Publication: Going
Topics: Travel, destinations, travel advice, points and miles, credit cards, airlines
Rate (USD): $250+; some assignments start at $300, $400, or $600
Deadline: Ongoing
Editor: Going editorial team
Submit Via: Going’s submission forms, depending on the section (check below)
Going is looking for freelance writers across several areas of travel, from deeply reported destination features to practical travel advice, airline guides, and points-and-miles content.
The publication’s newsletters reach two million readers every week, making it an attractive opportunity for freelance travel writers who can produce useful, distinctive, well-researched work.
Before pitching, freelancers should familiarize themselves with Going’s existing editorial style by reading its On the Fly content and subscribing to its newsletters.
Importantly, Going is not currently looking for traditional travelogues, individual flight reviews, news coverage, or generic travel trend stories. A successful pitch needs to offer something more specific, useful, distinctive, or deeply informed.
What Going Is Not Looking For
Going currently does not want:
- Personal travelogues such as “Here’s my week in Mexico City.”
- Reviews of individual flights, such as reviewing one Air France A380 flight from New York to Paris.
- News coverage, such as explaining how an aircraft grounding will affect flights.
- Generic trend stories, such as lists of the hottest new restaurants in Rome.
Instead, writers should focus on distinctive experiences, deep destination knowledge, practical expertise, and highly useful travel information.
1. Worth the Flight
Rate: $250+
Worth the Flight focuses on experiences that are genuinely worth traveling for.
The ideal story centers on a one-of-a-kind or once-in-a-lifetime experience that ordinary travelers can realistically recreate for a reasonable amount of money.
Going wants experiences with a strong connection to a particular place. If an activity can be done equally well in numerous destinations, the pitch needs to explain why the proposed location is exceptional.
For example, whale watching alone may not be distinctive enough. A stronger pitch would explain why a particular destination offers an unusually high concentration of a species, an exceptional viewing success rate, or a unique way of experiencing the animals.
Stories are approximately 500–600 words, plus a short logistics section.
Going strongly prefers writers covering experiences they have experienced personally. Press-trip experiences may be accepted, but writers should disclose that when pitching.
How to pitch: Complete Going’s Worth the Flight pitch form once for each experience.
Going commissions these stories every few weeks and keeps pitches on file for future consideration, so a lack of an immediate response does not necessarily mean the idea has been rejected.
Examples
- Feasting Under the Northern Lights in the Manitoba Tundra
- Riding One of the World’s Steepest Railways in Norway
- This Underground City is the Largest in the World
- Dining in a 120,000-Year-Old Cave in Kenya
- Viewing Coastal Brown Bears in Alaska
2. Places
Rate: $300+
Places is Going’s destination-focused section, featuring deep dives into cities, regions, islands, states, and sometimes entire countries.
These are not conventional “things to do” destination guides. Going wants writers to explain what makes a place unique and how its history, culture, food, language, people, music, art, and design shaped it.
The publication also wants writers to reveal unexpected aspects of destinations while presenting them accurately and respectfully. The goal is to help readers understand a destination rather than simply compile a list of attractions.
Articles are approximately 1,400 words, plus “Good to Know” logistical information.
Going expects writers to have substantial knowledge of the place they pitch. Preference is given to writers who live there, grew up there, have family there, or visit frequently.
You should not pitch a destination you have only visited once or twice on short trips.
How to pitch: Complete Going’s Places pitch form once per country. You can include multiple cities within one country, but should submit no more than five forms.
Before pitching, review the destinations Going has already covered in its destination guide archive.
Examples
3. In the Know
Rate: Starting at $250
In the Know covers travel tips and expert advice, frequently tied to a timely peg such as an upcoming holiday, event, or development in travel or airfare.
Most of this content is produced in-house, but Going occasionally commissions freelance writers who have expertise or experiences its staff does not.
The publication has specifically commissioned outside writers on topics involving identity and travel, including Chinese New Year, LGBTQ+ travel, and supporting Black-owned businesses.
Articles generally run 600–800 words, although length varies by assignment.
How to pitch: Writers can complete the Going general interest form and describe their areas of expertise.
For timely stories connected to upcoming events, writers should pitch at least six weeks in advance.
Examples
- Why Flights to Asia Are So Expensive Right Now
- 8 Things You Should Research Before Every Trip
- 16 Trips You Need to Plan in Advance
- How to Use Your Travel Credits
- How to Have Ethical and Responsible Animal Encounters
4. Going with Points
Rate: Starting at $400
Going with Points covers credit cards, airline miles, travel rewards, points earning, redemptions, and transfers to airline loyalty programs.
The newsletter is primarily written in-house, but Going occasionally works with freelance writers who bring specialized expertise—for example, writers experienced in family travel using points.
Articles generally run 1,200–1,500 words.
Going is not currently accepting pitches for this section. However, writers with relevant expertise can complete the Going with Points expertise form. When the editorial team needs a writer for a particular assignment, it may use this database.
