Riley’s 40th Flight Marks Milestone for Extreme Day Trippers
When Riley and his mother, Rhona Paton, board a plane to Norway this weekend, it will be his 40th flight — a remarkable achievement for a child of just six years old.
The mother and son duo, who live near Glasgow, are part of a growing community of travellers who embark on international trips and return home the same day.
Rhona shared with BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast that she has "lost count" of their day trips but noted they have visited countries including France, Italy, Switzerland, and Latvia.
Teaching Values and Offsetting Environmental Impact
Rhona explained that she aims to teach Riley to appreciate "real experiences" rather than material possessions, and she takes conscious steps to mitigate the carbon footprint associated with their travel hobby.
"We loved going to the theme park in Denmark, but we equally loved sampling all the food in Italy," she said.
"A particular memory for me is watching Riley dance around a Christmas tree at a market in Latvia.
"You feel like you've had a holiday, packed lots in - without the price tag."
Rhona emphasized that while cost is an important factor, it is not the sole criterion for selecting trips.
"A recent trip to a theme park in Copenhagen cost less than a trip to somewhere similar in the UK," she told the programme.
So far in 2026, Rhona and Riley have completed three trips and plan to continue with one trip per month for the remainder of the year.
They have secured deals such as return flights to Belfast for just £45 and paid only £80 for flights to Italy and back.
Rhona’s general rule is to avoid paying more than £100 each for flights.
Adventures Across Multiple Countries
One of their most ambitious excursions involved visiting three countries — France, Italy, and Monaco — within 24 hours. Although this trip required an overnight stay, it cost them just £110.
Rhona is actively fostering a community of similar travellers from Scotland, primarily focusing on European destinations.
Last year, she founded a social media group dedicated to sharing tips and advice for extreme day travellers in Scotland, which has since grown to over 30,000 members.
The group is now organising collective day trips for solo travellers who may not be able to travel alone.
Environmental Concerns and Mitigation Efforts
Despite the popularity of extreme day trips, the practice has attracted criticism due to its environmental impact.
Flying accounts for 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 8% of emissions in the UK. These emissions contribute to atmospheric warming, which drives global climate change.
Rhona acknowledges the environmental implications of their travel but notes that she takes measures such as maintaining a pescetarian diet and using a green energy tariff to offset their carbon footprint.
Rising Trend in Short International Trips
According to travel booking site Kayak, nearly 66% of UK travellers plan to take several shorter trips in 2026.
Analysis of searches for same-day return international flights reveals year-on-year increases from multiple UK airports.
From Scotland, searches have risen by 16% from Edinburgh and 15% from Glasgow compared with the same period last year.
