The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

Thrifty Traveler
  • 4.9 (247)
  • 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. 1h ago ·  Bonus

    Starter Kit, Vol. 2: Mastering Credit Cards & Piling Up Points

    If you want to get into redeeming points and miles, you need to earn them first. So in our second installment of our Starter Kit series, Gunnar and Kyle break down the best strategies for earning tons of travel rewards. While it might start with credit cards as the engine of an earning strategy - and the guys spend some time outlining their strategies and busting credit score myths - there are plenty of other ways to rack up all the points and miles you need, too. Watch us on YouTube! Our 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 - What would do with a blank slate in points & miles? 02:35 - The most important step for earning tons of points 07:50 - Understanding award travel credit cards 15:40 - What to consider when signing up for a credit card? 22:20 - Our favorite starter travel rewards credit cards 29:30 - Go deeper: Sign up for our free Extra Mile newsletter! 30:00 - How to earn points & miles with strategic spending 37:30 - The ways to earn points & miles without credit cards Volume 2 Flight Plan:  Get Organized: Track and organize your points and credit cards using our credit card benefit tracker, a personal spreadsheet, or a note on your smartphone. Set a goal & work backwards: Set your travel goals first, then figure out what points, miles, and credit cards can get you there. Use the “Potter Pause”: Activate that mental block before you make any purchase so you can maximize every dollar you spend. Ramp up your “accidental earning”: Link your loyalty programs, sign up for shopping and travel portals, and nibble around the edges to stack up points and miles. Related Episodes: https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/ep-67-record-card-bonuses/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/bonus-ep-chase-sapphire-preferred-update/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/ep-61-how-to-earn-a-million-points/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/episode-46-whats-in-our-wallets/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/episode-30-award-travel-tools-of-the-trade/ 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 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. 5d ago

    Drafting the Perfect 5-Card Travel Wallet: Who Wins?

    Gunnar’s gone, so Kyle and Nick go head-to-head in a fantasy football style draft to build the perfect five-card travel wallet ... with a lot riding on the outcome, thanks to a last-minute bet. But before the draft, they unpack American’s (long-overdue) reversal to seatback screens, United’s splashy 2027 international expansion, and Flying Blue’s horrible news. Plus, they answer a listener’s questions about insurance that comes from top travel credit cards. Thanks to our sponsor, Saily! Download Saily’s app and use code THRIFTY at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. Learn more at saily.com/thrifty. Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - The state of travel credit cards in 2026 is… 03:44 - Igor welcomes us back from Torrey Pines 05:57 - American’s seatback-screen reversal and United’s 13 new routes 12:20 - Boo: Flying Blue’s new three-tier award pricing 19:45 - A word from our sponsor, Saily 20:45 - The Extra Mile: Drafting the best five-card wallet  46:22 - A listener asks: Which cards have the best built-in travel insurance? 49:55 - Fantasy draft punishment Vote for who had the best wallet on our YouTube:  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 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. Aug 25 ·  Bonus

    Starter Kit, Vol. 1: The Keys to Find the Cheapest Flights

    Are you ready to get started with points, miles, and all things cheap travel? It all starts with airfare, so in this first installment of our new Starter Kit series, Gunnar and Kyle walk through how to find the cheapest flight possible, every single time. The guys cover the tips, tricks, tools, and (most importantly) the mindset you need to find cheap flights and start traveling more for less. Watch us on YouTube! Our 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 - Kicking off our Starter Kit: How we got started 2:52 - The two most important rules for finding cheap flights 7:09 - Why you NEED to start your search with Google Flights 11:24 - One-way flights versus roundtrip bookings 15:34 - Learning how to follow the deal, not the destination  16:51 - Positioning flights: the key to cheaper international fares 18:56 - And the risks of using those positioning flights… 20:35 - The intricacies of airfare & what to avoid 24:38 - The art of rebooking flights to save even more 30:26 - Busting bogus airfare myths 33:35 - Your Flight Plan - Recap & to-dos from Ep. 1 36:48 - Up next in Starter Kit…   Vol. 1 Flight Plan:  Think “Flights First”: Plan your trips around the best flight deals and book them before anything else Book quickly: Utilize the 24-hour flight cancellation rule to get the best deals. Book fast, figure out the details later.  Get to know Google Flights: By far the most powerful flight booking tool and the key to saving on airfare. Use its price calendar, the filters, and price alerts to book when prices drop Start re-booking your flights: Set up price alerts on your existing flights and rebook when prices drop. It’s the most underrated way to save big on travel.    Related episodes: https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/ep-72-google-flights/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/episode-47-post-booking-checklist/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/episode-25-book-the-cheapest-flight-every-time/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/episode-50-inside-thrifty-traveler/ https://thriftytraveler.com/podcasts/ep-70-top-10-flight-deals/ 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 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. 1: The Keys to Find the Cheapest Flights

