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:

RIP World of Hyatt? Dissecting Big, Bad Changes Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

We’re all too accustomed to hotels and airlines making negative changes, but Hyatt genuinely broke our hearts this week. So Gunnar and Kyle devote the show to diving into some massive changes on tap for what is (or perhaps was?) the most popular and valuable hotel points program. We’re talking nasty award rate increases, confusing pricing systems, a few silver linings, and what you should do before the hammer falls. Plus, Gunnar reviews his experience on the new (& improved?) Southwest Airlines, plus they help a listener navigate the dreaded Chase 5/24 credit card rule.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - Gunnar’s review of the “new” Southwest

03:20 - Welcome back … from the Park Hyatt Tokyo!

04:30 - The “Goat Rodeo” with TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

10:30 - Puerto Vallarta chaos & what to do about your upcoming Mexico trip

15:25 - A word from our sponsor: Sign up for The Extra Mile Newsletter today!

16:14 - World of Hyatt’s positively nasty new award chart changes

35:00 - Listener Question: How far above “5/24” should you go?

40:20 - On the Spot: How 2 hockey fans celebrated a golden weekend

Send us your “Welcome Back to the Thrifty Traveler Podcast” video! Keep it short, tell us who you are and where you are, and say “Welcome Back to the Thrifty Traveler Podcast.” Then, upload it to thriftytraveler.com/voicemail so we can feature your video on the show!

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 We Find Cheap Flights: Inside Thrifty Traveler with Founder Jared Kamrowski Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

How do we find flight deals? How do you start a travel business? What’s next for Thrifty Traveler? For episode 50 of the show, we bring on Founder and CEO Jared Kamrowski to show how the Thrifty Traveler sausage is made! Plus, Jared reacts to some new Delta routes to Hawaii, discusses the reality of points and miles availability, and helps a listener plan their first Europe trip.

Send us your “Welcome Back” video at ThriftyTraveler.com/Voicemail.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - Thrifty Traveler’s Founder & CEO gets Booksy, too!

03:30 - Timmy from Santa Monica welcomes us to the show!

04:15 - Delta’s new Hawaii routes – and their crappy biz class seats

08:05 - Traveler pain points: The reality of availability

12:55 - Sign up for The Extra Mile Newsletter today!

14:07 - A brief history of Thrifty Traveler

18:10 - The flight deal that started it all (& crashed the site)

22:00 - The evolution of Thrifty Traveler

26:45 - How do we find Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deals

31:00 - Tracking changes over the years at Thrifty Traveler

36:00 - What’s next for Thrifty Traveler – where’s the future of travel going?

39:45 - Helping a listener plan a (first-time!) Thanksgiving Europe trip for four

44:45 - Jared plays the airport code initials game

45:55 - What episode does our boss want us to do next?

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.

Sneaky Delta Perks, Summer Travel Slowdown & 8 Other News Stories Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

Kyle is back from Costa Rica where he was breaking news from the beach! So the guys get caught up on all the latest travel news including a little-known Delta credit card perk he unearthed, some new credit card offers and rumors, some good news for travelers who love cheaper fares to Europe (but bad news for airlines) this summer, and more! Plus, a listener challenges our recent take … and the guys come up with a new bit. Yes, another one.

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!

00:00 - Recapping Kyle’s Costa Rica trip

02:30 - Brian kicks off the show from Kenya

03:25 - Summer travel demand to Europe is dropping … and we love it

10:00 - A PSA to book (or re-book) your spring break flights

13:30 - Introducing our new daily (and free!) Extra Mile newsletter

15:35 - New Delta SkyMiles card sign-up offers …a nd upgrade offers

19:40 - Sky Club visits reset – plus our favorite way to add a few extras

22:00 - Kyle discovers the sneaky SkyMiles card premium snack perk

24:47 - A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards

25:50 - Rumors swirl about a souped-up Capital One dining card: The Savor X

29:05 - Boo: The Amex Platinum increased its spend requirement by 50%

31:25 - A sweet transfer bonus to Japan Airlines from Capital One

34:00 - Reviewing the Park Hyatt London River Thames

36:20 - Listener Question: Why no love for the Bilt Palladium Card (& our “U-Turn”)

42:10 - On the Spot: What are your airport code initials?

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.

