Podcast
The Thrifty Traveler Podcast
Hosted by Thrifty Traveler · EN
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.
46episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Japan & Delta SkyMiles Deals: So Hot Right Now
1w ago01:03:38Tap to summarizeKyle joins the show from the Park Hyatt Tokyo on this special Japan-themed episode. While the sun slowly rises behind him, Kyle first revisits his scorching hot take about the rise of SkyMiles before the guys dig into where to go in Japan, how to get there, and where to stay on your next trip. Plus, Gunnar gives his own hot take about jet lag, and Kyle gives advice on how to beat it. Watch us on YouTube! 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 Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - Kyle is live from the Park Hyatt Tokyo! 02:35 - Kyle and Matt give us a Japan-themed welcome back 03:25 - Kyle’s scorching hot Delta SkyMiles take 09:45 - Pushing back on Kyle’s take and the “clearance meat” story 13:20 - Chase cuts Priority Pass users out of its lounges 16:25 - Kyle’s grueling 10 hours of DFW lounge hopping 18:50 - A word from our sponsor Saily! 19:50 - The Extra Mile: Where to go in Japan 35:00 - How to fly to Japan: Haneda vs. Narita and flight deals 40:15 - Kyle’s review of the new JAL Biz Class on the A350 47:50 - Where to stay in Japan: Hyatt Regency, Conrad and more 55:20 - How to get around in Japan 57:37 - What points should Judy earn for biz class flights to Japan 01:01:00 - Kyle’s tips for beating jet lag 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →The Current State of Points & Miles Deals in 2026
2w ago00:48:05Tap to summarizeThe world of all things points and miles is changing rapidly. So to dig into where things are at and what’s ahead, Gunnar and Kyle bring in the man they call “St. Peter” – Thrifty Traveler’s Senior Award Analyst and guru of all things award travel, Peter Thornton – to talk about the state of award availability and spell out the best uses of your points and miles as we enter the second half of 2026. Plus, they recap about some rare business class deals making a comeback, why airlines are throttling award searches … and, for some reason, talk a lot about cycling? Show Notes Thanks to our sponsor, Bellroy! Check out Bellroy’s travel gear and get 10% off using this link. They've got the perfect design for any kind of traveler. Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - Introducing “St. Peter” and his adventure across Iowa 03:35 - Rami introduces the show from Emirates First Class! 04:35 - Rare business class awards are … back? 09:25 - Airlines are blocking award searches 15:15 - The Extra Mile: The current state of award availability 20:40 - Where to find economy award availability 23:30 - Where to find business class deals 27:15 - R.I.P. to the deals that got away 36:00 - Peter predicts: What’s coming next? 40:20 - A listener asks: How to find award space before calling to book 44:30 - Peter asks: What state would you bike across? 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →How the Pros Use Google Flights
3w ago00:46:01Tap to summarizeBooking cheap travel starts and ends with Google Flights, which is why Gunnar and Kyle devoted a full episode of the podcast to how to use our favorite website - including some of the advanced features that can help you find the cheapest fares on the planet and help you book flights like a pro. The guys go over the basics before digging into next-level features like Explore, Alerts, and plenty of other details that set Google Flights apart as the best travel tool out there. Show Notes Go to Monarch.com and use code “THRIFTY” to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50! 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 - Elevator pitch: Why should you use Google Flights? 02:50 - Dan & Terry welcome us back from the Andaz Costa Rica 03:40 - The Extra Mile: How to use Google Flights like a pro 23:10 - A word from our sponsor: Saily! 24:10 - A word from our sponsor: Monarch! 25:15 - Google Flights 401: Explore, Price Alerts & and more 41:00 - What about PointsPath or Seats.Aero browser extensions? 45:00 - What did Gunnar use before Google Flights? 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Is Airfare Dropping & Where to Find Late Summer Deals
4w ago00:45:25Tap to summarizeForget what you’ve heard about flight prices: There’s still time to get a great summer flight deal … if you know where to look. That’s what Gunnar and Kyle discussed this week along with a deep dive on where things stand with airfare. Are we going to get a break from high fares soon? Plus, the guys hate Delta’s new “Basic Business” fares, they love Flighty’s latest update, and they get the latest story in the saga of “bougie boyfriend.” Show Notes 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. This week’s episode is also by Visit Fargo-Moorhead! Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - Ranking World Cup countries as travel destinations 02:05 - Katie welcomes us back to the show from London! 03:00 - The new-look Thrifty Traveler Podcast! 03:20 - Flighty’s new connection assistant update 06:23 - Sounding off on Delta “Basic Business” 15:40 - A word from our sponsor Bilt Rewards! 16:40 - A word from our sponsor Visit Fargo-Moorhead! 18:15 - What’s happening with airfare? 29:00 - Where to (still) find summer deals 38:50 - A listener’s “bougie boyfriend” 41:20 - How many Chase cards is too many? 44:45 - Kyle’s ideal place for a race route 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Top 10 Flight Deals of 2026 (So Far)
