The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

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 [email protected]
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

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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 [email protected]
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.

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 [email protected]
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.

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 [email protected]
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.

People with status are often very loud about it (we’re looking at you Delta Medallions and Hyatt Globalists), but chasing airline and hotel loyalty isn’t smart for most travelers. It’s something we’re decidedly out on in 2026 and beyond. In “These Bros Ain’t Loyal”, we’re laying out the case against chasing status by identifying who status is for, and why it’s not the best way to travel more for less. 
Watch us on YouTube!
00:00 - What should we call this episode?
01:55 - John Melson introduces the show
03:00 - The best airline & hotel statuses
07:15 - The worst airline & hotel statuses
11:25 - Thrifty Traveler Premium Flight Deal Quiz!
13:44 - Why we’re out on travel loyalty
22:30 - Who is loyalty for?
26:15 - Who is travel “free agency” for? 
28:45 - How to get status perks without status
37:45 - Listener Question: What about credit card points loyalty?
41:30 - On the Spot: Gunnar’s 2027 list
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 [email protected]
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.