Chasten Buttigieg
On Gate B5, Sour Patch Kids, and travel as a relationship test
Sitting in the airport for five hours isn’t something most people would call “fun,” but author, teacher, and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Chasten Buttigieg says he’s always been enamored with travel and wouldn’t mind it under the right circumstances. In a recent Zoom call, he recalled how, as a young child, he would “whip out the phone book, find the numbers of airlines, and call to ask how much it would cost for two adults and three children to go to, say, Orlando,” said the Traverse City, Mich., native, who on May 9 will be the featured speaker at Boston Spirit magazine’s LGBT Executive Networking Night. “Then, I would present my mom, on a steno pad, a breakdown of flights and costs. Of course my family couldn’t afford that. Those poor customer service agents…” Fast forward to today and Buttigieg, 34, is still a big fan of travel. His husband, Pete Buttigieg — the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and 2020 presidential candidate who’s currently the US secretary of transportation — proposed to him at Gate B5 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport in December 2017. “It really threw me by surprise,” he said of the proposal, which he thought would be in Malta. But Buttigieg explained that he first started talking to his future husband on a dating app while he was waiting for a delayed international flight at Gate B5. “When I was substitute teaching in Chicago, I worked for the [school’s] exchange program and would meet the students at international arrivals and take them to domestic. There was a long delay and we struck up a conversation.” They married in 2018 and are the parents of 2½-year-old twins, Penelope and Gus. Buttigieg published “I Have Something to Tell You,” in 2020 (after coming off the campaign trail with his husband). The bestseller recounts his childhood in a conservative Midwestern family and his journey to finding acceptance as a gay man. Buttigieg said he’s looking forward to speaking at the Boston Spirit magazine event. “I like any opportunity to bolster our community, to come together with our community, and celebrate how far we’ve come while recognizing how far we have to go,” he said. “I’m really honored that they invited me to speak.” We caught up with Buttigieg, who lives with his family and “puggle” Buddy, in Traverse City and Washington, D.C., to talk about all things travel.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
I’ve been itching to get back to Germany. I studied abroad [there] in high school and still keep in touch with some friends and my host family. They even came to my wedding! My host mom used to make incredible schnitzel and potatoes. I’d love to sit at her table again.
Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own?
Myself. Ironically, some of my friends refer to me as a travel agent, because I am often teaching them about airline miles and point hacks. It becomes a bit of a game for me. In fact, we booked our honeymoon merely on how far we could get with our miles.
Thoughts on an “unplugged” vacation?
Sounds incredible right about now. So much of our work demands us staring at screens and being in constant contact. Sometimes a quiet space and a good book is all I need — whether that be on a beach or just in my living room.
What has been your worst vacation experience?
A quick trip to Argentina for work and my luggage was lost. I had to quickly find outfits suitable for work and necessities. This is why I try to never check a bag.
What is your favorite childhood travel memory?
One summer I came home from college and my dad and I drove around the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with a few necessities and our fishing poles. We crisscrossed the state and stayed in roadside cabins or campgrounds. I think about that trip often, and how precious that time with him was.
Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all?
I like having adventure days and quiet days. But I can’t sit still for an entire vacation. There has to be an element of learning or adventure in between the relaxation. I like visiting a local site or going for a hike. I find those opportunities to create lasting memories — and better photos — versus just sitting at a pool.
What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation?
I have an embarrassing number of books on my nightstand that I should pick from, but I have to admit that I love buying a book in an airport bookstore on vacation. So, I don’t know yet. That’s part of the adventure.
If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be?
Kristen Wiig seems to have the kind of fun and chaotic energy my friend group exudes.
What is the best gift to give a traveler?
Some of my must-haves: noise-canceling headphones, travel steamer, and mini soapsheets that disintegrate in your hotel sink for quick overnight washes.
What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip?
Nothing beats an in-flight ginger ale. For a road trip? Pringles and Sour Patch Kids watermelon [flavor].
What is the coolest souvenir you’ve picked up on a vacation?
I don’t know if this counts as cool, but we collect magnets from every place we travel to together — airports don’t count. Our refrigerator is covered in magnets from places we’ve been together over the last nine years. It’s a great souvenir because it’s small enough to put in your backpack and now we get to look at this collage of places we’ve explored and experienced together.
What is your favorite app/website for travel?
I refuse to give away my secrets.
What has travel taught you? A lot about partnership. If you can handle flight cancellations, lost baggage, and 100-degree days in the sun together in a rental car without air conditioning, then you might have a good thing going.
What is your best travel tip?
The adventure starts the moment you leave home, not the moment you arrive. Cherish all of it. And with the right friends or partner, sitting in an airport for five hours can be fun.
JULIET PENNINGTON