Jul 900:46:14Tap to summarizeIt’s the halfway point in 2026, so Gunnar ranked up the 10 best flight deals (and three best hotel deals) of the year so far … and Kyle got to air all of his gripes and grievances about Gunnar’s list. In a six-month span that will surely be remembered for high airfare, we’re celebrating the deals that just kept coming – from flights to Asia in the $300s roundtrip to a business class mistake fare, and more. Plus, we help a listener with their “phantom” space problem, and Gunnar revisits the Taco Bell Cantina at DEN … again … Thanks to our sponsors: 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 ⛵ Book your next flight at FargoAirport.com! Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - What’s the big story from the first half of 2026? 04:00 - And why is that the Taco Bell Cantina DEN … 05:05 - Dana, Clayton, & Stan from White Sands, New Mexico 06:15 - A new best way to book Hawaiian Airlines Biz Class 09:30 - Qantas Biz Class on one of the world’s longest flights 11:25 - A rare sale on Delta’s flights to South Africa 13:05 - Delta One SkyMiles sale to Hong Kong 15:55 - Flights to Tahiti for $463 roundtrip 17:34 - A word from our sponsor: Fargo Airport (FAR)! 18:25 - A word from our sponsor: Saily! 19:18 - Some love for hotels, starting with Hermitage Bay Antigua 20:35 - Availability at the renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo 21:30 - The new Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica 22:45 - The first widespread Qsuites availability in years 26:50 - Delta One to Europe from 97k SkyMiles each way 31:10 - Flights to Asia from $359 … roundtrip! 33:15 - Turkish Airlines Biz Class mistake fare 35:50 - The best deal of the year … so far … 39:00 - How did Gunnar do on his top 10 list? 39:50 - Kyle’s honorable mentions 41:15 - What is “phantom” award space? 45:10 - What’s the best thing we’ve booked in 2026? 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Amazing Hawaii Redemptions, Delta Highs & Lows and Other News
Jul 200:43:33Tap to summarizeGunnar and Kyle brag about gettin’ booksy before diving into a busy week of news: The single best redemption using Southwest miles, translating an airline CEO’s infuriating airfare comments, applaud a true sicko’s way of transferring points to Hilton, and more. Plus, the guys draft their favorite new routes debuting this winter and play the World Cup … of flight deals. Show Notes Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - Gunnar & Kyle both got “booksy” 02:24 - The Larsons welcome us back from Machu Picchu! 03:50 - Is this the best Southwest Rapid Rewards redemption? 08:55 - Translating Delta CEO’s (gross) comments on airfare 16:45 - A new Delta One Lounge ATL … eventually 21:15 - Transferring points from Chase to Hilton 24:25 - A Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal World Cup 27:50 - Delta SkyMiles premium snack benefit extended! 29:30 - & T-Mobile customers get a free drink! 30:20 - We’re hiring! What it’s like to work with us … 31:45 - Drafting our favorite new winter routes 37:45 - A listener asks: How to use Google Flights for award travel? 41:05 - On the spot: Advice for getting into the travel industry 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Something(s) Hot: What’s Going Right in Travel
Jun 2500:43:23Tap to summarizeDon’t dwell on the bad stuff, the guys remind themselves … because there’s plenty to be excited about in travel right now! So this week on the pod, Gunnar and Kyle outline all the things that are going well in travel right now: flight deals, new routes and airplane seats, big improvements for airport security, bigger and better lounges, massive credit card offers, and more. Plus, the guys help a listener decide on an airline from a Midwestern city and see if Kyle can stay positive for an entire 45 minutes! Thanks to our sponsors: Check out Bellroy’s travel gear and get 10% off using our link: https://bit.ly/4djV6u7 Head to Saily.com/Thrifty for 15% off your first purchase! Get 50% off your first year of Monarch with promo code “THRIFTY” Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - A word from our sponsor, Bellroy! 01:19 - Is it actually “The Golden Age of Points and Miles”? 03:18 - Shiloh welcomes us back from Costa Rica! 03:50 - Flight deals are still good 07:00 - Delta SkyMiles deals keep getting better 09:45 - A bevy of (fun) new route announcements 14:10 - An exciting newcomer: Japan Airlines Mileage Bank 18:05 - Touchless kiosks & CLEAR improvements are changing TSA lines 21:40 - Credit card bonuses are better than ever 24:25 - A word from our sponsor, Saily! 25:30 - A word from our sponsor, Monarch! 26:45 - New, more lucrative ways to earn points 29:40 - New seats, new planes & new hotels 33:20 - Airline loyalty gets you further (sometimes) 36:45 - Bigger, better lounges & more of them 40:00 - An Indy listener weighs American vs. Delta 43:22 - What positive trend impacts Gunnar the most? 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Live From Minneapolis! The Highs and (Disgusting) Lows of Travel
