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:

Are You Making These Mistakes with Your Points & Miles? Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

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 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. 4, The Best Tools to Get Ahead in Travel Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

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 passwords
Bookmark resources that can help you maximize your card credits and benefits
Sign 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 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.

No Gatekeeping: The 10 Best Redemptions in Points & Miles Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Some deals are just unbelievably good in the world of points and miles … and a select few are too good to last forever. That’s why the guys are shining the light on some of the best deals in all of points and miles - the ones you should book ASAP before they disappear. Whether you’re spending 2,000 miles on a domestic flight, 60,000 miles to fly business class to Japan, or flying lie-flat to London for a fraction of the miles (and fees) that other airlines charge, we analyze the endangered species of points and miles redemptions. Plus, the guys unpack Alaska’s family-friendly update and wonder aloud: Should there be a smoking section inside Southwest’s upcoming lounges?

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 - Travel hacks we won’t gatekeep … even questionable ones

02:05 - Sherie welcomes us back to the show from Lauterbrunnen!

02:45 - Alaska goes worst to first for its lap infant policy

07:20 - Southwest announces lounges and a premium card

12:10 - A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards!

13:20 - Endangered: The 10 best deals that are too good to last

46:20 - Extinct: The ones that got away

50:35 - Jennifer asks: When should you buck the flights first rule?

52:20 - Katie asks: What happens to your points bonus if you downgrade?

54:50 - On the Spot: What deal would you un-gatekeep?

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 3: How to Transfer & Redeem Your Hard-Earned Points Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

It’s time to learn how to redeem those points and miles you’ve earned for travel … and while it might seem scary, this is the fun part! We walk through the basics of redeeming your points – including a step-by-step guide to transferring to partner airlines and hotels, which is (almost) always the best path. Plus, a primer on airline alliances, finding award availability, and some of our best ideas of how to redeem your points for maximum value for your next big trip.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - Do we still get nervous transferring points?

02:30 - What should you earn: Points or miles?

04:50 - Using credit card points: Travel portals & transfers

09:00 - When it makes sense to transfer your points

12:30 - A primer on finding that all-important award availability

15:50 - Why knowing airline alliances & partnerships is key

20:00 - How to transfer points: A step-by-step guide

21:30 - Sign up for all your airline programs now!

30:05 - Our favorite programs and redemptions to get started

36:30 - How to NOT use your points and miles

42:00 - Your Vol. 3 Flight Plan!

Volume 3 Flight Plan:

Set up all of your loyalty accounts as soon as possible
Do your homework: Check for availability and all possible options before booking, including the travel portal and other partner airlines
Get to know transfer partners, alliances, and partnerships
Use the Flight Plan from Ep. 1: Use the flights first rule and be flexible
Earn and burn: Use those points - they rarely go up in value

Related Episodes:

Ep. 5 - The 10 Commandments of Points & Miles

Ep. 66 - Airline Alliances Episode

Ep. 73 - The Current State of Award Availability in 2026

The Master List of Credit Card Transfer Partners

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.

Delta’s Weirdest Card Offer & Google’s Huge Points Play Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Google Flights is making a big move into the points and miles game, United’s CEO’s egotistical comments, Delta’s weird (but arguably best-ever?) credit card offer, and a bevy of new Europe routes all headline a big news roundup to close out the summer. Tune in as Gunnar and Kyle dole out advice about transferring points to Hyatt, analyze the boom in flights to the slopes, look into some puzzling Chase Sapphire Lounge news, and review the Delta One Lounge in Seattle, KLM’s Premium Comfort seats, and Gunnar’s latest glamping adventure!

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 - & the winner of our credit card draft is…

02:15 - What’s going on with Gunnar’s voice?

03:10 - Staley welcomes us back from South Africa!

04:20 - Google Flights gets into the points game

08:40 - United’s cardholder discounts: Solid, but no slam dunk

15:20 - Let’s Play: Translate! That! Airline CEO! (ft. United’s Scott Kirby)

22:55 - Delta’s weird (but awesome) credit card offer

27:00 - New route nerd out: Europe flying goes sky high

33:20 - A word from our sponsor, Saily!

34:25 - Will this be the end of pre-departure drinks?

36:40 - Chase drops its only lounge reservation system

38:00 - American’s new (& worse?) premium card

39:05 - Analyzing the flight boom to ski resorts

42:30 - Delta One Lounge Seattle review

44:00 - KLM: Premium Comfort vs. Biz Class

47:05 - Gunnar’s latest glamping adventure

48:45 - The most & least expensive airports for a beer

51:20 - A listener asks: Should you speculatively transfer from Chase to Hyatt?

55:35 - On the spot: The ideal number of travel beers?

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. 2: Mastering Credit Cards & Piling Up Points Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

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!

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

Drafting the Perfect 5-Card Travel Wallet: Who Wins? Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

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!

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 Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

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!

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!

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 Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

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!

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

Biz Class Faceoff: Delta One vs. United Polaris Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

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!

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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