It’s the news every points and miles aficionado has been waiting for: After years of pain, award travel is, in fact, getting easier. Alongside an undeniable trend in red-hot cheap airfare, outstanding deals keep popping up to redeem your points - whether you’re on the hunt for a discounted economy deal or a notoriously hard-to-book lie-flat award ticket.

So Gunnar and Kyle dig into what’s driving this lovely new trend and, most importantly, the dozen or so deals that have us thinking that award travel has finally turned a corner. We’re calling it (working title) “Hot Flight Summer.”

Come for Hot Flight Summer and stay for Gunnar’s hot fireworks take, a revelation about Kyle’s reality TV viewing habits, and why Virgin Atlantic really ticked us off this week.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - Introducing … “Hot Flight Summer”

03:16 - Something Hot: Cash airfare continues to drop (think sub-$300 roundtrip flights to Europe!)

08:45 - Something Cold: Virgin doubled taxes and fees on biz class awards

13:50 - A word from our sponsor (us, and our Thrifty Traveler Premium service that’s finding more deals than ever!)

15:43 - The Extra Mile: Hot Flight Summer, or why we think award travel is (finally) getting easier

21:00 - The rise of the elusive “Unicorn Alert” (even if Emirates hates us)

24:30 - Business class award deals to Australia and across the Pacific are back!

29:15 - Gunnar gushes about the Cathay’s The Pier First Class Lounge

34:45 - Booking partner awards – including the rare Delta One redemptions

36:00 - And don’t forget about economy flights, too!

40:15 - The exceptions: Star Alliance ,Iberia’s biz class devaluation, and Amex transfers to Emirates

43:15 - Listener Questions: How to fly to Australia/New Zealand using points and miles, in biz class or economy

48:45 - On the Spot: A listener checks in from Kyle’s favorite hotel in the world while Kyle taps into his Love Island fandom to couple up with – and dump from the island – two recent deals

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Jackson Newman
Edited by David Strutt
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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Higher annual fees. More perks. New lounges. It never stops.

The big banks are going bigger than ever on their “premium” travel credit cards. So, Gunnar (fresh off paternity leave!) and Kyle bring Thrifty Traveler’s co-founder and credit card expert, Nick Serati, on the show to help break down all the recent moves from Chase, Amex, and Capital One. And they ask the $900-plus question: With annual fees approaching $1,000 a year, are we hitting a breaking point?

Watch us on YouTube!

0:00 - Introducing Nick … & our new studio!

1:13 - Catching Gunnar up on all the big travel news he (& you) missed

05:48 - Something Hot: Chase’s huge bonus on the new Sapphire Reserve

10:37 - Something cold: Chase’s messy eligibility rule changes

15:23 - A word from our sponsor (us … and our really cool CardPilot tool that’ll help you pick your next travel card!)

17:00 - The Extra Mile: Diving into the “premium” travel credit cards arm race

19:17 - What’s next for the Amex Platinum Card?

20:13 - Capital One throws down the gauntlet with the best lounge yet

21:49 - A fourth big premium card on the horizon? All eyes on Delta

23:20 - Why “premium” travel is all the rage right now

26:20 - Doing the math on premium cards & big annual fees

29:48 - Why banks are all turning their top cards into glorified coupon books

33:40 - The real value of these top-dollar travel cards

39:50 - Listener Question: The best 4-5 credit cards to get started

44:06 - On the Spot: What do Nick & Gunnar love about being dads?

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Jackson Newman
Edited by David Strutt
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 can you find the best value for your SkyMiles? Are Delta SkyMiles worthless? Can you book Delta One for cheap? Am I an idiot for caring about SkyMiles? These are the questions we get about the wildly popular (yet maddening) Delta SkyMiles program, so we do our best to answer all of them and more. Whether you want to book quick, cheap flights within the U.S. or fly business class to Asia (and everything in between), we go over all the best ways to earn and burn Delta SkyMiles.

Watch us on YouTube!

(00:00) - What level of Delta status does Kyle have?

(00:45) - What would we do with 200,000 Delta SkyMiles?

(05:00) - Some of the best ways to use SkyMiles

(09:00) - And the worst…

(14:00) - A word from our sponsor (us): Get the Extra Mile Newsletter to earn more miles

(15:00) - Delta SkyMiles 101

(17:00) - Why Delta prices SkyMiles awards differently than other airlines

(20:30) - Inside the infamous “Sad State of SkyMiles” story from 2023

(23:15) - Why SkyMiles Flash Sales are like “Clearance Meat”

(28:45) - The best destinations to target for a good SkyMiles deal

(34:00) - Where can you find a pseudo-Delta SkyMiles “award chart”?

(36:00) - American Express credit cards and what Delta’s strategy with its profitable partner

(39:30) - Delta One SkyMiles deals … are they even possible?

(42:15) - How to find Delta SkyMiles redemptions outside of flash sales

(45:30) - Are Delta SkyMiles worthless?

(47:00) - The #1 key to getting good value from your SkyMiles

(49:15) - Helping a traveler from SLC earn SkyMiles fast

(53:00) - What one change would Gunnar make to the SkyMiles program?

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Long Tran
Edited by David Strutt
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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Gunnar's still enjoying the new life of a girldad, so Kyle brought our first-ever special guest on the show: Max Do - better known as MaxMilesPoints. As one of the biggest and best social media creators covering points and miles, Max is uniquely qualified to explain the rise of travel influencers - both the good and the bad - while sharing his own story of how he left his 9-to-5 job (it involves a $10,000 deal with a hotel brand). Plus, Kyle and Max talk through the big news from Chase and American Express ... and place their bets on just how high the Platinum Card's annual fee may go.

Watch us on YouTube!

0:00 - Introducing our first-ever guest: MaxMilesPoints!

01:43 - Something Hot: The new JFK Capital One Lounge (ft. a cheesemonger and bagel bar)

08:15 - Something Cold(ish): Chase & Amex’s top travel cards are getting even pricier

16:43 - A word from our sponsor (us … and our flight deal service that even Max uses)

18:30 - The Extra Mile: Why Max fell in love with travel and started MaxMilesPoints

22:18 - 10,000 reasons why Max left his full-time job to become a full-time social media creator

24:27 - The positives and negatives behind the explosion of travel influencers

30:30 - Sharing a cocktail & slowing down your travels

33:14 - Rapid fire questions with Max (& the time he went to the wrong airport)

40:02 - Listener question: Which cities to visit in Vietnam?

43:01 - On the spot: The one thing Max would change in award travel

Produced by Kyle Potter & Long Tran
Edited by David Strutt
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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Bluesky

It’s time to talk to the Oz of our flight deal service: Jon Shallbetter, aka Jonny Nonny. Gunnar and Kyle bring Jon on the show to talk about his wizardry of all things Google Flights, finding and sending flight deal alerts, his favorite flight deal ever and worst-ever travel mistake, and more. Oh, and the guys grill Jon on the allegations that he drank Emirates dry … and he does an Admiral Ackbar impression?!

Watch us on YouTube!

0:00 - Did Jon actually cash Emirates’ supply of Dom Perignon?

05:47 - Something Hot: Jon’s favorite deal of all time (it cost $62)

07:52 - Something Cold: Jon’s worst travel mishap

09:18 - Honorable mention: The worst travel pillow ever (ft. Admiral Ackbar)

11:23 - A word from our sponsor (us … and the awesome flight deal service that Jon runs)

13:14 - How Jon got started in travel and finding flight deals for living

16:50 - The art of finding flight deals, mastering Google Flights & expanding into award travel

23:04 - A quick primer on TT lingo (and the Delly nonny to Honny)

25:55 - Lightning round with Jonny Nonny: Google Flights tips, the secrets of MSP & puppies

30:27 - Listener question: Will this be a good year for flight deals?

33:43 - What do Jon & Kyle really think about their coworker?