Jun 2300:56:00Tap to summarizeAn audience of close to 300 travelers joined us at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis for an unhinged episode and the very-first (but not last) live recording of the podcast. The guys dish out some hot takes, take a look at the state of flight deals right now, and then share some stories of the highs and lows of travel, because travel isn’t always pretty … and sometimes, it’s downright disgusting. Plus, the guys take some questions from the audience, chastise the travelers for their airport arrivals behavior, and so much more. Show Notes Thank you to Meet Minneapolis for sponsoring this special episode of the Thrifty Traveler Podcast! Watch us on YouTube! Join us for the next live show in Fargo, North Dakota on Wednesday, July 29! Get your tickets now. 00:20 - TV personality Jason Matheson intros your hosts! 01:50 - When did Kyle think this show would end? 05:09 - Our live audience welcomes us back! 05:28 - Hot takes: Delta SkyMiles is climbing the ranks 09:40 - Gunnar’s airport walking solution 10:52 - Are credit cards the best or worst thing to happen to air travel? 14:35 - The current state of flight deals 22:40 - The arrivals pickup area at MSP is a disaster 24:27 - Thanks to our sponsors: MSP Airport, Sun Country Airlines, & Meet Minneapolis! 26:38 - Acknowledging our listeners who traveled to join us – including the Netherlands! 27:34 - The highs and lows of travel 28:20 - Kyle’s trip to Vietnam that started it all 33:50 - Gunnar’s $10k travel day to impress his cool, hot wife 36:48 - Kyle’s travel low: Back to Vietnam 39:35 - Gunnar desecrates the world’s most beautiful beach 45:10 - Our biggest travel pet peeves 46:42 - The biggest biz class booking mistakes 48:20 - How has travel hacking changed our personalities? 50:35 - Kyle puts Gunnar on the spot 53:55 - Thank you to our audience, listeners & sponsors! Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas Audio and video recording by Jon Camp 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →With Record Card Bonuses, Banks are Going Crazy (in a Good Way!)
Jun 1800:39:43Tap to summarizeIt’s official: The banks are losing their minds … with some of the best welcome bonuses we’ve ever seen, all at once. The guys start the show by debating whether the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s record-tying 100,000-point bonus is the GOAT before digging into a slew of other new offers that can quickly replenish your stash of points. Plus, they look into some bad news at CLEAR and wonder if the TSA PreCheck line is about to get busier. And Gunnar unveils the new sign-up bonus on his (completely made up) airline credit card … Heads up: We talk about credit card offers that may no longer be available as you listen to or watch this episode of the podcast. Show Notes Head to https://cozyearth.com and use code THRIFTY for up to 20% off! Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - A word from our friends at Cozy Earth! 00:58 - A quick recap of our live show! 03:18 - Lauren welcomes us back from Sevilla, Spain 03:43 - Chase Sapphire Preferred: The best sign-up bonus … ever? 10:43 - CLEAR prices are up & PreCheck lines may get longer 15:38 - A word from our sponsor: Cozy Earth! 16:38 - A slew of new credit card bonus offers 23:36 - What’s with all these huge offers at once? 30:28 - And what’s going on with Amex’s “As High As” offers? 32:23 - Showing off our new Shorty Award! 33:38 - A listener asks: Getting around Chase’s 5/24 rule & reconsideration 36:43 - What we do after opening a new credit card 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Airline Alliances: The Key to Booking Flights for Fewer Points
Jun 1101:04:02Tap to summarizeSkyTeam and Star Alliance might seem like boring corporate brands, but understanding airline alliances - and how to use them to your advantage - is absolutely critical for leveling up your travels. That’s why the guys devote an the hour-long to breaking down alliances: what they are, why you should care, some of the best redemptions using those alliances, and even coming up with their own alliance … headed up by Gunnar’s namesake, “Gunair.” Head to https://cozyearth.com and use code THRIFTY for up to 20% off! Show Notes Watch us on YouTube! Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today. 00:00 - A word from our sponsor, Cozy Earth! 01:00 - Gunair starts an airline alliance 02:33 - Kyle’s Thailand trip, made possible by alliances 06:00 - Jen welcomes us back from Meteora, Greece! 06:40 - Breaking down the alliances: Star Alliance, SkyTeam & Oneworld 26:15 - What is the (funky) fourth airline alliance? 34:50 - Our favorite airline alliance is… 38:30 - A word from our sponsor, Cozy Earth! 39:00 - The power of airline alliances: Our favorite redemptions 55:00 - Is it really this easy to use points and miles with partners? 58:45 - A listener asks: Why don’t more airlines charge for carry-ons? 01:01:30 - On the spot: If you could add an airline to any alliance, what would you do? 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.comGet 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!Follow us on…InstagramYouTubeFacebookBluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →