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:

Chase’s Monster 100K Bonus Merits an Emergency Pod! Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

Gunnar and Kyle record a special, emergency episode to dive into the biggest news in travel in months: A new 100,000-point welcome bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. They talk about why it should be on every traveler’s radar, explain who is eligible for to earn it (including if you already have the card), and take a stab at explaining why Chase would be doing this in the first place.

Everything You Need to Know About the Chase Sapphire Preferred 100k Bonus Point Offer

(00:00) Can Kyle transfer Chase points to the White Lotus?

(01:45) Why this offer is so exciting (and is it the best bonus of all time?)

(04:10) Which finger would you remove to earn 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

(09:55) How long will this new bonus offer last?

(10:50) What is Chase doing here?

(13:30) Why we think Chase points are the best in the world

(15:05) We draft our top 3 redemptions using 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards

(25:00) How to Sign Up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn 100K bonus points!

Full disclosure: If you decide to sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card through our website, we'll make a commission - and we appreciate it!

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati
Edited by David Strutt
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.

Is Hyatt Still Top Dog of Hotel Chains? Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Hotels, hotels, and also hotels: That’s what episode four of the pod is all about. Gunnar and Kyle talk about some huge hotel credit card bonuses and how Hyatt needs to step up its game … especially with Hilton hot on its heels lately for the crown of the world’s best hotel loyalty program. Gunnar makes a lot of pained (and strange) references to pools. And the guys quiz each other on where to set season 4 of The White Lotus – we know you’re listening, Mike White.

Watch us on YouTube!

(0:00) Where should season 4 of The White Lotus go???

(3:39) Something hot: Huge hotel credit card offers

(10:24) Something cold: Hyatt free night awards need a facelift

(17:23) A word from our sponsor: Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal (and hotel!) alerts

(19:43) The Extra Mile: Hilton > Hyatt … maybe?!

(40:51) A listener asks if she should be booking hotels directly, like flights

(44:40) Gunnar puts Kyle on the spot about his favorite hotel stay ever

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati

Edited by David Strutt

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 Decade of Deals, ft. Founder Jared Kamrowski Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Gunnar and Kyle kindly invite Thrifty Traveler Founder Jared Kamrowski on his own show! Jared shares his favorite flights, worst travel mistakes, looks back on the (almost) decade since starting Thrifty Traveler and what he’s seen change in 10 years of flight deals and points and miles. Plus, the guys laugh about Thrifty Traveler’s extremely humble beginnings (in Jared’s garage - literally) and Gunnar’s memorable job interview in 2021.

Watch us on YouTube!

(0:00) Welcoming our founder and CEO Jared Kamrowski to the middle seat!

(0:52) Why would Jared let Gunnar and Kyle start a podcast?

(2:07) Something hot: The Best Flight of Jared’s Life - Emirates First Class

https://thriftytraveler.com/reviews/flights/emirates-game-changer-first-class/

(4:30) Something cold: Jared’s worst travel mistake ... on a group trip flying Ryanair

(7:20) A word from our sponsor – Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alerts!

https://thriftytraveler.com/premium/

(10:23) The Extra Mile: Reflecting on 10 years of Thrifty Traveler

https://thriftytraveler.com/news/thrifty-traveler-origin-story/

https://thriftytraveler.com/news/new-full-time-job-thrifty-traveler/
(29:00) Jared talks about the challenges and upsides of booking from smaller, regional airports

(34:20) Putting Jared on the spot and making him choose one redemption to resurrect

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati
Edited by David Strutt
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.

What the %$#* was Southwest Thinking? Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Gunnar and Kyle put Southwest on trial, explaining the (shortsighted) logic behind the airline’s incredibly unpopular changes to baggage and other negative moves - and what it means for all you travelers going forward. Plus, some Hyatt properties to book ASAP before they’ll cost you more points and our absolute favorite travel hack that isn’t much of a “hack” at all.

Watch us on YouTube!
(0:00) Thanks for ruining our first podcast, Southwest!!!

(1:38) Something hot: Flight prices are dropping - rebook your flights to save more!

(4:48) Something cold: Hyatt properties on the move, book ASAP!

(12:54) A word from our sponsor (us … and our really cool tool to help you pick your next travel card!)

(14:00) The Extra Mile: Why Southwest did it … & what’s next

(33:53) A listener wonders how to redeem Delta and Capital One miles

(36:52) Putting Gunnar on the spot about our (alleged) issues

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati
Edited by David Strutt
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 Best Bets for Flight Deals in 2025 Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

Gunnar and Kyle kick off the podcast by focusing on the cheapest destinations for a trip in 2025, discussing Chase’s dominance in the airport lounge wars, some bad Southwest news (which was just the tip of the iceberg…), and more!
Watch us on YouTube!

(0:00) A few destinations where your dollar goes furthest thanks to the exchange rate.

(4:53) Something hot: Chase Sapphire Lounges are on a roll.

(10:27) Something cold: Southwest did us dirty.

(12:47) The Extra Mile: From Italy to Japan, your best bets for cheap flight deals in 2025 (including Emirates and domestic flights!)

(35:51) A listener wonders how to find cheaper spring break fares.

(39:35) Putting Kyle on the spot about Turkish food.

Credits:

Hosts: Gunnar Olson & Kyle Potter

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati

Edited by David Strutt

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.

Coming Soon... Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Watch us on YouTube instead!
Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts - and if you’re excited, give us a five-star rating to help spread the word.

Your hosts Gunnar Olson and Kyle Potter from Thrifty Traveler are (almost) ready to bring you the best in travel once a week. They’ll dive deep into the world of flight deals, redeeming points and miles, destinations, travel tips, and so much more.
Publishing Thursday mornings. Get ready for the Thrifty Traveler Podcast.
More on Thrifty Traveler: https://thriftytraveler.com/

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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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