The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

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.

Latest Episodes:

How to Do Points for the Whole Family (with the Points Talk Squad!) Nov 12, 2026

Show notes

Earning and burning points and miles for travel is hard enough as a solo traveler or with a companion … but with a whole family or a big group, it takes even more strategy - and that strategy is changing before our eyes. To break it all down, Gunnar and Kyle bring in Alex and Pam from the Points Talk Squad – a mom and grandmother (of 21 grandkids!) steeped in the world of family travel. They talk through the impact of Hyatt’s big, bad changes, how to earn enough points to bring the whole family. Plus, new(ish) dad Gunnar gets a laundry list of selfish questions in, too.

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 - Welcome Back: The Points Talk Squad!

01:00 - The best points and miles-fueled family trip

05:15 - Maureen welcomes us back from Baltimore!

05:45 - How to become a travel grandparent

11:00 - Where family travelers get tripped up

17:20 - Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards!

18:00 - Essential points-earning strategies for families

28:30 - Is award travel just “extreme couponing” now?

31:45 - Finding award space for families and groups

38:05 - A shifting strategy for self-professed “Hyatt girlies”

43:45 - Rapid Fire: Go-tos, embarrassing stories, & more

51:50 - Listener Question: When should you buy points?

55:00 - On the Spot: What we’re watching & our family travelers

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!

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. 6: Six Other Experts Share Their Best Award Travel Tips Nov 10, 2026

Show notes

Gunnar and Kyle have already shared everything they know in the first five episodes of Starter Kit, but they don’t know everything. So, for a sixth (and final … ?) episode, the guys enlisted six other travel experts to help you take things to the next level. From not letting “perfect” redemptions get in the way of good ones, why practice makes perfect for finding award space, why you should consider getting into business credit cards (even if you’re not a “business” owner) and so much more, learn from some sickos not named Gunnar or Kyle.

Watch us on YouTube!

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

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 was Kyle’s “aha” moment in award travel?

03:00 - @Wayfarenco: “You have to be flexible somewhere”

05:20 - @amberonpoints: Don’t let perfect get in the way of good

08:00 - @vacation_pointers: Take the plunge and use those points!

11:35 - The Thrifty Traveler Premium deals that made us double take

13:20 - @thepointsflygirl: Practice makes perfect in award bookings

16:25 - @traveldaddydave: Fit cards to your spending to earn more

18:10 - Our boss: Business cards will unlock more award travel

21:50 - Volume 6 Flight Plan! (More below)

Volume 6 Flight Plan!

Abby (@wayfarenco) told us that being flexible about your destination is more important than being flexible about your dates. Following the points availability and cheap flights is the most important thing.
Amber (@AmberOnPoints) warned about letting “perfect” redemptions get in the way of good ones. She reminded us that economy and business class get you to the same place.
Kim (@Vacation_Pointers) agreed, telling us that one of her best trips ever came from booking a flight using a credit card travel portal, and not from transferring points. Her best advice: “Take the plunge” into travel rewards.
Deanna (@ThePointsFlyGirl) told us that practice makes perfect. She recommends you actually go out there and practice searching for award space so that when the flight you want to book comes around, you’re ready to book.
Dave (@TravelDaddyDave) said more travelers should reverse engineer their points strategy based on how they normally spend their money to earn the most points.
Jared: Travelers might be eligible for small business credit cards and not even know it! Getting into the small biz card world literally doubles the number of points you can earn as an award traveler.

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!

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

The (Sometimes Weird) Things We Do to Earn Points & Miles Fast Nov 05, 2026

Show notes

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 England

03:30 - A listener asks: How can I meaningfully rack up points?

06:00 - Another listener asks: How to spend enough to earn big bonuses

08:30 - Why you shouldn’t fear (responsibly) opening credit cards

13:15 - The weirdest things we’ve done for points and miles

31:50 - A listener is worried about “Amex pop-up jail”

36:00 - Jackson challenges the guys’ “cents per point” takes

Produced and edited by Sylvia 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!

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

Basic Fares Get Worse, Bilt & Amex Changes & More Travel News Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

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 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 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!

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

12 Biz Class Seats You Can Actually Book with Points Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

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 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!

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

Inside the Airlines & the Future of Points, with Zach Griff Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

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 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!

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

A New Tool to Save on Flights, Pricey Airports, Hyatt’s Continued Slide & More Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

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 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!

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

Which Airline Miles Are Actually Worth Using in 2026? Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

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 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!

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

How to Save on Your Holiday Flights (& When to Book) Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

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 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!

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 Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

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!

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 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!

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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