Contributors’ Guidelines

Background Air Canada enRoute has won hundreds of awards for editorial, art direction, photography and more.

Who are we? Air Canada enRoute is a travel magazine with a Canadian perspective that speaks to an international readership. The magazine is read by over 1 million travellers a month and can be found in the seat pockets of Air Canada aircraft and in Maple Leaf™ Lounges and select Star Alliance™ lounges around the world. It is also distributed at more than 100 upscale outlets across Canada (hotels, boutiques, health clubs, restaurants and lounges). We are a source for the on–the–go, global reader of up–to–the–minute and thought–provoking information – on everything from wine and design to popular science and pop music. Think of Air Canada enRoute as a trusted friend who enthusiastically shares those travel finds we all collect along the way. You should know more about the world and be inspired to travel after picking up an issue.

What makes an Air Canada enRoute story? We engage our audience through intelligent writing, insight, humour and spot–on service journalism. Our stories exemplify narrative journalism at its best, exploring the world through first–hand, highly experiential pieces. We look for articles with unique, unexpected angles and for subjects that will remain fresh during our four–to–six–month lead time. Air Canada enRoute commissions stories that focus on everything from food and drink, design and architecture to style, arts and culture, technology, social trends and sports, all told through the lens of travel.

How do you pitch us? Before you pitch, read some back issues so you can tell us which section or department you’re targeting.

Outline your story idea and your approach, writing your pitch in the same tone that you’re proposing for your piece. Please make it specific, with a strong sense of place rather than a travel–guide–style roundup of attractions (restaurants, shopping, hotels, etc.). Why should enRoute publish your story? Why should you write it? Does it teach us something new or surprising about a place? And why is this story relevant now?

A few important factors to keep in mind: The location you pitch should be an Air Canada destination or on a Star Alliance™ route; time–sensitive events (such as festivals) don’t work with our longer lead times.

Your pitch needs to fit on one printed page. If you’re attaching a Word document, please paste the content in the body of the e–mail as well.

We ask that you limit your queries to two pitches per e–mail and one e–mail per month. Please send your ideas to one editor only.

We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts or writing on spec.

Outlining your idea in a one–page e–mail is sufficient.

We assume you’re pitching an original story idea and not pitching the same idea to several publications simultaneously. Let us know if this is not the case.

Editorial and art function separately, so please don’t pitch photo essays with rich captions or attach any images with your story idea.

If you’re a photographer/visual artist, you can contact our art department at info@aircanadaenroute.com.

We do not accept verbal/phone queries (for your own intellectual property protection).

We do not accept queries from PR writers or related professions – only from journalists with no vested interests in the stories they query.

Our policy is to reply in writing within 30 days, but due to the number of queries we receive, that’s not always possible. Please be patient. If you haven’t heard back from us in a month, accept our sincere thanks and feel free to query other publications.

Editorial formats and departments All Air Canada enRoute stories strive to show our readers why they should be interested in a particular place, subject or trend – and why now.

Short features These pieces aim to get beneath the surface of a place; they are a close look at a unique happening in a specific corner of the world (the German cuisine invasion in New York, for example) or a snapshot of a place that captures a travel moment (such as a love letter to Tucson’s Hotel Congress). Please note that these stories should be based on first–hand experiences you’ve recently had. (200 to 550 words)

Long features This broader–based look at a city or region has an original and unexpected angle that goes beyond typical local colour; we are not a travel guide. These pieces strive for a strong sense of place and authenticity and should be focused around a theme – not merely presented as a straight chronological journey or travelogue. (1,200 to 1,700 words)

Please e–mail editorial queries to pitch@aircanadaenroute.com