. Plus, the weather is much better than you might think.

What is your favourite thing about flying with British Airways?
It’s comforting to hear the English accents in all their wonderful variety when I’m on board. All the Brits in LA sound the same (myself included).

Favourite perk of being in your specific tier?
The oneworld^® lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley Terminal B. I like a shower, a meal and a freshly shaken margarita before I board a night flight. 

Which cabin do you typically fly in? Which is your favourite? 
I’ll switch around. I like the single business class seats on American Airlines. I am very attached to the bulkhead aisle seat in premium economy on BA’s fleet of A380s. I think it’s excellent value for the leg room – you feel as if you’re in business. Short haul, I’m happy with an emergency exit seat.

What are your three in-flight essentials?
Bang & Olufsen headphones (I keep them on to sleep), Johnstons of Elgin cashmere eye mask and my Timbuk2 backpack, which has special pockets for shoes, laptop and passport.

So what kind of traveller are you, in summary?
I like high/low. I’ve backpacked all around Latin America and bussed it from Nairobi to Lusaka. I’ll often rent a motorbike over a car, Airbnbs over hotels, but I also love skiing, scuba diving and renting boats.

Aisle or window seat?
Aisle, always, because I drink a lot of water and green tea and go to the loo a lot. I don’t drink alcohol on flights.

Do you collect/spend Avios? If so, what ways do you collect, and what have you spent them on?
I collect them, yes. I’ll upgrade using them, I just did an LA to Nice return trip in August which cost me 100,000 Avios but made the peak season price manageable. I can also transfer Avios from my US credit card 1:1. 

What’s been your biggest Executive Club win?
Using a Companion Voucher, I once got two premium economy tickets from London to Rio. It was New Year’s Eve and we made it to the beach in time for the fireworks.

Your ultimate travelling outfit?
I have some brushed cotton pleated pants from Joseph that are smart and slouchy so I can wear them throughout a trip, plus a long-sleeved T-shirt from Armor Lux, and a 120% Lino linen hoodie. I get cold on flights, but jeans make me sweat. I’m allergic to wool and I’ll only wear sweatpants to the gym.

Having lived in both the US and UK, what’s something you miss about the USA when in the UK, and something you miss about the UK when in the USA?
I miss the early mornings. I wake up at 7am with the sun shining every day of the year in LA, which does wonders for one’s mood. Plus, in California specifically, there’s so much nature to explore year-round, from beaches to mountains to forests and the desert.

When I’m in the US, I pine for nights at the theatre followed by a late dinner in Soho and the anticipation of not knowing where the evening will go next.  

Which other destination has your heart, and why?
Chile, where my mother grew up and my grandmother still lives at the foot of the Andes in Santiago wine country. The Heathrow-Santiago flight was a godsend when it was introduced in 2018, and shaved hours off our annual trip.

If you had to live in just one hotel for the rest of your days, which would you choose? 
La Residencia, a Bellmond Hotel, in Deia, Mallorca, where I plan to retire to.

Which destination is on your bucket list, and why?
Japan. I long to be lost in Tokyo’s backstreet bars and izakayas before jumping on a bullet train to the volcanoes and hot springs.

You were named editor-in chief at ES Magazine when you were just 29. If you could go back, what advice would you give yourself?
Lighten up. I took myself very seriously because I had so much to prove.

What would you tell a reader planning a trip to California? 
Try not to stay too long in LA and get on the road. Head to Big Sur, Yosemite, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree or Laguna Beach. Bring your hiking shoes and don’t forget some sweaters for the cool evenings. You’ll thank me later.

You were named editor-in chief at ES Magazine when you were just 29. If you could go back, what advice would you give yourself?
Lighten up. I took myself very seriously because I had so much to prove.

What would you tell a reader planning a trip to California? 
Try not to stay too long in LA and get on the road. Head to Big Sur, Yosemite, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree or Laguna Beach. Bring your hiking shoes and don’t forget some sweaters for the cool evenings. You’ll thank me later.

Have an opinion on The Club that you’d like to share? Let us know

This article has been tagged BA, Travel Tips