  4. Aug 21

    Coming Soon: Starter Kit, a Series to Get Started in Points & Miles

    Introducing “Starter Kit” - a dedicated series of special bonus episodes to help you get started in points and miles, become a true award travel “sicko” or just brush up on your skills and knowledge on all things cheap travel. Over the course of several episodes, we’ll walk through the basics of finding cheap flights, the best ways to earn tons of points, how to transfer and redeem miles for maximum value, and all the tools we use to stay organized and get ahead. Episode 1 of Starter Kit drops Tuesday, Aug. 25, with future installments coming every Tuesday into the fall. Each episode will  appear right here on the Thrifty Traveler Podcast feed, wherever you get your podcasts as well as on YouTube! Our Starter Kit is brought to you by the world’s best flight deal alert service, Thrifty Traveler Premium. Sign up today at thriftytraveler.com/premium - use the special promo code “START” to get $20 off your first year.  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 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.

    Coming Soon: Starter Kit, a Series to Get Started in Points & Miles

  5. Aug 20

    Biz Class Faceoff: Delta One vs. United Polaris

    Kyle is out on vacation, so … Kyle is in - the younger, arguably cooler, and definitely taller Kyle, that is. Our podcast editor & social media guru, Kyle Thomas, joins Gunnar on the show to recap his recent flight in United’s new “Elevated” Polaris business class cabin over to London and answers the question: How does it stack up against his beloved Delta One? Plus, the guys talk through some troubling trends with American AAdvantage miles, and review some Resy/Tock news. 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 - A different (& better) Kyle weighs in with a business class take 02:42 - Megan welcomes back the show from Charleston 03:24 - Something Hot: Avios are getting … easier to redeem? 05:18 - Another Something Hot: So are Amex dining credits?!  07:35 - Something Cold: The long-dreaded AAdvantage devaluation is underway 14:32 - A word from our sponsor: Monarch! 15:36 - The Extra Mile: Kyle pits United Polaris against Delta One 16:53 - Highlights & misses from United’s new “Elevated” Polaris biz class 31:20 - Final scorecard from United Polaris 31:32 - Kyle recaps the wins & losses from 10 (!!!) Delta One flights 42:09 - & a scorecard from Delta One 42:35 - And the final verdict is… 47:18 - A listener asks: Where to credit miles for a Lufthansa redemption? 51:58 - On the Spot: Tips to maximize a short stay 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 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. Aug 13

