Simon Calder's career in travel started at Gatwick Airport, where he cleaned aircraft for Laker Airways and later worked as a security officer. He became The Independent 2019's Travel Correspondent in 1994, and is known as the Man Who Pays His Way because he does not accept free travel facilities. He writes across the Independent titles, as well as for the Evening Standard. News Journalist of the Year - National/Broadcast/Business Media in the 2017 Business Travel Journalism Awards. The prize was for an article about “callable flights”, an alternative to overbooking in the wake of the notorious United Airlines incident involving Dr David Dao. The judges described it as “a creative, excellent article”.