The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

There’s nothing quite like booking a lie-flat seat using points instead of forking over $3,000 or more. But it’s no slam dunk: Finding award availability to book business class seats can be a chore. So this week on the Thrifty Traveler Podcast, Gunnar and Kyle give you a playbook for finding the flights you want, including which airlines stand out for being easiest to book and some evergreen tips to maximize your chances of finding a lie-flat seat. Plus, Kyle brags about his low points balances and answers the toughest “On the Spot” question yet.
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!
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Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.
00:00 - What’s Kyle’s lowest points balance?
00:50 - How far in advance does Kyle book biz class?
02:40 - Richie welcomes us back from Guam!
03:10 - Sweet spots & tips for finding business class award availability
18:45 - Thanks to our sponsor, Monarch Money!
20:10 - The easiest biz class seats you can actually book with points
47:45 - Listener Question: Where to start for a family Euro trip
50:40 - Kyle chooses a biz class to book … with a catch!

Related Links:
Booking Qatar QSuites for others


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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What aren’t the airlines saying out loud? How will tech and AI shape our travels? And what’s the future of award travel look like? Those questions are big enough for the guys to bring in another expert to tackle them: Zach Griff, a longtime travel writer, airline and loyalty insider, and the author of the From the Tray Table newsletter. Together, Gunnar, Kyle & Zach analyze the changing loyalty landscape; Zach takes you all inside splashy airline events, and he gives his best travel tips - including his favorite tech and his favorite (and least favorite) travel destinations.
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Join the conversation! Sign up for the free Thrifty Traveler Podcast Slack community today.
00:00 - Exposing airline talking points and jargon
03:30 - Hamed welcomes us back to the show from Tokyo!
04:00 - Inside airline media events & announcements
09:40 - The present and future of airline loyalty programs
18:20 - Zach Griff’s favorite Thrifty Traveler Premium deals!
21:45 - Diving into Zach’s career and From the Tray Table
28:15 - Is United overtaking Delta? Or is it just vibes?
34:30 - Why travelers should care about Apple and tech
41:50 - Rapid fire: Best gadgets, best (& worst) destinations & more
49:15 - Listener Question: Outlining our award travel ski strategy
53:30 - On the Spot: Would you ever move based on an airline hub?


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…
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YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky

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This week, the guys break down all the travel news that’s fit to podcast … and there’s a lot of it. That includes a brand-new (and free) tool to save on flights when fares drop, new big card bonus offers, 11 (!) transfer bonuses, and a deep dive on what the heck has happened with World of Hyatt? Plus, they go through the airports with the highest airfare, Alaska’s big splash, and we wade into what Gunnar is calling the “Starlink scuttlebutt.”
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 - Gunnair has a new competitor: Pottair!
02:35 - Jen & Tom welcome us back from Ireland!
03:05 - Introducing our new FareTracker tool!
05:50 - New United card bonuses & the key to better biz class deals
09:55 - 11 (!) new transfer bonuses on our radar
13:10 - How to transfer 30K Delta SkyMiles for free
15:50 - Now the end of Bilt and Hyatt 1:1 transfers is coming …
18:00 - … and yet Hyatt keeps getting worse
20:30 - The U.S. airports with the highest airfare
23:35 - R.I.P. to this sweet spot from Japan Airlines
26:10 - A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards!
27:00 - New Alaska Atmos transfer partner(s)?
29:50 - Alaska’s fancy new biz class suites & more
34:20 - A (proposed) Chase Sapphire Lounge at SEA
36:40 - The Delta-Starlink scuttlebutt
41:40 - Rapid fire news and notes: Online passports & more
48:15 - Listener Question: How to manage price alerts
51:00 - On the Spot: What’s the biggest story in travel this year?

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…
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Bluesky

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

So much changes so fast in the world of points and miles, it’s easy to lose track. So in this episode of the Thrifty Traveler Podcast, the guys go through (almost) every single airline loyalty program and decide: Are they trending up or are they down? But they need some help, so flight deal analyst Katie Rollins joins to break things down … and also shares a legendary travel mishap. The gang also sorts through some hotel points programs and helps a listener deal with their PreCheck-less travel companions.
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 - Introducing Katie Rollins (& her trip to Iceland)
02:20 - Matt & Annika welcome us back from Albania!
03:15 - Something Hot: Leading Hotels of the World
06:15 - Something Cold: The Hyatt-Chase transfer “D-Day”
09:20 - A word from our sponsor, Saily!
10:15 - The best Thrifty Traveler Premium hotel & flight deals
11:30 - Our rankings: Who’s up and who’s down in airline loyalty programs
45:45 - The etiquette of ditching your non-PreCheck friends
48:15 - Revisiting Katie’s brutal rental car mistake in Iceland
53:30 - On the Spot: Luxury flights or hotels?


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.

Heading home for the holidays can be expensive, especially this year… but it doesn’t have to be. We’re in the heart of holiday flight booking season, so Gunnar and Kyle give all their best tips for saving on flights on those high-demand holiday season flights. The guys go through when to book your trips (spoiler alert: sooooon), where to target for the best deal, and when to turn to your points and miles to get home for the holidays. Plus, the guys gush about Japan Airlines again, welcome the return of cheap flights to Europe, and revisit Kyle’s Hilton vs. Hyatt take.
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 - Our points & miles Santa Claus
00:40 - Advice for traveling over the holidays
01:50 - Julius in Malta welcomes us back to the show
02:50 - Something Hot: Hilton’s new card offers
06:30 - Something Hotter: Cheap flights to Europe return!
08:25 - Something Hottest: JAL miles keep getting better!
13:50 - A word form our sponsor: Monarch!
15:00 - What’s the best time to book holiday flights?
18:00 - And what the heck is going on with flight prices?
23:45 - Tips for finding cheaper flights over the holidays
31:50 - Holiday sweet spots: Traveling abroad & biz class
36:40 - Listener Question: Our flight cancellation playbook
41:15 - On the Spot: What’s the ideal Thanksgiving trip?

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.