Examples
- How Couples Can Maximize Credit Card Rewards
- Should You Pay Taxes with a Credit Card?
- How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
Online Content Opportunities
Beyond its newsletters, Going publishes several web-only articles every month.
These opportunities include credit card reviews and roundups, points-and-miles guides, airline reviews, airline-class reviews, and practical travel explainers.
5. Credit Card Reviews and Roundups
Rate: Starting at $400 for reviews; $600 for roundups
Going commissions in-depth reviews of individual travel credit cards as well as “best of” roundups covering topics such as the best no-annual-fee travel cards.
Reviews generally start at approximately 800 words, while roundups generally start at 1,200 words, although length depends on the assignment.
Going provides the outline.
Writers need deep familiarity with credit cards and travel rewards. You do not necessarily have to hold the card you are reviewing, provided you can discuss it accurately and confidently.
How to pitch: Complete the credit card and points writer form with your name, email address, and clips or portfolio.
Going does not accept individual story pitches for these assignments. Instead, writers are added to a pool and contacted when relevant assignments become available.
Examples
6. Points and Miles How-To Guides
Rate: Starting at $400
These guides explain how travelers can earn and redeem points, maximize credit card benefits, use travel rewards, and get greater value from loyalty programs.
Recent topics have included earning the Southwest Companion Pass and determining when to book flights using points.
Length varies according to the topic and complexity. Going provides an outline, and some assignments may require writers to submit screenshots.
Writers need strong knowledge of credit card rewards programs and should ideally have practical experience using points and travel benefits.
Experience with specific types of travel—such as family travel using points—can also be valuable.
How to pitch: Complete the points and miles writer form, including your name, email, relevant travel expertise, and portfolio or clips.
Going does not currently accept individual story pitches for these assignments.
Examples
- When to Book Flights With Points
- How to Earn More Points and Miles with Shopping Portals
- How to Move Chase Points From One Card to Another
7. Airline Reviews and Airline Class Reviews
Rate: Generally $300–$400+
Going commissions detailed guides to individual airlines and specific airline classes, including business class, first class, and premium economy.
The articles help readers understand the pros and cons of an airline, booking strategies, ways to save money, and what they can expect from different classes of service.
Articles generally run 1,500+ words and follow an outline provided by Going.
For airline guides, writers should ideally have flown the airline multiple times. For airline-class guides, Going prefers writers who have repeatedly flown the relevant airline and class and have clips covering premium-class travel.
How to pitch: Complete the airline pitch form once per airline.
Before pitching, review Going’s existing coverage in its business-class and premium-economy archive and airline archive.
Examples
- The Complete Guide to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
- What to Know About Iceland’s Low-Cost Airline PLAY
8. How-Tos and Explainers
Rate: Typically $300+
These articles teach readers how to solve practical problems or accomplish specific tasks related to travel.
Potential topics include traveling with only a carry-on, finding cheaper car rentals, dealing with luggage when you cannot check in, or using Google Flights to find cheaper airfare.
Articles typically run 2,000+ words, although length varies.
Writers should have genuine expertise in the subject and may be expected to conduct additional research or interview expert sources.
Going is not currently accepting individual pitches for these topics. However, writers can use the general interest form to tell the editorial team about their expertise, including areas such as family travel, luxury travel, accessible travel, and pet travel.
Examples
- What to Know About Traveling with CBD
- How Bounce Luggage Storage Can Make Your Trip Easier
- Everything You Need to Know About Staying in a Hotel With Your Pet
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Published by Going
The strongest pitches are likely to demonstrate specific expertise, firsthand experience, and a clear understanding of what Going’s readers need.
Do not send a generic travel story and expect the editor to reshape it. Instead, identify the appropriate Going section and develop an idea that fits its stated editorial purpose.
For destination stories, deep familiarity matters. A writer who lives in or has strong connections to a destination is in a much stronger position than someone who spent a weekend there.
For experience-driven stories, explain what makes the experience genuinely exceptional and why readers cannot get the same thing elsewhere.
For practical travel content, demonstrate that you know the subject and can provide actionable information rather than generic advice.
It is also worth studying Going’s published examples before submitting. This helps you understand the publication’s tone, structure, level of specificity, and approach to travel coverage.
Finally, pay close attention to whether a section is actively accepting pitches. Some areas maintain writer databases rather than accepting individual story ideas.
Final Takeaway for Freelance Writers
Going offers several freelance opportunities with rates beginning around $250 and reaching $600+ for certain assignments.
The most accessible pitching opportunities include Worth the Flight, Places, and selected In the Know opportunities. Other areas—including credit card content, points-and-miles guides, and some how-to content—primarily rely on writer databases and expertise forms.
For freelancers with substantial travel experience or specialist knowledge, this can be a valuable publication to target. The key is to pitch according to Going’s editorial needs rather than simply sending a general travel article idea.
Before submitting, review Going’s On the Fly content, study relevant published examples, choose the correct submission form, and make your expertise immediately clear.
