The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

Learning how to earn a ton of points and miles is critical to award travel. And while there are some tried-and-true earning strategies … sometimes, we do some seemingly strange things to add to our stashes. Nobody has gone further than Thrifty Traveler’s credit card guru Jackson Newman, who joins the show to go tit-for-tat with the guys on who has earned points in weirder ways. The guys also walk through the (very normal) ways they continue to earn points for future travels and spell out where travelers are going wrong in their quest for rewards. Watch us on YouTube!Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.00:00 - Jackson joins the show & what’s a “vibes czar”?01:20 - What points strategy seems crazy to the non-sickos?02:40 - Roger & Kath welcome us back from England03:30 - A listener asks: How can I meaningfully rack up points?06:00 - Another listener asks: How to spend enough to earn big bonuses08:30 - Why you shouldn’t fear (responsibly) opening credit cards13:15 - The weirdest things we’ve done for points and miles31:50 - A listener is worried about “Amex pop-up jail”36:00 - Jackson challenges the guys’ “cents per point” takes 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 [email protected] 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…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Watch us on YouTube!Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.00:00 - Recapping our team retreat to Mexico City!02:30 - A Lucha Libre vibe check03:30 - Why it costs more than ever to avoid basic economy fares13:05 - Bilt overhauls its program … again19:40 - How much will it cost to earn status in 2027?21:10 - Southwest: Companion Pass, Icon Lounge, & more26:40 - A word from our sponsor: Kyle’s favorite Thrifty Traveler Premium deals27:55 - More cool new routes: Hello, Columbus! 30:35 - Amex expands a few Centurion Lounges31:05 - But Amex FHR hotel credits get harder to use34:05 - 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 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 [email protected] 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…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 availability18:45 - Thanks to our sponsor, Monarch Money!20:10 - The easiest biz class seats you can actually book with points47:45 - Listener Question: Where to start for a family Euro trip50:40 - 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 [email protected] 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…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 jargon03:30 - Hamed welcomes us back to the show from Tokyo!04:00 - Inside airline media events & announcements09:40 - The present and future of airline loyalty programs18:20 - Zach Griff’s favorite Thrifty Traveler Premium deals!21:45 - Diving into Zach’s career and From the Tray Table28:15 - Is United overtaking Delta? Or is it just vibes?34:30 - Why travelers should care about Apple and tech41:50 - Rapid fire: Best gadgets, best (& worst) destinations & more49:15 - Listener Question: Outlining our award travel ski strategy53:30 - 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 [email protected] 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…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 deals09:55 - 11 (!) new transfer bonuses on our radar13:10 - How to transfer 30K Delta SkyMiles for free15:50 - Now the end of Bilt and Hyatt 1:1 transfers is coming …18:00 - … and yet Hyatt keeps getting worse20:30 - The U.S. airports with the highest airfare23:35 - R.I.P. to this sweet spot from Japan Airlines26:10 - A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards!27:00 - New Alaska Atmos transfer partner(s)?29:50 - Alaska’s fancy new biz class suites & more34:20 - A (proposed) Chase Sapphire Lounge at SEA36:40 - The Delta-Starlink scuttlebutt41:40 - Rapid fire news and notes: Online passports & more48:15 - Listener Question: How to manage price alerts51:00 - 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 [email protected] 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…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.