travel
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.
Kyle Potter and Gunnar Olsen discussed how the price difference to upgrade from basic economy to main cabin tickets has risen from $60 or $70 round trip to $100 or more on U.S. carriers, and up to $240 or more for international flights. They noted that airlines are using these higher premiums and renewed change fees as hidden fare increases.
The hosts reviewed upcoming changes to Bilt's loyalty program taking effect in 2026. They highlighted that Bilt Cash will now expire 12 months after being earned instead of on December 31st, and legacy cardholders will have to manually opt out if they wish to keep their current earning structure.
Kyle Potter noted that United Airlines announced travelers must spend $32,000 with the airline to achieve its highest 1K status tier, which is $4,000 higher than the top status requirements of both Delta and American Airlines.
Discussing recent Reuters reports, the hosts covered Southwest Airlines' rumored plans to acquire Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft to operate long-haul international routes, marking a major operational shift for an airline that has historically flown exclusively 737s.
The hosts discussed American Express's upcoming policy change requiring a two-night minimum stay to redeem Fine Hotels and Resorts credits on the Amex Platinum card, alongside a new partnership allowing 5x points earnings on eligible Airbnb bookings through Amex Travel.
Kyle Potter shares that he successfully booked two Iberia business class seats from DC Dulles to Madrid exactly 361 days in advance at 7pm Eastern time, which is when Iberia loads its schedule.
Gunnar and Kyle discuss how United Airlines provides expanded saver award availability and mileage discounts exclusively for its co-branded credit cardholders and status holders.
Kyle and Gunnar explain that starting award travel or cash bookings from Canadian airports like Toronto or Montreal often yields significantly more availability and lower prices compared to U.S. departures.
The hosts highlight Finnair business class as a top choice that can be reliably booked 361 days in advance for 63,000 Avios each way using transferable bank points.
Kyle notes that while booking British Airways through its own program carries high fees, booking the same seats via Japan Airlines Mileage Bank lowers the mileage and cash requirements significantly.
Kyle shares that EVA Air now restricts partner availability, requiring travelers to transfer Citi or Capital One points directly to EVA's Infinity MileageLands program to book seats.
The hosts explain that booking Delta One suites relies on tracking random SkyMiles flash sales, which can feature rates starting at 97,000 SkyMiles each way to Europe or Asia.
American Express has added Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) as a new transfer partner for its Membership Rewards points. While the transfer ratio is 4:1, the reasonable online rates for LHW properties present an opportunity to book unique boutique hotels outside of major chains. This move could be particularly valuable for Amex cardholders seeking more distinctive travel experiences.
Recent changes to Hyatt's award chart have significantly increased the points required for many hotel redemptions, particularly for premium properties. This, combined with a new 4:3 transfer ratio from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card (down from 1:1), makes transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt less appealing for Preferred cardholders. Those who frequently transfer to Hyatt may now need to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve for its 1:1 transfer ratio, despite its higher annual fee.
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is highlighted as a top-tier loyalty program, particularly for its value in booking partner airlines and JAL flights. Despite the potential for award rates to increase in the future, the program currently offers excellent redemption options, including business class flights to South America via LATAM and significantly cheaper round-trip flights to Tahiti on Air France compared to booking directly with Air France.
Several major airline loyalty programs are being re-evaluated, with Aeroplan, Flying Blue, and Avianca Lifemiles showing a downward trend in value. Aeroplan has increased award rates for business class flights, while Flying Blue has seen significant award rate hikes and removed perks for booking Air France/KLM flights. Avianca Lifemiles, despite good redemption rates, is criticized for poor customer service and increasing award costs, making it a less attractive option for many travelers.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards program is receiving a strong 'up' rating due to its consistent value, frequent sales, and unique redemption options. The program's decoupling of points from cash prices has led to better sales, and the companion pass remains a significant benefit for families. A particularly noteworthy redemption is the consistent 4,000-mile cost for inter-island flights in Hawaii, regardless of the cash price.
Both Emirates Skywards and Etihad Guest loyalty programs are experiencing significant downgrades, with increased award rates and higher fees making them less attractive for redemptions. Emirates has made intentional decisions to devalue their points, while Etihad has layered on restrictive cancellation policies. The consensus is that these programs are among the worst performers currently.
The TSA is reportedly considering a new policy that would permit TSA PreCheck members to bring full-sized water bottles through security checkpoints. This potential change, which would initially be rolled out at select airports, is a response to advancements in screening technology. Travelers like Kyle Potter express hope that this is a step towards a broader relaxation of liquid restrictions.
An analysis of a year's worth of load factor data, leading up to May 2026, identified long-haul international routes with a higher likelihood of empty seats. These routes offer travelers the best chance for extra legroom or even a 'poor man's business class' (Y flat) experience in economy. Many of these routes were recently launched, suggesting that newness contributes to lower load factors.
The analysis also revealed some surprising results, such as the LAX to Heathrow route on United having a 67% load factor, which is considered very low for such a significant route. Similarly, some Iceland routes showed unexpectedly low load factors despite being ideal for a 'Y flat' experience due to their shorter flight times.
Thrifty Traveler has launched a free online tool called the 'card benefit tracker' designed to help users manage their travel credit cards and rewards. The tool allows users to track credit card benefits, annual fees, and points balances in one place, aiming to simplify the management of multiple credit cards and their associated perks.
Gunner O'Laughlin and Kyle Potter emphasized the importance of password managers for individuals accumulating numerous travel loyalty accounts and credit cards. They highlighted how these tools automate logins and store critical information like frequent flyer and TSA PreCheck numbers, reducing the complexity of managing a large number of online accounts.
Gunner O'Laughlin recommends Monarch Money, a tool for tracking spending, accounts, and credit cards, especially for those who are not adept at managing spreadsheets. He notes that while Monarch is an occasional sponsor of the show, his endorsement predates the sponsorship.
The Thrifty Traveler podcast highlighted Rakuten and Cashback Monitor as essential tools for maximizing credit card rewards on everyday purchases. Cashback Monitor helps identify the best points or cashback offers available through various portals, while Rakuten, as a browser extension, automatically alerts users to these earning opportunities on retail websites.
The Max My Point Chrome extension was recommended as a tool to effectively track and manage credit card credits, particularly those that do not roll over month-to-month, such as the Amex Platinum card's dining credit. The extension alerts users to expiring credits and provides direct links to merchants for redemption.
For booking award travel, Google Flights is recommended for gauging cash prices to assess award flight value, while ExpertFlyer is a paid tool for searching award availability across various programs and setting up alerts. SeatGuru is a free resource for viewing aircraft seat maps to choose optimal seats.
Alaska Airlines has significantly improved its policy for adding lap infants to award bookings. Previously, adding a lap infant to an award ticket required a phone call and an unclear fee structure, often involving a percentage of the cash fare or a flat mileage fee. Now, passengers can simply pay the applicable taxes and fees, and this change extends to all Alaska Mileage Plan partners, not just Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines flights.
Southwest Airlines has announced plans to enter the airport lounge market, a move described as '10 years too late' by the podcast hosts. The airline will open its first lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville starting in late 2027, with plans for a total of 11 lounges. These lounges will be operated in conjunction with Chase and its Chase Sapphire Lounge Network.
During the discussion, one of the podcast hosts admitted to a personal travel 'hack' that involves taking a to-go cocktail from a lounge and bringing it onto the plane, which he acknowledged is illegal. He described the process of discreetly transferring a drink into a coffee cup to consume during the flight in economy.
Kyle Potter clarifies the distinction between credit card points and airline miles, emphasizing that airline miles are typically 'stuck' with a specific airline and cannot be transferred to partners. Credit card points, however, offer greater flexibility, allowing transfers to numerous airline and hotel partners or redemption through travel portals.
Using a bank's travel portal, like Chase's or American Express's, is an easy way to redeem credit card points, typically at a flat rate of 1 cent per point. While simple, this method generally offers less value compared to transferring points to partners. Capital One offers a 'purchase eraser' feature allowing users to book travel on their card and then use miles to remove the charge, also at a 1 cent per mile rate.
While a cents-per-mile formula exists to evaluate award travel value, the ultimate barometer is personal. Kyle Potter suggests that a redemption is good if it allows you to book something you otherwise couldn't afford or take a trip you wouldn't have otherwise taken. Obsessing over maximum value can lead to unredeemed points, whereas using points for travel is the primary goal.
Transferring credit card points to airline partners is generally the most effective way to maximize their value, often yielding 2-4 cents per point or more, compared to the 1 cent per point from travel portals. This strategy allows travelers to access better redemptions than booking directly through the bank's portal, even though it requires research to find the best options.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points offer significant value when transferred to its extensive network of over a dozen airline and hotel partners. Key partners like United Airlines, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Southwest Airlines provide opportunities for more valuable redemptions than using the Chase travel portal directly. Other notable partners include Iberia, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, and hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG.
American Express Membership Rewards offers a robust selection of transfer partners, including Delta, British Airways, and unique options like ANA for domestic US flights. Capital One's program, while smaller, includes valuable partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles, both considered sweet spots in the transferable points ecosystem. Both programs, like Chase's, emphasize transferring points for greater value.
When transferring points, a major pitfall is not checking award availability beforehand, leading to transferred points that cannot be used for desired flights. Other common mistakes include transferring to the wrong loyalty program number, not being aware of transfer ratios (though most are 1:1), and importantly, understanding that once transferred, points are irreversible. It's crucial to be certain about the redemption before confirming the transfer.
Kyle Potter highlights several high-value redemptions, including business class flights to Europe on partners like United or Air Canada using Chase points, and to Asia on partners like ANA or Singapore Airlines using Amex points. Flights to Hawaii on Southwest and business class to Australia are also mentioned. Flexibility with dates and destinations is key to finding good award availability for these redemptions.
Kyle Potter emphasizes the importance of a "Potter Pause" – a mental check before making any purchase – to maximize credit card rewards. He suggests that instead of impulsively applying for credit cards or signing up for programs, individuals should pause and consider how each spending decision can yield the most points. This approach, he argues, is crucial for effectively earning and utilizing points for travel and other benefits.
Kyle Potter reflects on his early mistakes in the points and miles game, stating he made choices that could have been optimized. He specifically recalls purchasing his wife's engagement ring in 2016 and opening a Delta SkyMiles credit card without considering his long-term travel goals or the types of points that would be most beneficial.
Kyle Potter advises that the most crucial step in earning points and miles is to set a clear goal and work backward from it. He contrasts this with his own past mistake of choosing a credit card based on immediate convenience rather than strategic long-term travel aspirations.
American Airlines has announced a significant reversal in its strategy regarding in-flight entertainment, committing to installing seatback screens across its entire narrow-body fleet. This decision comes after years of removing them, a move that was criticized by passengers.
United Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its route network, with 13 new destinations planned for the upcoming year. This expansion is facilitated by their new Airbus A321 L R aircraft, enabling longer-haul flights.
The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program has implemented a new three-tier pricing system for award tickets, which effectively means higher redemption rates for customers. This change, effective September 8th, has been met with frustration.
Chase has made significant changes to its popular Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve credit cards in 2026, including reworking eligibility requirements to make them accessible to more customers. This move is seen as a response to American Express's success with the Platinum card relaunch in 2025.
The Capital One Venture X card, which launched five years ago, is noted for not having seen any significant changes. Analysts suggest that Capital One may be due for an update to the card, similar to recent revamps from Chase.
A listener pointed out a peculiar pricing strategy by Delta, where a one-way flight from Minneapolis to Athens, Greece, including a layover in Atlanta, was cheaper than a direct flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta. This highlights how airlines can significantly alter prices based on destination, even when a segment is unused.
The discussion touched upon 'hidden city ticketing' or 'throwaway ticketing,' a practice popularized by sites like Skiplagged. This involves booking a flight with a connection and disembarking at the layover city, effectively skipping the final leg of the journey to save money.
A beneficial loophole in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program that allowed travelers to book transatlantic business class awards for 10,000 fewer miles by including a connection has been fixed. This 'hidden city' type of pricing for award tickets has been rectified by Alaska Airlines.
Philippine Airlines has become bookable with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, presenting a new opportunity for travelers to redeem miles for business class flights to Southeast Asia. This includes flights from the West Coast for 75,000 miles and from other cities like Chicago and JFK for 85,000 miles.
The podcast announced a new series called 'Starter Kit' aimed at beginner travelers interested in points and miles. The hosts are soliciting questions from listeners to include in the series, which will cover the basics of earning and redeeming points.
Kyle Potter describes his recent experience traveling through Fargo's airport, highlighting its surprisingly modern concourse and a unique "USA 250th birthday riding lawnmower" in the baggage claim area. Host Gunnar Olson found this detail particularly amusing, calling it "so cool."
Fargo is described as an unexpected arts destination, earning the nickname "Arts Capital of the North." The city offers a vibrant creative scene with live theater, galleries, public art, and live music, all accessible without big-city crowds or prices.
Co-hosts Kyle Potter and Gunnar Olson discuss their favorite "travel beers," defining it not as a specific drink, but a situational experience. Potter describes the "end of a stressful travel day beer" and the "should I do this? It's 9 AM, but I'm on vacation" beer, while Olson favors the "first beer after the day's activity" and the "hotel mini bar beer while my wife is getting ready for dinner."
Kyle Potter recounts a memorable flight experience in East Africa, involving a small Cessna and a pilot who had to 'buzz' the airstrip to clear wildebeest and zebra for landing. He also described a flight where a Dash 8 took off and immediately returned to pick up passengers, calling it an "epic aviation experience."