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.
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Your hosts Gunnar Olson and Kyle Potter from Thrifty Traveler are (almost) ready to bring you the best in travel once a week. They’ll dive deep into the world of flight deals, redeeming points and miles, destinations, travel tips, and so much more.
Publishing Thursday mornings. Get ready for the Thrifty Traveler Podcast.
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The Best Bets for Flight Deals in 2025
Episode 1
Thursday, March 13, 2025 • Duration 42:21
Gunnar and Kyle kick off the podcast by focusing on the cheapest destinations for a trip in 2025, discussing Chase’s dominance in the airport lounge wars, some bad Southwest news (which was just the tip of the iceberg…), and more!
(39:35) Putting Kyle on the spot about Turkish food.
Credits:
Hosts: Gunnar Olson & Kyle Potter
Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati
Edited by David Strutt
What the %$#* was Southwest Thinking?
Episode 2
Thursday, March 20, 2025 • Duration 39:32
Gunnar and Kyle put Southwest on trial, explaining the (shortsighted) logic behind the airline’s incredibly unpopular changes to baggage and other negative moves - and what it means for all you travelers going forward. Plus, some Hyatt properties to book ASAP before they’ll cost you more points and our absolute favorite travel hack that isn’t much of a “hack” at all.
(33:53) A listener wonders how to redeem Delta and Capital One miles
(36:52) Putting Gunnar on the spot about our (alleged) issues
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 - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!
Is Hyatt Still Top Dog of Hotel Chains?
Episode 4
Thursday, April 3, 2025 • Duration 47:10
Hotels, hotels, and also hotels: That’s what episode four of the pod is all about. Gunnar and Kyle talk about some huge hotel credit card bonuses and how Hyatt needs to step up its game … especially with Hilton hot on its heels lately for the crown of the world’s best hotel loyalty program. Gunnar makes a lot of pained (and strange) references to pools. And the guys quiz each other on where to set season 4 of The White Lotus – we know you’re listening, Mike White.
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
A Decade of Deals, ft. Founder Jared Kamrowski
Episode 3
Thursday, March 27, 2025 • Duration 37:14
Gunnar and Kyle kindly invite Thrifty Traveler Founder Jared Kamrowski on his own show! Jared shares his favorite flights, worst travel mistakes, looks back on the (almost) decade since starting Thrifty Traveler and what he’s seen change in 10 years of flight deals and points and miles. Plus, the guys laugh about Thrifty Traveler’s extremely humble beginnings (in Jared’s garage - literally) and Gunnar’s memorable job interview in 2021.
(34:20) Putting Jared on the spot and making him choose one redemption to resurrect
Chase’s Monster 100K Bonus Merits an Emergency Pod!
Friday, April 4, 2025 • Duration 27:27
Gunnar and Kyle record a special, emergency episode to dive into the biggest news in travel in months: A new 100,000-point welcome bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. They talk about why it should be on every traveler’s radar, explain who is eligible for to earn it (including if you already have the card), and take a stab at explaining why Chase would be doing this in the first place.
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!
The 10 Commandments of Points & Miles
Episode 5
Thursday, April 10, 2025 • Duration 01:01:03
Gunnar and Kyle go back to basics on the pod: It’s not the Five D’s of Dodgeball, it’s the 10 Commandments of Points and Miles. Whether you’re just getting started with travel rewards or consider yourself a pro, this (only slightly irreverent) list can help you take things to the next level with your points. The guys also break down a troubling trend in frequent flyer programs … and Kyle roasts Gunnar for his clothes.
(28:52) 4. Stop before you swipe - maximize your spending
(32.41) 5. & everywhere
Travel is Cooling Down … & Flight Deals are Heating Up!
Episode 6
Thursday, April 17, 2025 • Duration 46:14
Gunnar and Kyle dive deep into the tenuous state of travel demand (it's slowing down) and what it means for travelers on the hunt for a bargain (good things!) They also chat about a pair of spectacular deals that went out to Thrifty Traveler subscribers and wonder if Real ID enforcement is actually coming or not. Oh, and we officially have a listener of the week!
(37:35) - Listener Question: Tara wants to fly biz class to Kenya
Big Five, Small Budget: Goin' on Safari with Points & Miles
Episode 7
Thursday, April 24, 2025 • Duration 01:00:27
Gunnar and Kyle pull out their binoculars to be your safari guides in this week’s episode. After going on their own safaris with the help of points and miles, they talk through their trips, what they loved (spoiler alert: pretty much everything), what they learned, and what they’d do differently next time. Plus, the guys gush about a new feature Google Flights is testing, wonder aloud about when the Chase Sapphire's big bonus will end, and get (rightfully) called out by a listener for a bad take on a previous episode.
12:55 - Gunnar recaps his trip to Zanzibar and the Masai Mara safari in Kenya
34:00 - A word from our sponsor (us … and our free Extra Mile Newsletter for points and miles aficionados)
35:00 - Kyle puts on his safari hat and talks about his own trip to the South African bush
25:15 - More about elephants!
55:02 - A listener calls Gunnar & Kyle out of touch about their Hyatt free night certificates take
58:10 - Kyle puts Gunnar on the spot…and Gunnar eats some delicious crow about Hilton
Produced by Gunnar Olson & Jackson Newman Edited by David Strutt Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
Who Wins Our Frequent Flyer Program Fantasy Draft?
Episode 8
Thursday, May 1, 2025 • Duration 47:47
The NFL Draft is over. Our Airline Mileage Program Draft is here as Gunnar and Kyle each pick their top 5 frequent flyer programs. Which airline pulled a Shedeur Sanders and slid into a later round? And more importantly, who wins: Gunnar or Kyle? Oh, and the guys also talk about a crazy Delta SkyMiles sale, Tulum losing its luster, and getting to Italy for next year’s Winter Olympics.
Be sure to vote in the comments
(00:00) - Is this going to be the best Olympics ever for travelers?
(04:30) - The best Delta SkyMiles sale we’ve ever seen to Asia: Just 25K roundtrip!
(09:08) - Has Tulum lost its buzz?
(12:20) - A word from our sponsor (us … and our flight deal service!)
(13:50) - Our 2025 Thrifty Traveler Airline Mileage Program Draft!
Make sure to cast your vote for the winner in the comments on YouTube, Twitter, or on the Thrifty Traveler Instagram
(34:50) - Listener Question: Best ways to travel around the school calendar when prices get high
(39:35) - Our favorite follows in travel and points & miles!
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