“These Bros Ain’t Loyal”: Why You Shouldn’t Chase Elite Status in 2026 Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

People with status are often very loud about it (we’re looking at you Delta Medallions and Hyatt Globalists), but chasing airline and hotel loyalty isn’t smart for most travelers. It’s something we’re decidedly out on in 2026 and beyond. In “These Bros Ain’t Loyal”, we’re laying out the case against chasing status by identifying who status is for, and why it’s not the best way to travel more for less.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - What should we call this episode?

01:55 - John Melson introduces the show

03:00 - The best airline & hotel statuses

07:15 - The worst airline & hotel statuses

11:25 - Thrifty Traveler Premium Flight Deal Quiz!

13:44 - Why we’re out on travel loyalty

22:30 - Who is loyalty for?

26:15 - Who is travel “free agency” for?

28:45 - How to get status perks without status

37:45 - Listener Question: What about credit card points loyalty?

41:30 - On the Spot: Gunnar’s 2027 list

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.

Our 5-Step Checklist: What We Do After Booking Flights Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

If you want to take your travels to the next level (and who doesn’t?), it’s not about what you do before booking a flight – it’s what you do after that matters most. So Gunnar and Kyle are diving in on this week’s pod, spelling out the five crucial steps they take after booking each and every flight to ensure they get the best deal and set themselves up for success. Plus, the guys got a little “booksy,” discuss a new airline partnership that’s piqued their interest, and help out a traveler planning a trip to Japan.

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!

00:00 - Gunnar & Kyle’s recent (fancy) lie-flat bookings

02:39 - Roger introduces the show from Komodo, Indonesia!

03:35 - Something Hot: The new American & Aer Lingus partnership

08:00 - Something Hotter: New & improved travel credit card tracking

11:15 - A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards

12:30 - The 5 Things We Do After Booking a Flight

12:35 - 1st: Forward your trip to TripIt – an essential travel tool

16:05 - 2nd: Clean-up & manage your booking

19:15 - 3rd: Set up Google Flights price alerts and award tracking

28:10 - 4th: A quick look at major logistics (using the 24-hour rule!)

31:00 - 5th: Asking your wife, requesting PTO and other “life stuff”

37:00 - Listener Question: A mea culpa & how to approach booking a Japan trip

43:40 - On the Spot: Kyle’s Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge gameplan

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.

Is the Points Party Ending in 2026? Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

A year ago, we saw signs award travel was on the upswing … but in 2026, we’re not so sure. Airlines’ constant tweaks to their mileage programs - not just for the rates they charge, but who can even book - have us posing the question: Is the points party ending? Are we on a sinking ship? Not to get too negative, but it’s time for a reality check. So Kyle and Gunnar break down the new trends shaping award travel while offering some hope and guidance for travelers worried about their rewards.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - What deals are on our "Endangered Redemptions” list?

03:05 - Kyle from a mountaintop & Gunnar’s roast review challenge

04:15 - The road ahead in points and miles: This is more than “Pointsflation”

07:20 - Are partner redemptions on their way out?

12:30 - What is United doing with their credit cards?

17:45 - Are U.S. travelers getting boxed out?

24:00 - (Annoying) transfer ratios are shifting, too

27:45 - A word from us: Stay on top of your points & miles with The Extra Mile Newsletter

28:15 - What’s driving the shift in award travel?

33:00 - Are we being too negative?

36:30 - The great (& new) redemption opportunities out there

42:00 - How to fight back against the changing award travel landscape

44:28 - Real talk: Is the points party over?

46:40 - Listener Question: How many points should you hoard?

50:40 - On the Spot: The redemption that got away

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.

What’s in Our Wallets & Our 2026 Points Planners Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

New year, new you, new travel card strategy? With the help of an extra special guest - TT co-founder Nick Serati - the guys answer the age-old question: What’s in our wallets? They tackle rising annual fees, Bilt’s botched rollout, and other travel credit card trends shaping the year ahead. Plus, Gunnar recaps a romantic hot air balloon ride and the guys help a listener plan a card strategy around taking two trips to Europe with her best friend.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - What’s our “desert island” card - the last one we’d give up?

02:13 - A special shout out from a hot air balloon near Mexico City

04:45 - What’s in our wallets?

23:15 - Something cold: Annual fees are going up

28:15 - Something colder: Bilt fumbles its 2.0 rollout

39:03 - A word from our sponsor: CardPilot, the best way to pick a credit card

40:00 - What cards should you get in 2026?

48:00 - Listener Question: Cards for Eurotrips

51:20 - The perfect 2-card combo

52:20 - On the Spot: Our physical wallets

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.

Cheaper Fares Abroad, Big Bilt News, a Merger & 7 Other Big News Stories Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - About Gunnar’s controversial “Chicago-O’Hare is good” take…

02:55 - Are airlines ditching higher one-way fares for international flights?

12:45 - Why Allegiant’s surprise acquisition of Sun Country matters

23:15 - Bilt 2.0 is here, with good and bad news

30:00 - A word from our sponsor: us! Get Thrifty Traveler Premium today

33:10 - American Airlines (kinda) launches free Wi-Fi

34:10 - No mileage or status on AA basic economy tickets

35:10 - No status changes for American this year, but is bad news ahead?

36:20 - Hawaiian Airlines’ big plans for aircraft upgrades and a fancy new Honolulu lounge

38:40 - The next Capital One Lounge: Charlotte (CLT)

40:15 - Delta orders 787 Dreamliners

42:20 - Listener Question: What to do if you’re “product-swapped”?

46:10 - On the Spot: What does Kyle tell people he does for a living?

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.

Biz Class to See Santa in Finnish Lapland: Gunnar’s Trip Report Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Join us for a special bonus episode as Gunnar recaps his recent trip to Finnish Laplan. Gunnar walks through his exceptional experience in Finnair Business Class, some lessons learned flying with his infant daughter overseas for the first time, and he gushes about the stunning quiet, serenity, and “cozy-maxing” of Northern Finland. Plus, he recounts an overwhelming day at Santa Claus Village and talked about what he would do differently next time around. Join us for a trip to the North Pole!

Watch us on YouTube!

Read our full breakdown of the trip on our website, including links and more details!

00:00 - Why should (or shouldn’t) someone take a trip to Finnish Lapland?

02:30 - Finnair Business Class: How to book it & what it’s like

14:30 - A stopover in Helsinki: Hotel Kamp and Christmas markets

17:30 - Flying to the Arctic Circle’s Ivalo & experiencing polar night

20:00 - A special Airbnb stay on Lake Inari & and watching the Northern Lights from a hot tub

22:45 - Inari: the Janiskoski bridge hike, Sami Museum & a day trip to Saariselka

26:00 - Rovaniemi: the capital of Lapland with another lovely Airbnb stay

30:00 - Santa Claus Village: an overwhelming experience & what Gunnar would do differently next time.

35:00 - Ice skating on frozen Lake Inari!

37:00 - Northern Lights travel & is Finland really that cold?

40:30 - On the Spot: One insight Gunnar will take forward in his travels

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.

Let Us Cook: Our Spiciest Travel Pet Peeves & Hot Takes Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

It’s time to ratchet things up on the podcast this week. The guys have been too calm. This week on the pod, Gunnar and Kyle unleash their hottest travel takes and their biggest pet peeves in what turns into a fiery discussion. Why is Gunnar defending a loathed airport? What is Kyle’s case against points and miles? What’s the beef with the NFL? Plus they hate on speakerphone abusers, slow deplaners, and so much more. It’s cheaper than therapy, but it’s clear Gunnar needs both…

Thanks to HotelSlash for sponsoring this episode of the show! Try it out today: Use promo code THRIFTYTRAVELER for a free 90-day trial – plus, get $20 off your first prepaid booking!

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - A half-baked hot take right off the bat

03:00 - Pet Peeves: Getting worked up about casual deplaning, TSA line procrastinators, “free” travel, speakerphones, and more.

15:14 - A word from our sponsor: HotelSlash, the easiest way to book a cheaper hotel stay & rebook when prices drop

16:10 - Hot Takes: Biz class doors, bad Airbnbs, fish on a plane, in defense of CLEAR, and…is award travel even good?

41:00 - Listener Question: When should you cancel a credit card?

45:00 - On the Spot: Airport code pop quiz

Get featured on the podcast! Submit a short video (15 seconds or less) with a travel brag, your name, and where you are, and finish it with “Welcome Back to the Thrifty Traveler Podcast” and upload it to thriftytraveler.com/voicemail. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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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