Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Secrets to Finding Cheap Flights and Avoiding Fees, Straight from Scott’s Cheap Flights


Listen Later

Learn when to book flights, how to spot mistake fares, and ways to use lesser-known tips like booking stopovers and tapping into rideshare rewards.


When is the best time to book a cheap flight? Do budget airlines actually save you money after all the fees? Scott Keyes, founder of Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), joins Smart Travel to talk about how to actually find cheap airfare — including how to time your bookings, when to use points instead of cash, and how to pounce on mistake fares before they disappear. He also busts some of the most persistent airfare myths (spoiler: incognito mode won’t save you money).


But first, Sally and Meghan break down the latest travel headlines, including new perks and price hikes for United Airlines credit cards, changes to the Delta-Lyft partnership, and why JSX credits might actually be worth something. They also share the best deals they’ve ever gotten on airfare and how to use free stopover perks.


Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

  • United Credit Cards Unveil Major Changes: Higher Fees, More Perks
  • Earn Delta Miles for Uber Rides: New Partnership Replaces Lyft
  • How to Maximize the United Excursionist Perk

  • In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: best time to book flights, airfare myths, flight deals, mistake fares, Goldilocks booking window, how to find cheap flights, budget airlines, Spirit Airlines fees, Frontier Airlines fees, JSX flights, United Airlines credit card, United card benefits, airline card perks, United Club card, Lyft Delta partnership ending, Delta Uber miles, Uber SkyMiles, 24-hour flight cancellation rule, booking flights with points, best points for travel, Air Canada Aeroplan dynamic pricing, Flying Blue Air France, travel stopovers, free stopovers, Icelandair stopover, Turkish Airlines hotel stopover, United excursionist perk, multi-city travel, hidden city ticketing, best rewards credit cards for flights, travel credit card updates 2025, how to avoid flight layovers, booking partner airlines, and reselling airline tickets.


    In a previous version of this episode, the name of the United Quest card was not mentioned. A line was added for clarity.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Smart Travel: Upgrade Your GetawaysBy NerdWallet Travel

    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3

    4.3

    79 ratings


    More shows like Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

    View all
    Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

    Travel with Rick Steves

    2,408 Listeners

    The Clark Howard Podcast by Clark Howard

    The Clark Howard Podcast

    5,386 Listeners

    The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes

    The School of Greatness

    21,166 Listeners

    NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast by NerdWallet Personal Finance

    NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

    723 Listeners

    The Retirement Wisdom Podcast by Retirement Wisdom

    The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

    183 Listeners

    Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast by Scott Becker

    Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast

    56 Listeners

    Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin by Money News Network

    Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

    1,681 Listeners

    All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins by Chris Hutchins

    All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

    1,428 Listeners

    Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel by 10xTravel

    Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

    372 Listeners

    No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show by The Athletic

    No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

    154 Listeners

    Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson l Presented By Marigold by GURU Media Hub

    Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson l Presented By Marigold

    717 Listeners

    Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD by Darshan Shah, MD

    Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

    50 Listeners

    Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard by Landon Donovan, Tim Howard

    Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard

    165 Listeners

    Science of Perception Box by Unlikely Collaborators | Pod People

    Science of Perception Box

    79 Listeners

    The Thrifty Traveler Podcast by Thrifty Traveler

    The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

    20 Listeners