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The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

Thrifty Traveler
Points and Miles
Google Flights
Airlines
Delta Skymiles
Hyatt
Travel Rewards
Travel Tips
Award Travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Delta Airlines
Credit Cards
Travel
Thrifty Traveler Premium
Airline Loyalty Programs
American Airlines
United Airlines
Thrifty Traveler
Travel Deals
Capital One Venture X
Flighty

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 b... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes101Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelAviationLeisureSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

Latest Episodes

What aren’t the airlines saying out loud? How will tech and AI shape our travels? And what’s the future of award travel look like? Those questions are big enough for the guys to bring in another expert to tackle them: Zach Griff, a longtime travel wr... more

This week, the guys break down all the travel news that’s fit to podcast … and there’s a lot of it. That includes a brand-new (and free) tool to save on flights when fares drop, new big card bonus offers, 11 (!) transfer bonuses, and a deep dive on w... more

YouTube

So much changes so fast in the world of points and miles, it’s easy to lose track. So in this episode of the Thrifty Traveler Podcast, the guys go through (almost) every single airline loyalty program and decide: Are they trending up or are they down... more

YouTube

Heading home for the holidays can be expensive, especially this year… but it doesn’t have to be. We’re in the heart of holiday flight booking season, so Gunnar and Kyle give all their best tips for saving on flights on those high-demand holiday seaso... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Peter Thornton
Thrifty Traveler Premium's Senior Award Analyst
Thrifty Traveler Premium
Episode: The Current State of Points & Miles Deals in 2026
Nick Zirotti
Co-founder, Thrifty Traveler
Thrifty Traveler
Episode: Booking 5-Star Hotels in Italy, Airline Upgrade Scams & More News
Nick Cerati
Co-founder of Thrifty Traveler
Thrifty Traveler
Episode: The Biggest Winners & Losers from Hyatt’s Massive Changes
Kim Oh
Listener who submitted a story
Episode: Roasting YOUR Worst Travel Mistakes
Kyle Thomas
Award travel content creator and video editor for the show
Thrifty Traveler
Episode: How to Earn a Million Points & Fly Delta One for Less
Katie Rollins
Flight Deal Analyst at Thrifty Traveler Premium
Thrifty Traveler
Episode: The 14 Things We Never Travel Without (& the 1 Thing We Hate)
Jon Schallbetter
Guest reviewer of Ostrich Pillow
Ostrich Pillow
Episode: The 14 Things We Never Travel Without (& the 1 Thing We Hate)
Marcus Gunderson
Guest from Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Resort
Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Resort
Episode: WTF is Happening with Flight Prices & What We’re Doing
Jon Shallbetter
Thrifty Traveler Chief Flight Deal Analyst
Thrifty Traveler
Episode: The Best (& Worst) Business Classes in the World

Hosts

Gunnar Olson
Host of The Thrifty Traveler Podcast with a focus on points, miles, and practical travel tips; co-creator of the Thrifty Traveler workflow.
Kyle Potter
Executive editor and Points and Miles expert; co-host covering deals, transfers, and strategy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 406 ratings
  • Great show

    This guys keep it real and funny with all sorts of advice and puns that make it for a favourite in our family!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    traderaxxx
    United States2 months ago
  • Best Travel Podcast

    Absolutely best travel podcast out there! They are easy to listen to and understand, yet make me laugh during each episode. Love listening each Thursday!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lkkwi522
    United States3 months ago
  • Best Points and Miles Podcast Out There

    There are many travel podcasts, but no one delivers like Gunnar and Kyle. Always on top of the current travel trends, credit card updates, and airline and hotel program changes. But more importantly, it’s just always an all around good time to listen to them banter and hear their takes on travel. Look forward to this pod every week!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Theguzisloose
    United States3 months ago
  • Listen for the travel info, stay for the laughs

    I have been listening to Gunnar & Kyle since the first podcast and recently went back and listened to all of the podcasts for a second time — and learned (& laughed!) even more! Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SeñoraRGquiereviajar
    United States3 months ago
  • Favorite Travel Podcast

    I am a listener from the very first episode and have caught every episode since. I look forward to new episodes and have learned so much in the short time the podcast has been going. The rapport between the hosts is very entertaining and makes it a pleasure to listen each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LT in PA
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans value actionable tips and up-to-date loyalty program insights.
Regular guests and on-location segments add depth and practical context.
Listeners praise the hosts' chemistry and banter.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Which Airline Miles Are Actually Worth Using in 2026?
Q: What is Katie most excited about in hotel awards right now?
Katie highlights Amex transferring leading hotels of the world as a potential opportunity, though the 4:1 ratio and taxes/fees require careful evaluation; she notes a resource from Max Smiles Points and related coverage as a guide.
How to Save on Your Holiday Flights (& When to Book)
Q: What's the best time to book holiday flights?
Airfare data suggests times vary, but generally prices worsen as you get closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas; for Thanksgiving, act now, and for Christmas, expect deals to be shorter-lived with the best window being roughly 54-78 days before travel.
Are You Making These Mistakes with Your Points & Miles?
Q: Stacey asks what someone should be doing a year in advance to set themselves up for success when planning an international trip using points and miles.
Begin with research on award space and redemption options across home airports and key hubs, map out 1A and 1B options, then build flexible earning strategies (Chase and Amex points) to cover those paths, and finally start early to allow time for transfers and bookings as deals emerge.
No Gatekeeping: The 10 Best Redemptions in Points & Miles
Q: Katie asks if downgrading a card after earning a welcome bonus can preserve the earned points, and about potential family name confusions in credits.
Downgrading after earning a bonus can be possible, but some issuers (notably Amex) may claw back or require waiting; keep at least one earning account open to preserve points. For credits, the show's team confirms producers and editors share the same surname but are not related.
No Gatekeeping: The 10 Best Redemptions in Points & Miles
Q: Jennifer asks how to balance a Caribbean beach vacation with a five-person party when choosing flights and resorts, and whether to start with flights or accommodations first.
Start with a handful of resorts that fit the family's priorities, then check for award space and build flights around those options; if nothing lines up, set price alerts and reassess before booking, ensuring the hotel and flight choices remain compatible with points limits.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

What is The Thrifty Traveler Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on practical travel hacking: earning and redeeming points and miles, finding cheap flights, and staying current with loyalty programs and airline strategies. Hosts Gunnar Olson and Kyle Potter deliver data-driven insights, live testing of tools (like Google Flights), and timely industry updates, often supplemented by on-location guests and real-world travel stories. The format mixes strategy, current news, and actionable tips with upbeat banter, making it approachable for beginners while still valuable to seasoned points-and-miles enthusiasts. Notable is the consistent emphasis on maximizing value through transfers, portals, and card sign-ups, plus a community-driven feel with live events and listener Q&A segments.

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How many listeners does The Thrifty Traveler Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Thrifty Traveler Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Thrifty Traveler Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Thrifty Traveler Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Thrifty Traveler Podcast:

1. Frequent Miler on the Air
2. Points Talk®: Your Travel Dreams, Made Possible by Points
3. Award Travel 101
4. Let's Get To The Points
5. Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

How many episodes of The Thrifty Traveler Podcast are there?

The Thrifty Traveler Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 101 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Thrifty Traveler Podcast?

Recent guests on The Thrifty Traveler Podcast include:

1. Peter Thornton
2. Nick Zirotti
3. Nick Cerati
4. Kim Oh
5. Kyle Thomas
6. Katie Rollins
7. Jon Schallbetter
8. Marcus Gunderson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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