News, news, and more breaking travel news. There’s been so many big stories in the travel world lately, Gunnar and Kyle blew up the normal show format and spent the episode going beyond the headlines, breaking down everything you need to know. There’s more on new pricing shenanigans from airlines and Uber, the ins and outs of Alaska’s new loyalty program, a big upgrade for Google Flights, and much much more.

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00:00 - A self-indulgent review of Gunnar’s favorite hotel in the world: Under Canvas in Glacier (now bookable with Hyatt points!)

05:13 - PSA: Global entry interviews are easier to find than ever

09:20 - Alaska/Hawaiian’s new award program and why we won’t call it by its name. Plus, the new Alaska/Hawaiian Atmos premium credit card and some new routes to Europe.

17:40 - A leak of what’s coming for the Amex Platinum Card in September

20:50 - Chase-to-Emirates transfers have an expiration date

23:10 - A new worst way to use Delta SkyMiles – insurance!

25:10 - Google Flights adds a basic economy filter and unveils an interesting new AI function

31:20 - The data couldn’t be clearer: Book the earliest flight of the day to avoid delays and cancellations

35:40 - A word from our sponsor (us): Stay up on all the news with our free Daily Beat newsletter

36:30 - One simple choice for your Uber ride will affect your price

39:25 - The Amex Centurion Lounge in Dallas is getting a big expansion

43:00 - Delta and other airlines are overcharging for upgrades

48:00 - The Tulum bubble has burst as airlines keep pulling out

52:10 - A listener wants to branch out from Delta but doesn’t know what card to start with

56:30 - On the spot: The biggest stories from Kyle’s career

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!

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Bluesky

This week’s podcast is honestly just a selfish exercise for Gunnar, who uses his coworker’s expertise to plan a trip to the 2026 Olympics, get tips on flying with kids, and brag about how to make Thrifty Traveler Premium the best flight deal alert service out there. This week we welcomed Thrifty Traveler’s Product Manager, Tracey Burtch, to talk about how her time representing Team USA Figure Skating sparked a love of travel and how she now devotes her career to helping others do the same. Plus, Tracey recaps her biggest (and embarrassingly recent) travel mistake and some of her favorite deals ever.

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00:00 - Finding something out: Introducing Thrifty Traveler’s best athlete (former Team USA figure skater and our product manager, Tracey Burtch!)

02:35 - Something hot: Tracey’s favorite deals of all time

05:00 - Something cold: An embarrassingly recent travel mishap

07:00 - The Extra Mile: How to evolve your travels over time – including Tracey’s “aha” moments

11:00 - Making Thrifty Traveler better and easier for travelers to use as Product Manager of TT

14:45 - How Tracey is pulling off a trip to the 2026 Italy Olympics

23:00 - Booking TAP Air Portugal business class and where to fly to visit the Italy games

27:00 - A super selfish listener (host?) question about tips for flying with children – and the layover that “just kept giving”

30:40 - On the Spot: Choose your next trip…off the studio wall

Produced by Gunnar Olson
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

Points and miles aren’t worth anything if you can’t use them. If you want to fly lie-flat business class (most of us, right?), it can be excruciating to find flights you can actually book with points. But some stand out as being much easier to book - if not downright easy. Gunnar and Kyle shine the spotlight on the airlines and routes where it’s easiest to score that business class seat using miles. Plus, they chat about rising surcharges on award tickets and look at why Gunnar is adding a new credit card to his wallet ASAP … from an airline he rarely flies.

Watch us on YouTube!

00:00 - Finding something out: The best bits from our interview with Jason

02:15 - Kyle issues a correction to his bougiest travel take: SkyMiles + Champagne

04:00 - Something Hot: This American Airlines 80K-mile card sign-up bonus

09:00 - Something Cold: The Taxes & Fees are Too Damn High – which airlines are worst? (Ahem: Emirates…)

15:12 - A word from our sponsor: Us … and how you can find business class availability with Thrifty Traveler Premium

16:40 - The Extra Mile: All of the easiest business class seats to book with points and miles

20:30 - Why Finnair might be the best of them all (and one of the fanciest) and with easy-to-earn Avios

23:20 - The other easiest-to-book options when flying lie-flat to Europe

34:40 - The key to book Qatar Airways QSuites

40:30 - Listener Question: How to pair award tickets with cash bookings on a group trip

44:45 - On the Spot: Gunnar’s dream additions to the “easiest-to-book biz class” list

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Erica Kamrowski

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…
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky