Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Secrets to Finding Cheap Flights and Avoiding Fees, Straight from Scott’s Cheap Flights
Release Date: March 26, 2025
Hosts: Sally French and Meghan Coyle
Guest: Scott Keys, Founder of Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights)

Introduction: Debunking Flight Booking Myths

The episode kicks off with Sally French (00:00) and Meghan Coyle (00:03) discussing prevalent travel myths. Meghan highlights the common belief that the cheapest airfare is available on Tuesdays:

“I love the people who swear the cheapest airfares come out on Tuesdays. It's not a Trader Joe's restock, people.” – Meghan Coyle [00:03]

Sally concurs, emphasizing the variability in airfare pricing:

“There is no best day to book airfare as it really depends on so many factors.” – Sally French [00:09]

Credit Card Updates and Travel Benefits

Meghan Coyle (00:51) dives into recent updates from Chase regarding United Airlines co-branded credit cards:

• United Gateway Card: Now offers two free checked bags annually after spending $10,000 within a calendar year.
• United Explorer Card: Increased annual fee to $150 after a zero-dollar introductory year, mirroring the fee structure of Delta’s Sky Miles Gold card.
• United Quest Card: Annual fee hikes to $350, now includes a $200 United travel credit (up from $25), a 10,000-mile award flight discount, and up to $150 in JSX purchases annually.

Sally French (03:04) expresses concern over the rising fees:

“Oh, yikes, that's a lot.” – Sally French [03:04]

Meghan Coyle elaborates on the added benefits but notes the complexity of tracking multiple credits:

“...it’s a lot of work to start keeping track of all of these things.” – Meghan Coyle [03:19]

Airline Partnerships and Loyalty Programs

Sally French (04:07) covers the termination of the Delta-Lyft partnership, transitioning to Uber:

“If you are used to earning Delta miles from your Lyft rides, that will end on April 7th.” – Sally French [04:07]

Meghan Coyle (04:21) details the new Uber partnership, outlining the miles earned per dollar spent:

• UberX Rides: 1 mile per dollar
• Uber Black: 2 miles per dollar
• Uber Reserve: 3 miles per dollar

Exploring JSX: Semi-Private Jet Service

Sally French (05:45) introduces JSX, a semi-private jet service offering a more luxurious travel experience:

“Instead of going through a regular airport and its standard security, you'll board in a private hangar.” – Sally French [05:45]

Meghan Coyle (06:06) compares costs, noting that JSX flights cost around $250-$300 for routes like LAX to Las Vegas, significantly cheaper than traditional private jets but pricier than standard commercial flights.

Sally French (06:35) announces new JSX destinations:

• Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Destin, Florida
• Monterey, California

Interview with Scott Keys: Mastering Cheap Flight Strategies

Busting Flight Booking Myths

Scott Keys (09:31) challenges conventional wisdom on the best days to book flights:

“...there is a little bit of a myth.” – Scott Keys [09:31]

He introduces the Goldilocks Window strategy:

• Domestic Off-Peak: Book 1-3 months in advance
• Domestic Peak: Book 3-6 months in advance
• International Off-Peak: Book 2-8 months in advance
• International Peak: Book 4-10 months in advance

Common Mistakes in Airfare Searching

Scott Keys (11:03) identifies the primary error travelers make:

“...they end up with some pretty expensive flights.” – Scott Keys [11:03]

He advises prioritizing price in the search process:

“Set price as the top priority rather than the last priority.” – Scott Keys [12:28]

Sally shares her experience finding Croatia due to a cheap flight:

“I went to Croatia randomly just because there was a cheap flight.” – Sally French [12:28]

Understanding Mistake Fares and the 24-Hour Rule

Scott Keys recounts a lost opportunity due to not utilizing the 24-hour cancellation policy:

“There is a federal regulation that says from the moment you hit purchase on airfare, you have a 24-hour window during which you can cancel that purchase and get your cash back.” – Scott Keys [18:58]

He emphasizes the importance of acting swiftly on mistake fares and shares recent examples of such deals.

Maximizing Points and Miles

Scott Keys (21:17) discusses the synergy between cash deals and points:

“Points are a great complement to cash deals.” – Scott Keys [21:18]

He recommends diversifying points through transferable bank points like Amex and Chase to take advantage of various airline transfer options:

“Think of it as the index funds of the points world.” – Scott Keys [23:10]

Debunking the VPN and Incognito Mode Myth

Scott Keys (24:46) dismisses the effectiveness of using VPNs or incognito modes to secure cheaper fares:

“It doesn't make a difference if you don't believe me.” – Scott Keys [26:17]

He highlights that even with extensive searching, airfare prices remain consistent:

“I searched for the same flight a hundred times in a row...it didn't change a penny.” – Scott Keys [26:39]

Personal Insights and Industry Suggestions

Scott Keys shares his best flight deals and regrets, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and the potential risks of strategies like hidden city ticketing.

He advocates for allowing passengers to resell their tickets, a practice common in other industries but absent in airlines:

“I would love for [reselling] to be the case because it gives people a lot more flexibility.” – Scott Keys [30:07]

Hosts' Additional Tips and Strategies

Meghan Coyle’s Tip: Embrace Stopovers

“Don’t sleep on stopovers. If you have time, think about booking a multi-city itinerary.” – Meghan Coyle [31:54]

She explains how stopovers can provide additional destinations without extra costs, citing airlines like Icelandair and Turkish Airlines that support this approach.

Sally French’s Insight: Excursionist Perk

Utilizing United Airlines' Excursionist Perk allows travelers to enjoy free one-way awards within select multi-city itineraries:

“Fly from Chicago to London, then from London to Paris, and back to Chicago. The middle segment could be free.” – Sally French [33:03]

Conclusion and Listener Engagement

The hosts encourage listeners to share their best airfare deals and travel tips via email or voice memos. They also promote following the podcast on various platforms to receive future episodes automatically.

Meghan Coyle (34:09) wraps up with a reminder to keep passports active and wallets fuller, inspiring listeners to explore new travel opportunities:

“We hope you're inspired to keep your passport full and your wallet even fuller.” – Meghan Coyle [34:22]

Key Takeaways

• Flight Booking Myths: There’s no universally best day to book flights; instead, use the Goldilocks Window strategy based on travel type and season.

• Credit Card Benefits: Stay informed on evolving credit card perks and fee structures to maximize travel savings.

• Airline Partnerships: Understanding current airline partnerships can optimize mileage earnings and travel benefits.

• Alternative Travel Services: Services like JSX offer a middle ground between commercial and private flights, with expanding destinations.

• Cheap Flight Strategies: Prioritize price in flight searches, utilize mistake fares and the 24-hour cancellation rule, and diversify points and miles for flexibility.

• Stopovers and Multi-City Itineraries: Leverage stopovers to add destinations without increasing costs, enhancing travel experiences.

• Industry Improvements: Advocates suggest allowing ticket reselling to provide greater flexibility for travelers.

This episode of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways provides comprehensive insights into finding affordable flights, leveraging credit card benefits, and employing strategic travel planning to maximize vacation experiences. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your next adventure, the expert advice from Sally, Meghan, and Scott offers valuable tools to enhance your travel budgeting and booking strategies.