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Jackson Newman
Edited by David Strutt
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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Bluesky

What else would we talk about on this week’s podcast than one of the biggest stories in travel? The three largest U.S. airlines were quietly charging some solo travelers higher fares …until we caught them in the act! We break down this crazy story and discuss why - and how - it was happening. Plus, we laugh at Southwest’s botched rollout of its new baggage fees, look into some (awesome) rare Etihad partner award space, and Gunnar reveals what he thinks is the second sleaziest thing airlines do in airfare.

Watch us on YouTube!

(00:00) - An update on this solo traveler pricing tactic…

(00:50) - Find Something Out (from Gunnar’s house!): How Kyle reported this important story

(04:10) - Something Hot: Some rare Etihad partner award space in First Class and Business

(07:30) - Something Cold: Southwest (unsurprisingly) botches its baggage fees rollout

(12:00) - A word from our sponsor (us, and how Thrifty Traveler Premium can help find the best flight deals for you!)

(14:00) - The Extra Mile: How and why airlines were charging more for solo and business travelers than everyone else

(29:45) - A listener wants to start planning her Sept. 2026 trip now … but should she?

(33:00) - On the Spot: What other sleazy airline tactics does Gunnar hate

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, Kyle walks us through how he booked an epic trip to England and Scotland using points and miles. There’s a business class award to London, an economy flight home, and plenty of flights, hotels and other travel expenses in between. Plus, Phoenix gets its first nonstop flight to Asia and we say goodbye to the Southwest we knew and loved. Do yourself a favor and stick around for Gunnar’s cant-miss, ridiculous story of his own trip to London … when he learned some of England’s beer-drinking rules the hard way at a consequential Chelsea match.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:45 - Our top tips for the busy summer travel season (& will Real ID matter?)

05:45 - Something hot: Phoenix’s strange (but explainable) Starlux nonstop flight to Taipei

10:30 - Something cold: Pouring one out with a goodbye to the old Southwest

14:50 - A word from our sponsor: Sign up for our (free) Daily Beat Newsletter today!

16:10 - The Extra Mile: Exactly how Kyle booked a points & miles trip to England and Scotland this summer

19:15 - How he (and about seven other Thrifty Traveler team members!) booked business class for just 29,000 points each way thanks to Virgin’s new pricing mode

22:00 - Booking a nonstop Delta flight home … but not with SkyMiles

28:30 - The best car rental booking tool out there: AutoSlash

31:00 - Booking a hotel stay at a castle in Scotland using Hilton points (at the old, cheaper rate)

32:30 - Using Capital One’s $300 travel credit to fill in the rest

37:00 - Gunnar’s legendary story of learning England’s beer-drinking laws at a Chelsea soccer match the hard way…

42:10 - Listener Question: The Concorde in our studio

45:45 - On the Spot: Travel re-treads, or what trips would we try again? Or not?

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Jackson Newman
Edited by David Strutt
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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Bluesky

This week on the show, Gunnar and Kyle talk about a recent, unprecedented run of roundtrip flights to Europe in the $400s, $300s, and even $200s. The guys ask the important questions like “What is going in here?!” - and more importantly, stress that travelers should run to book a cheap trip to Italy, Greece, England and beyond this year. Plus, we’ve finally got an end date for a workaround to turn Amex points into Alaska, we talk about Delta’s gross Basic Economy rebrand, and Kyle reveals the cheapest flight (or 10) he’s ever booked.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - The cheapest flights Kyle has ever booked

03:20 - Something Hot: Why (& how) you should transfer your Amex points to Alaska…right now!

07:30 - Something Cold: Hilton hikes award prices…again

10:40 - Something Extra Cold: Delta’s gross "Basic" rebrand bait & switch

15:20 - A word from our sponsor (us): Sign up for free Thrifty Traveler flight deal alerts today - or use code: TTPOD if you want to upgrade!

17:10 - The Extra Mile: Breaking down a bonanza of cheap flights to Europe under $400 roundtrip!

31:23 - A listener asks: What will happen to my Hawaiian miles?

33:30 - On the Spot: The best beer Gunnar’s ever had

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati
Edited by David Strutt
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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Facebook
Bluesky