Rephonic
Artwork for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

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

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 weeklyEpisodes86Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelAviationLeisureSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

Latest Episodes

From a bizarre (and arguably absurd) Delta flight pricing quirk, new and disappearing Alaska Atmos redemptions, American’s late premium push, or the ongoing “Battle for Seattle,” there’s no shortage of travel news for Gunnar and Kyle to break down on... more

YouTube

The guys took the show on the road: Coming to you live from TEDxFargo in North Dakota in late July, Gunnar and Kyle devoted an episode of the show to airports not named JFK, LAX, MSP, ORD, or the other big hubs. The guys swapped stories and shared ti... more

YouTube

Kyle joins the show from the Park Hyatt Tokyo on this special Japan-themed episode. While the sun slowly rises behind him, Kyle first revisits his scorching hot take about the rise of SkyMiles before the guys dig into where to go in Japan, how to get... more

YouTube

The world of all things points and miles is changing rapidly. So to dig into where things are at and what’s ahead, Gunnar and Kyle bring in the man they call “St. Peter” – Thrifty Traveler’s Senior Award Analyst and guru of all things award travel, P... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Award Travel 101
Award Travel 101Award Travel 101 Team
Let's Get To The Points
Let's Get To The PointsSerena, Miguel and Mitch Shannon

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; frequent traveler and deal-focused expert; long-running host with editorial and media experience.
Kyle Potter
Co-host and travel/points expert; executive editor and host with deep knowledge of loyalty programs and premium travel deals.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 369 ratings
  • Must listen for the travel sickos!

    Yo! Gunner and Kyle are the best with some great guests. Their banter is top notch while giving out excellent travel tips and tricks. Whether you play the miles game, or just looking for really sound advice to save some money (and who isn’t in this economy), TT Pod is a must listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jenny Dun12
    United Statesa month ago
  • Invaluable Podcast

    The TT Podcast is a MUST LISTEN for all points and miles enthusiasts. Regardless if you’re just starting out in the game or an established points guru and seasoned Traveller, this podcast is outstanding! It’s informative, educational, and most importantly entertaining. They present and review relevant topics and the latest news in the points/miles/travel space. Add it to your list of listens, it’s worth it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A_Grover27
    United Statesa month ago
  • Funniest/Most Useful Travel Podcast

    These guys are so funny and knowledgeable about travel and using points and miles—I listen every Thursday! 😊

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StarScream1967
    United Statesa month ago
  • Inspiring a newbie

    These guys are very funny and know how to talk about this stuff in a digestible way. I’m learning a lot about saving money on travel and using my points better - all while staying entertained along the way👍 I also really appreciate the listener comments and question segment at the end of each episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ThoSy22
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love this podcast

    Gunnar and Kyle have a great rapport and play off each other well. This allows them to present their information in a way that engages and educates. I have learned a lot from their show and been able to leverage that knowledge to book some amazing trips that I never would have booked before.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The89Tiger
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise fun banter and actionable advice.
The hosts are knowledgeable, witty, and deliver practical travel tips.
Quality guests and gear discussions are appreciated by the audience.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Live from Fargo! Tips for Traveling (& Saving) from Smaller Airports
Q: Is Gunnar still claiming that Chicago O'Hare is an acceptable airport?
The host team teases Gunnar with a humorous mock statement about an internal investigation into his opinions on O'Hare, acknowledging a playful bias toward premium lounges at O'Hare while recognizing that experiences at larger hubs can be mixed and that personal preferences vary.
Live from Fargo! Tips for Traveling (& Saving) from Smaller Airports
Q: Which airlines are increasingly passing on exorbitant fees to award travelers, and are there any programs you would no longer use for this reason?
Air France/KLM and Emirates were noted as examples where taxes and fees on award tickets can be high despite favorable mileage costs; Virgin Atlantic Flying Club can offer favorable mileage rates but still with sometimes steep fees, while British Airways Avios can be useful for flat-rate connections. Overall, use Google Flights to compare cash prices and taxes before redeeming miles, and consider non-U.S. programs that may offer better value.
Japan & Delta SkyMiles Deals: So Hot Right Now
Q: Judy asks what points to earn for a spring 2028 Japan trip and whether business class for a family of four is feasible, given evolving transfer partnerships and award availability.
Kyle advises focusing on transferable points that can be sent to multiple programs (including JAL and other OneWorld partners) and emphasizes that award availability and partner space will continue to evolve, so the best approach is flexible planning and frequent searches; if a strong deal appears in the near term (e.g., American or other partners) it may be wise to capitalize on it, but long-term certainty is unlikely until closer to the travel date.
Amazing Hawaii Redemptions, Delta Highs & Lows and Other News
Q: How do you use Google Flights to book award travel?
Primarily as a starting point to understand options, pricing, and connections, then use tools like the Points Path plugin to pull in award rates and compare cash versus points. It helps set expectations and avoids missing good award opportunities.
Live From Minneapolis! The Highs and (Disgusting) Lows of Travel
Q: How has travel-hacking culture changed your personality?
It has made Gunnar more interesting at parties in some ways while also making him more detail-oriented and organized; it has helped both hosts learn to track multiple cards and keep up with the evolving loyalty ecosystem.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

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

The show targets travelers who want to maximize value from points and miles, find affordable ways to travel, and stay current on industry shifts. Episodes combine practical tactics for earning and redeeming rewards with timely travel news, hands-on tips for booking cheaper trips, and candid discussions about airline programs, hotel pricing, and gear. A notable angle is the hosts' casual, humorous banter paired with concrete, repeatable strategies, plus frequent sponsor mentions and live-show vibes that energize listeners. The format appeals to both seasoned points-and-miles enthusiasts and active vacation planners seeking realistic, actionable guidance to travel more for less.

A standout trait is the blend of tactical instruction, real-tim... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Thrifty Traveler Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Thrifty Traveler Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Award Travel 101
2. Frequent Miler on the Air
3. Points Talk®: Your Travel Dreams, Made Possible by Points
4. Let's Get To The Points
5. MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

How many episodes of The Thrifty Traveler Podcast are there?

The Thrifty Traveler Podcast launched a year ago and published 86 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Thrifty Traveler Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Thrifty Traveler Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Thrifty Traveler Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days