The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

Yes, airlines have raised fares left and right … but they’re doing it in another way that might have flown under your radar. This week, the guys analyze why the cost to upgrade to avoid those pesky basic economy fares and what you can do about it. They also play “Travel Tinder” – letting Kyle choose whether to swipe right or swipe left on a ton of big travel stories from the past week including Bilt’s latest overhaul, a bevy of Southwest news, some fun new routes, and changes to status. Plus, they get Gunnar’s submissions for the name of the O’Hare boulder. 

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00:00 - Recapping our team retreat to Mexico City!

02:30 - A Lucha Libre vibe check

03:30 - Why it costs more than ever to avoid basic economy fares

13:05 - Bilt overhauls its program … again

19:40 - How much will it cost to earn status in 2027?

21:10 - Southwest: Companion Pass, Icon Lounge, & more

26:40 - A word from our sponsor: Kyle’s favorite Thrifty Traveler Premium deals

27:55 - More cool new routes: Hello, Columbus! 

30:35 - Amex expands a few Centurion Lounges

31:05 - But Amex FHR hotel credits get harder to use

34:05 - ORD’s rock-naming contest (& Gunnar’s ideas)

36:10 - Air airline employee asks: What should airlines do better?

40:30 - Gunnar revisits his (terrible) O’Hare take

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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There’s nothing quite like booking a lie-flat seat using points instead of forking over $3,000 or more. But it’s no slam dunk: Finding award availability to book business class seats can be a chore. So this week on the Thrifty Traveler Podcast, Gunnar and Kyle give you a playbook for finding the flights you want, including which airlines stand out for being easiest to book and some evergreen tips to maximize your chances of finding a lie-flat seat. Plus, Kyle brags about his low points balances and answers the toughest “On the Spot” question yet. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Monarch! Go to Monarch.com and use code “THRIFTY” to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50!

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Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.

00:00 - What’s Kyle’s lowest points balance?

00:50 - How far in advance does Kyle book biz class?

02:40 - Richie welcomes us back from Guam!

03:10 - Sweet spots & tips for finding business class award availability

18:45 - Thanks to our sponsor, Monarch Money!

20:10 - The easiest biz class seats you can actually book with points

47:45 - Listener Question: Where to start for a family Euro trip

50:40 - Kyle chooses a biz class to book … with a catch!

Related Links:

Booking Qatar QSuites for others

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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What aren’t the airlines saying out loud? How will tech and AI shape our travels? And what’s the future of award travel look like? Those questions are big enough for the guys to bring in another expert to tackle them: Zach Griff, a longtime travel writer, airline and loyalty insider, and the author of the From the Tray Table newsletter. Together, Gunnar, Kyle & Zach analyze the changing loyalty landscape; Zach takes you all inside splashy airline events, and he gives his best travel tips - including his favorite tech and his favorite (and least favorite) travel destinations.

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Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.

00:00 - Exposing airline talking points and jargon

03:30 - Hamed welcomes us back to the show from Tokyo!

04:00 - Inside airline media events & announcements

09:40 - The present and future of airline loyalty programs

18:20 - Zach Griff’s favorite Thrifty Traveler Premium deals!

21:45 - Diving into Zach’s career and From the Tray Table

28:15 - Is United overtaking Delta? Or is it just vibes?

34:30 - Why travelers should care about Apple and tech

41:50 - Rapid fire: Best gadgets, best (& worst) destinations & more

49:15 - Listener Question: Outlining our award travel ski strategy

53:30 - On the Spot: Would you ever move based on an airline hub?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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This week, the guys break down all the travel news that’s fit to podcast … and there’s a lot of it. That includes a brand-new (and free) tool to save on flights when fares drop, new big card bonus offers, 11 (!) transfer bonuses, and a deep dive on what the heck has happened with World of Hyatt? Plus, they go through the airports with the highest airfare, Alaska’s big splash, and we wade into what Gunnar is calling the “Starlink scuttlebutt.”

Thank you to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards! Earn points on rent and make your entire neighborhood more rewarding with Bilt. Sign up at joinbilt.com/thrifty.

Watch us on YouTube!

Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.

00:00 - Gunnair has a new competitor: Pottair!

02:35 - Jen & Tom welcome us back from Ireland!

03:05 - Introducing our new FareTracker tool! 

05:50 - New United card bonuses & the key to better biz class deals

09:55 - 11 (!) new transfer bonuses on our radar

13:10 - How to transfer 30K Delta SkyMiles for free

15:50 - Now the end of Bilt and Hyatt 1:1 transfers is coming …

18:00 - … and yet Hyatt keeps getting worse

20:30 - The U.S. airports with the highest airfare

23:35 - R.I.P. to this sweet spot from Japan Airlines

26:10 - A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards!

27:00 - New Alaska Atmos transfer partner(s)?

29:50 - Alaska’s fancy new biz class suites & more

34:20 - A (proposed) Chase Sapphire Lounge at SEA

36:40 - The Delta-Starlink scuttlebutt

41:40 - Rapid fire news and notes: Online passports & more

48:15 - Listener Question: How to manage price alerts

51:00 - On the Spot: What’s the biggest story in travel this year?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So much changes so fast in the world of points and miles, it’s easy to lose track. So in this episode of the Thrifty Traveler Podcast, the guys go through (almost) every single airline loyalty program and decide: Are they trending up or are they down? But they need some help, so flight deal analyst Katie Rollins joins to break things down … and also shares a legendary travel mishap. The gang also sorts through some hotel points programs and helps a listener deal with their PreCheck-less travel companions. 

Download SAILY's app and use code THRIFTY at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/thrifty ⛵

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Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.
 

00:00 - Introducing Katie Rollins (& her trip to Iceland)

02:20 - Matt & Annika welcome us back from Albania!

03:15 - Something Hot: Leading Hotels of the World

06:15 - Something Cold: The Hyatt-Chase transfer “D-Day”

09:20 - A word from our sponsor, Saily!

10:15 - The best Thrifty Traveler Premium hotel & flight deals

11:30 - Our rankings: Who’s up and who’s down in airline loyalty programs

45:45 - The etiquette of ditching your non-PreCheck friends

48:15 - Revisiting Katie’s brutal rental car mistake in Iceland

53:30 - On the Spot: Luxury flights or hotels?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Heading home for the holidays can be expensive, especially this year… but it doesn’t have to be. We’re in the heart of holiday flight booking season, so Gunnar and Kyle give all their best tips for saving on flights on those high-demand holiday season flights. The guys go through when to book your trips (spoiler alert: sooooon), where to target for the best deal, and when to turn to your points and miles to get home for the holidays. Plus, the guys gush about Japan Airlines again, welcome the return of cheap flights to Europe, and revisit Kyle’s Hilton vs. Hyatt take. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Monarch! Go to Monarch.com and use code “THRIFTY” to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50!

Watch us on YouTube!

Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.

00:00 - Our points & miles Santa Claus

00:40 - Advice for traveling over the holidays

01:50 - Julius in Malta welcomes us back to the show

02:50 - Something Hot: Hilton’s new card offers

06:30 - Something Hotter: Cheap flights to Europe return!

08:25 - Something Hottest: JAL miles keep getting better!

13:50 - A word form our sponsor: Monarch! 

15:00 - What’s the best time to book holiday flights?

18:00 - And what the heck is going on with flight prices?

23:45 - Tips for finding cheaper flights over the holidays

31:50 - Holiday sweet spots: Traveling abroad & biz class

36:40 - Listener Question: Our flight cancellation playbook

41:15 - On the Spot: What’s the ideal Thanksgiving trip?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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You’ve earned the points, you’ve booked the trip … but how do you make your travels more enjoyable? On this (perhaps not final?) episode of Starter Kit, the guys walk through the little things you can do to improve your entire trip, from the planning process to booking lodging, rental cars, and trains to making your airport experience easier - and even how to beat jet lag and find activities to do abroad. And in the name of keeping things thrifty, they spill the beans on the best way to cover these extra expenses with points and miles.

Watch us on YouTube!

Starter Kit is sponsored by Thrifty Traveler Premium, the world’s best flight deal service. Get $20 off your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alerts - use promo code “START” at thriftytraveler.com/premium. 

00:00 - Has Kyle achieved travel nirvana?

02:50 - Tools & apps to organize your travel plans

07:50 - Make the airport easier: TSA, lounges & Flighty

20:00 - Lodging tips: Finding the best hotels & vacation rentals

26:05 - Saving on rental cars with Autoslash or Turo

31:00 - How to find other forms of transportation

32:45 - Tips for traveling better on the ground

45:30 - Your final flight plan!

47:00 - Kyle’s final advice to travelers: Get out there!

Volume 5 Flight Plan: 

• Organize your travel plans with TripIt, Google My Maps, and more, and understand your phone plan or eSim
• Streamline your airport experience with TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, Flighty, and other apps and services
• Cast a wide net when looking for lodging: Don’t just search Airbnb and Google Hotels - go deeper
• Stop overpaying for rental cars: Use tools like Autoslash or Turo for better rates
• Use our tips to improve your travels on the ground (and earn Capital One miles to cover them!)