    Airfare Absurdities, the Battle for Seattle & Other Travel News

    From a bizarre (and arguably absurd) Delta flight pricing quirk, new and disappearing Alaska Atmos redemptions, American’s late premium push, or the ongoing “Battle for Seattle,” there’s no shortage of travel news for Gunnar and Kyle to break down on the show this week. Plus, the guys help a listener with that age-old question of award travel: should you book a flight with lower mileage rates or fewer fees? 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. And another thanks to North Dakota Tourism for sponsoring the show! Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - Being “back from Japan” is so tough 02:45 - Kelly & Wes welcome us back from Kona! 04:45 - Delta airfare absurdity: Athens for less than Atlanta?! 08:50 - RIP to this awesome biz class redemption 10:50 - But Philippine Airlines is now bookable with Alaska! 13:10 - Two awesome transfer bonuses this month 15:10 - Amex adds an interesting new hotel partner 18:40 - The overlooked 100K point Chase card offers 20:40 - A word from our sponsors: Bilt Rewards & North Dakota Tourism 22:45 - American adds Flagship Check-in at DFW … 26:45 - … but cuts some upgrades for elites … 29:05 - … and raises the annual fee on its top credit card 33:00 - SkyMiles and Starbucks switch it up (again) 35:30 - Delta bullies out another airline 40:00 - But the Battle for Seattle rages on 45:10 - Would you rather: Lower award rate or fewer fees? 49:20 - On the Spot: Predicting the next fare war 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 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.

  7. Aug 11 ·  Bonus

    Live from Fargo! Tips for Traveling (& Saving) from Smaller Airports

    The guys took the show on the road: Coming to you live from TEDxFargo in North Dakota in late July, Gunnar and Kyle devoted an episode of the show to airports not named JFK, LAX, MSP, ORD, or the other big hubs. The guys swapped stories and shared tips about traveling from smaller airports and cities. They talk about their favorite (and least favorite …) experiences at small airports before diving into the top tips for finding better deals, using points and miles, and traveling smarter from smaller airports. Plus, a TTPOD fan forces Gunnar to reckon with his O’Hare take and (former Fargo resident!) Kyle delights in seeing Gunnar’s reaction to visiting Fargo for the first time. This episode is presented by Visit Fargo-Moorhead! And our thanks to North Dakota Tourism and Fargo Hector International Airport! Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - Kyle’s triumphant return to Fargo 01:15 - Our favorite travel beers 04:15 - The Fargo audience welcomes us back! 04:35 - Thanks to our presenting sponsor: Visit Fargo-Moorhead 06:15 - Swapping our best small airport travel experiences 16:30 - Our weirdest, quirkiest small airport stories 22:30 - Thanks to our sponsor: North Dakota Tourism 23:35 - How to save on flights from smaller airports 43:50 - Thanks to our sponsor: Fargo Hector International Airport 44:40 - The best part of flying out of a small airport 46:30 - How to make travel easier at smaller airports 51:45 - Programs to avoid for high fees and surcharges 54:30 - Gunnar’s official legal statement about O’Hare 56:15 - Kyle’s favorite Fargo memory & best Fargo beer Video & Audio production by LiveWire 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 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. Aug 6

    Japan & Delta SkyMiles Deals: So Hot Right Now

    Kyle joins the show from the Park Hyatt Tokyo on this special Japan-themed episode. While the sun slowly rises behind him, Kyle first revisits his scorching hot take about the rise of SkyMiles before the guys dig into where to go in Japan, how to get there, and where to stay on your next trip. Plus, Gunnar gives his own hot take about jet lag, and Kyle gives advice on how to beat it. Watch us on YouTube! 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 Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - Kyle is live from the Park Hyatt Tokyo! 02:35 - Kyle and Matt give us a Japan-themed welcome back 03:25 - Kyle’s scorching hot Delta SkyMiles take 09:45 - Pushing back on Kyle’s take and the “clearance meat” story 13:20 - Chase cuts Priority Pass users out of its lounges 16:25 - Kyle’s grueling 10 hours of DFW lounge hopping 18:50 - A word from our sponsor Saily!  19:50 - The Extra Mile: Where to go in Japan 35:00 - How to fly to Japan: Haneda vs. Narita and flight deals 40:15 - Kyle’s review of the new JAL Biz Class on the A350 47:50 - Where to stay in Japan: Hyatt Regency, Conrad and more 55:20 - How to get around in Japan 57:37 - What points should Judy earn for biz class flights to Japan 01:01:00 - Kyle’s tips for beating jet lag 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 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.

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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
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Thrifty Traveler
  • Show Website
    The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

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