Gunnar is back from a rain-soaked trip to Hawaii to talk about oil prices, airfare, and what’s next for flight prices - plus, an update on what’s happening at TSA checkpoints across the country as the partial government shutdown drags on. But Gunnar can’t stop talking about his vacation, so he gives a review of Hawaiian Airlines First Class, reveals his grand theory of travel, and the guys pitch a visit to Minneapolis for the Thrifty Traveler Podcast Live Show in June!

The Thrifty Traveler Podcast is going LIVE: Join us Friday, June 12 in Minneapolis! Buy your tickets now!

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00:00 - Recapping Gunnar’s trip to Hawaii

04:40 - Marcus welcomes us back to the show from Cabo

05:00 - A review of Hawaiian’s fancy first class suites

10:32 - Gunnar’s Grand Theory of Travel

14:45 - TSA News: Lines, ICE agents & more

20:12 - A word from our sponsor: Travel abroad with an eSim from Saily!

21:25 - Oil prices (and airfare) are going up. What’s next?

34:30 - What you should do now & where to find deals

45:50 - Gunnar gets spotted & pitching Minneapolis

52:20 - On the Spot: What’s the most you’ve paid for a flight?

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!

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Against all odds, our baby - this humble travel podcast - is one year old! So the guys are celebrating the best way they know how: by turning the show over to you listeners for another mailbag episode. What’s the best way to book a business class seat all the way to Australia - or Hawaii? Why do airlines charge more per ticket for more passengers? How do we rack up more points? Plus, we’ve got huge news about the show that at least four of you have been waiting for…

The Thrifty Traveler Podcast is going LIVE: Join us Friday, June 12 in Minneapolis! Buy your tickets now!

Thanks to our sponsor, Saily! Download Saily in your app store - use our code THRIFTY at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase

https://saily.com/thrifty 🌍

Watch us on YouTube!

0:00 - Celebrating one year of the pod & our sunscreen strategies

05:41 - Mike welcomes us to the show from the Milford Sound

06:10 - Big news: Buy your tickets for the TT Podcast Live in June!

07:50 - What’s the key to booking biz class awards to Australia?

12:50 - How to rack up more points day to day

18:51 - The best lie-flat seats you can fly to Hawaii on points

22:22 - Why do more passengers = higher fares?

26:30 - And why we love beating the airlines at their silly games

27:15 - Strategies & best bets for cheap upgrades

31:37 - A word from our sponsor: Travel abroad with an eSim from Saily!

32:50 - How we track price drops and deals to rebook & save more

35:57 - And how to cancel your first flight for free

39:09 - Points to earn & lie-flat options to Europe for the family

42:29 - Would we ever use travel agents?

45:39 - An amazing sighting in the Delta Sky Club

47:59 - On the spot: A beautiful proposal … at the O’Hare Chili’s

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!

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Sure, you can earn and redeem SkyMiles and Rapid Rewards points to your heart’s content. We won’t stop you. But it’s the next level of points and miles programs that help you save even more and turn regular travelers into “sickos” like us. So the guys devote the show to spelling out five underrated airline mileage programs even everyday travelers can use to maximize their credit card points. Plus, a listener suggests a new nickname for fans of the show (there are dozens of you, we swear!) and Gunnar puts his all-time favorite airline programs on the Olympic podium.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - Our “gateway drug” into points & miles

01:55 - TG welcomes us back to the show from snowy Niseko, Japan

03:45 - What airline programs are actually getting better?

06:50 - And which are overrated?

11:10 - A word from our sponsor: Sign up for our Extra Mile Newsletter

11:45 - Framing a discussion on top five “underrated” airline programs

15:10 - #1: Avios … but maybe not the one you’re thinking of

23:20 - #2: A newcomer full of sweet spots

32:05 - #3: Another quirky Japanese program loaded with value

40:10 - #4: The popular SkyTeam program that’s not rated high enough

47:30 - #5: The U.S. airline with the best miles

55:25 - Listener Question: “Thrifties” & changing loyalty numbers on bookings

59:50 - On the Spot: What’s your airline mileage program podium

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!

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This week, we round up all the recent travel news that’s fit to podcast! That includes Kyle’s experience with CLEAR’s (honestly amazing) new e-gates, what United’s up to with its credit card moves, a shocking-but-welcome move to require headphones onboard, Southwest’s carry-on bag problems literally everyone should have seen coming, hot and cold news from Avios, and much more! Plus, we help a listener get a refund and Gunnar declares whether he’ll ever fly Southwest again.

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 - Kyle’s weekend in Phoenix & using CLEAR’s new e-gates

03:35 - Richard from Florida welcomes us back to the show!

04:00 - United’s credit card changes make them essential

09:55 - Hallelujah: United mandates headphones onboard

12:45 - Hot and Cold in the Avios program: A new transfer bonus & new rules

18:42 - Another way to earn JAL miles

23:45 - A word from our sponsor Bilt Rewards

24:55 - Southwest makes seating, boarding, and baggage adjustments

29:45 - A new Southwest lounge at AUS?

31:38 - Updates from the Middle East and Puerto Vallarta

38:05 - Combined Resy & Tock restaurant list turns heads

41:10 - A sweet new Capital One Shopping promo

43:25 - Can you get refunded for a seat upgrade bought with cash?

46:55 - On the Spot: Would Gunnar ever fly Southwest again?

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!

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Kyle and Gunnar are joined by Thrifty Traveler Chief Flight Deal Analyst (and Domino’s elite member) Jon Shallbetter, who helps them put the 37 combined business class seats they’ve flown into tiers so you can tell what flights are worth your points and which ones may not be. From the best of the best to the experiences that are missing something to the flights that were flat-out forgettable, the guys break it all down, Qsuites to Icelandair and everything in between. Plus, they admit what they haven’t flown and Kyle and Jon reflect on their (romantic?) dinner in Qatar First Class.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - Why it’s always surreal to fly business class

02:25 - Our flight deal guru Jon introduces the show!

02:45 - Tier 1: The best of the best

10:30 - Tier 2: Outstanding business classes

22:30 - Tier 3: Good, but missing something

32:42 - Sign up for Thrifty Traveler Premium to fly biz class for less!

35:20 - Tier 4: The Almost good

44:20 - Tier 5: Disappointing business class flights

52:23 - On the Spot: Jon & Kyle’s romantic Qatar First Class flight

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!

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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!

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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!

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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?

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!

Follow us on…
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky

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