The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

Thrifty Traveler
  • 4.9 (276)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Thrifty Traveler Podcast – a travel podcast where we dig into the latest travel news and trends and discuss all the best ways to earn and redeem your points and miles! From the ins and outs of booking cheap flights, exploring the best ways to use your airline miles, or diving into other next-level money-saving travel tips, your hosts Gunnar Olson and Kyle Potter will bring you the best of Thrifty Traveler every week! Follow us today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts and learn to travel more for less this year.

  1. 5d ago

    12 Biz Class Seats You Can Actually Book with Points

    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! Watch us on YouTube! 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 ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

  2. Oct 15

    Inside the Airlines & the Future of Points, with Zach Griff

    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. Watch us on YouTube! 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 ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

  3. Oct 8

    A New Tool to Save on Flights, Pricey Airports, Hyatt’s Continued Slide & More

    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 ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

  4. Oct 1

    Which Airline Miles Are Actually Worth Using in 2026?

    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 ⛵ Watch us on YouTube! 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 ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

  5. Sep 24

    How to Save on Your Holiday Flights (& When to Book)

    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 ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

  6. Sep 22 ·  Bonus

    Starter Kit Vol. 5, Tips for Traveling Better & Cheaper

    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 eSimStreamline your airport experience with TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, Flighty, and other apps and servicesCast a wide net when looking for lodging: Don’t just search Airbnb and Google Hotels - go deeperStop overpaying for rental cars: Use tools like Autoslash or Turo for better ratesUse 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 WeinbergBonus: Why Flighty is Our Favorite Travel AppTripIt — TripItGoogle — Google My Maps · Google Hotels · Google Maps / Street ViewSaily — Saily eSIMAiralo — Airalo eSIMThrifty 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 informationCLEAR — CLEAR+Global Entry / Mobile Passport Control — Global Entry / Trusted Traveler Programs · Mobile Passport Control informationFlighty — FlightyLoungeReview — LoungeReviewAmerican Express — Amex Global Lounge CollectionAirbnb — Airbnb · Airbnb Experiences ·Airbnb Reverse Image SearchVrbo — VrboAutoSlash — AutoSlashTuro — TuroRome2Rio — Rome2RioViator — ViatorCashback Monitor — Cashback MonitorCapital One — Capital One Offers · Capital One Travel · Capital One Miles redemption guideRakuten — RakutenCopenhagen Card — Official Copenhagen CardCharles Schwab — Schwab Bank Investor CheckingAllTrails — AllTrails   Produced and edited by Sylvia ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

    Starter Kit Vol. 5, Tips for Traveling Better & Cheaper

  7. Sep 17

    Are You Making These Mistakes with Your Points & Miles?

    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 ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

  8. Sep 15 ·  Bonus

    Starter Kit Vol. 4, The Best Tools to Get Ahead in Travel

    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 passwordsBookmark resources that can help you maximize your card credits and benefitsSign 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 ThomasVideo editing by Kyle ThomasShow 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 podcast@thriftytraveler.com 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.

    Starter Kit Vol. 4, The Best Tools to Get Ahead in Travel
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About

Welcome to the Thrifty Traveler Podcast – a travel podcast where we dig into the latest travel news and trends and discuss all the best ways to earn and redeem your points and miles! From the ins and outs of booking cheap flights, exploring the best ways to use your airline miles, or diving into other next-level money-saving travel tips, your hosts Gunnar Olson and Kyle Potter will bring you the best of Thrifty Traveler every week! Follow us today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts and learn to travel more for less this year.

Information

  • Creator
    Thrifty Traveler
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Thrifty Traveler
  • Show Website
    The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

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