Related Episodes & Links Mentioned: 

Ep. 31: Beating Rental Car Companies & Hotel Chains with Autoslash CEO Jonathan Weinberg
Bonus: Why Flighty is Our Favorite Travel App
TripIt — TripIt
Google — Google My Maps · Google Hotels · Google Maps / Street View
Saily — Saily eSIM
Airalo — Airalo eSIM
Thrifty Traveler Premium — Thrifty Traveler Premium Flight Deals (Use promo code START for $20 off your first year!)
TSA — TSA PreCheck · TSA Digital ID / Touchless ID information
CLEAR — CLEAR+
Global Entry / Mobile Passport Control — Global Entry / Trusted Traveler Programs · Mobile Passport Control information
Flighty — Flighty
LoungeReview — LoungeReview
American Express — Amex Global Lounge Collection
Airbnb — Airbnb · Airbnb Experiences ·Airbnb Reverse Image Search
Vrbo — Vrbo
AutoSlash — AutoSlash
Turo — Turo
Rome2Rio — Rome2Rio
Viator — Viator
Cashback Monitor — Cashback Monitor
Capital One — Capital One Offers · Capital One Travel · Capital One Miles redemption guide
Rakuten — Rakuten
Copenhagen Card — Official Copenhagen Card
Charles Schwab — Schwab Bank Investor Checking
AllTrails — AllTrails

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

Follow us on…
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YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Earning and redeeming points can be full of trip hazards … and Gunnar’s tripped on almost all of them. So this week, the guys outline the biggest award travel mistakes they’ve seen (and made) so that you can avoid making the same mistakes on your own travel journey. Plus, the guys break down some positive points news from Qatar Airways, walk through their analysis of where you can score “poor man’s business class,” an help a listener out planning a trip to Europe next year. 

Download SAILY's app and use code THRIFTY at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/thrifty ⛵

Watch us on YouTube!

Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.

00:00 - R.I.P. the TSA line water bottle chug

02:45 - Holly welcomes us back from the Dolomites!

03:40 - The best flights to find “poor man’s business class”

10:30 - Qatar backs off its restrictive booking rules

15:50 - Thanks to our sponsor, Saily! 

16:45 - The 10 most common award travel mistakes

45:00 - The 1-year-out award travel checklist

47:30 - On the Spot: How many of these mistakes has Gunnar made?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

Follow us on…
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Award travel can feel overwhelming and complicated … but not with the right tools and organization. This week on our special Starter Kit series, Kyle and Gunnar walk through all the websites, apps, and tools they use to organize their credit cards, points, miles, and travels. From a credit card benefit tracker to ways to use your pesky monthly dining credit to the best services to maximize your points and miles, it’s all here.

Watch us on YouTube!

Starter Kit is sponsored by Thrifty Traveler Premium, the world’s best flight deal service. Get $20 off your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alerts - use promo code “START” at thriftytraveler.com/premium. 

00:00 - When did Kyle realize it’s time to get organized? 

02:40 - Using our Credit Card Benefit Tracker

06:35 - How to organize your credit cards

12:00 - Understanding & maximizing your credit card perks

17:00 - Tools you need to book award travel

33:00 - Your Vol. 4 Flight Plan
 

Volume 4 Flight Plan: 

• Find tools to manage your credit cards, your benefits, and your passwords
• Bookmark resources that can help you maximize your card credits and benefits
• Sign up for free sites that take the guesswork out of booking award travel (like TripIt, Aerolopa, MaxMyPoint, and more)
• Consider signing up for our tools: The free Card Benefit Tracker or Thrifty Traveler Premium
   

Related Episodes:

Ep. 30 - Tools of the Trade: How We Earn, Organize & Redeem Points Smarter

Ep. 50 - Inside Thrifty Traveler with Founder Jared Kamrowski

Ep. 17 - Have Banks Lost the Plot With Premium Credit Cards?

Ep. 46 - What’s in Our Wallets & Our Points Planners

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

Follow us on…
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Facebook
Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some deals are just unbelievably good in the world of points and miles … and a select few are too good to last forever. That’s why the guys are shining the light on some of the best deals in all of points and miles - the ones you should book ASAP before they disappear. Whether you’re spending 2,000 miles on a domestic flight, 60,000 miles to fly business class to Japan, or flying lie-flat to London for a fraction of the miles (and fees) that other airlines charge, we analyze the endangered species of points and miles redemptions. Plus, the guys unpack Alaska’s family-friendly update and wonder aloud: Should there be a smoking section inside Southwest’s upcoming lounges? 

Thank you to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards! Earn points on rent and make your entire neighborhood more rewarding with Bilt. Sign up at joinbilt.com/thrifty.

Watch us on YouTube!

Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.

00:00 - Travel hacks we won’t gatekeep … even questionable ones

02:05 - Sherie welcomes us back to the show from Lauterbrunnen!

02:45 - Alaska goes worst to first for its lap infant policy

07:20 - Southwest announces lounges and a premium card

12:10 - A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards!

13:20 - Endangered: The 10 best deals that are too good to last

46:20 - Extinct: The ones that got away

50:35 - Jennifer asks: When should you buck the flights first rule?

52:20 - Katie asks: What happens to your points bonus if you downgrade?

54:50 - On the Spot: What deal would you un-gatekeep?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

Follow us on…
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.