The Extra Mile, Oct. 6: A Trick to Scoring Better Seats on United, Taipei Trip Report & More

🛒 Prime Day Travel Deals Worth Grabbing

Amazon’s second Prime Day sale of the year kicked off today, and it runs through the end of the day tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 7). Most of what’s on sale isn’t worth your time. But a handful of travel gear deals are … and a few are the lowest prices we’ve ever seen.

Here’s what’s worth your attention:

🎧 Bose QuietComfort headphones for $169 (was $359): This is a record low price for the noise-canceling headphones our entire team swears by. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade, this is the time.

🎧 Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $179.99 (was $249): Apple’s latest and greatest noise-canceling earbuds are a good choice if over-ear headphones take up too much room in your bag.

✈️ AirFly SE for $27.95 (was $34.97): Most seatback screens won’t connect to Bluetooth headphones. This little dongle plugs into the headphone jack and fixes that. Pair this with the AirPods Pro 3s above.

📍 Four-pack of Apple AirTags for $89 (was $99): This is the cheapest price we’ve seen on the latest version of Apple’s AirTags. Put one in every checked bag, and you’ll know where your luggage is even when the airline doesn’t.

🔌 Anker Nano Travel Adapter for $19.99 (was $25.99): It’s one compact plug for international trips, with two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a standard outlet for bigger devices. It’s quickly become one of my favorite travel gadgets.

😴 TRTL travel pillow for $47.99 (was $59.99): Yes, it looks goofy. Yes, people will think it’s a neck brace, but several of us won’t fly long-haul in economy without it anymore.

You’ll need a Prime membership to get these prices. If you don’t have one, you can start a free 30-day trial.

Have credit card points from American Express? These deals could get even cheaper: Apply a few hundred points and get up to 50% off if you’re targeted for this money-saving Amex promo!

Plus, make sure to check your Amex offers. There is a new offer for Amazon purchases that lets you earn 1,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $40 or more (you can use it up to 3 times). Another similar offer gives you 1,200 points after you spend $150 or more, which, again, you can use up to 3 times.

See all our favorite Prime Day travel deals here

– Nick Serati, Thrifty Traveler co-founder

🤝 Deal of the Day: New York City from $158 Roundtrip!

Heat scale (out of 3): 🔥🔥

Why we love it: Get to the Big Apple for small prices this winter – less than $249 roundtrip!

Flying from dozens of U.S. cities (including some rare low fares from the West Coast) with best availability this January and February.

Based in New York? All fares work in reverse from NYC!

Sign up now to get all the details on this deal & don’t miss the next flight deal alert.

Already a member? Log in to see all your deals.

– Gunnar Olson, Thrifty Traveler Premium deal analyst

💺 A Neat Trick to Score a Better Seat (for Free!) on United

File this one under “A Thing I Learned Flying United Airlines for the First Time in At Least Two Years That Many of You Frequent or Even Occasional United Flyers Have Known and Used for Years, But That I Found Valuable and Worth Sharing.”

It’s a free and easy way to get seats closer to the front of the plane that the airline might otherwise charge you $20, $30, or more for.

Much to our collective chagrin, airlines have gotten darn good at monetizing every seat on the plane. It’s not just first class and economy anymore – there’s extra legroom economy and then even “preferred” seats closer to the front of the plane before you get to your everyday economy seat.

Don’t want to sit all the way back in like row 25 or 32 or 34? You’ll have to pay extra for that – yes, even if you booked a main cabin economy fare that includes free seat selection.

And United seems to dedicate more of its planes to these preferred seats than any other major carrier, forcing everyone else to the back of the plane. All to get those extra fees – or let flyers with status pick them for free.

Unless … you wait.

Flying United four times this weekend, I wasn’t about to pay another $20 or more to sit in one of those economy seats with the black “preferred” triangle – on each and every one of those four flights, mind you. But the thought of sitting back in row 38 wasn’t all that appealing, either.

But shortly after checking in, I checked the seat map again to see if I could at least move up to row 30 or something. I did a double-take.

Every single open “Preferred” seat that previously cost as much as $49 was now free for the taking. And not just the dreaded middle seats in rows 27 or 28, but even aisle and window seats butting up against the Economy Plus section.

That’s a win for two reasons:

1. You’re saving the $30-or-so that you’d otherwise pay for these better seats
2. Because they only open up in the final countdown before departure, you’re far more likely to have an open seat, even two, next to you, because other passengers won’t think to check and move somewhere better.

Now, this is the ultimate “your mileage may vary” situation.

It hinges on there being empty seats to begin with, of course. And on major United hub-to-hub routes (think Denver to Chicago or San Francisco to Newark), you’re far less likely to see many of these Preferred seats available, since travelers with status can pick them up for free.

But it’s worth a shot!

– Kyle Potter, executive editor

🐻 See us in Chicago Next Month for the Chicago Seminars!

Want to learn more about earning and redeeming points from some of the brightest minds in this crazy game? And also from me?

See what I did there?

Anyway, I’m speaking at this year’s Chicago Seminars in – you guessed it – Chicago, starting a month from today, Nov. 6 to Nov. 8. And I’m one of a few dozen experts spitting facts about all things travel throughout the weekend.

Planning to go? Reply to this email and let us know – maybe we’ll try to organize a happy hour or a small get-together!

I’ll be at my most presidential with a special address: “The State of the Union Award Travel,” an overarching look at the (increasingly sad) state of award availability, the trends driving devaluations and loyalty program changes, how airlines’ loyalty priorities have shifted, and what that means for redeeming points and miles in 2027 and beyond.

Trust me: It’s not all doom and gloom. Thrifty Traveler Premium members know better than just about anyone that there are still stellar deals out there … and there always will be.

See you in a month!

Get your tickets – use promo code THRIFTYTRAVELER for $10 off!

– Kyle Potter, executive editor

🎙️ On the Pod: Who’s Up & Who’s Down in Airline Loyalty?

✈️ We go through every single airline loyalty program U.S. travelers can access and help you understand if they’re worth your time, effort, and points. To help us decide, we bring in Katie Rollins, one of the foremost points and miles experts in the industry!

Watch it now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🧋 Why Taipei Belongs on Your List

If you caught my last dispatch from Asia, you know a typhoon chased my wife and me out of Tokyo a little earlier than planned. The silver lining? We got an extra day in Taipei – and I’m really glad we did.

I’ll be honest: Taiwan was never particularly high on my bucket list. But like I so often do, I let the flight deal guide me to my destination.

Taipei (TPE) is one of the best-connected cities in Asia, with Taiwanese carriers China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux all flying nonstop to a handful of U.S. cities, while Delta and United each operate a single route of their own.

With that many options, I was spoiled for choice, and I ended up booking a Starlux flight home through Phoenix (PHX), using that as my excuse to spend a few days in Taipei.

So what’s Taipei actually like?

Since getting home, I’ve had a really tough time summing it up … and I think that is the summary: Taipei doesn’t wow you with any one thing, but it’ll win you over with everything working in its favor. There’s no Eiffel Tower or Great Pyramid of Giza that you fly 14 hours to check off a list. Instead, it’s a city you settle into and enjoy in the moment.

Here’s what made our trip special.

Start With a Walking Tour

I’d recommend doing a free walking tour like this one early in your trip. Ours wound through Taipei’s Old Town, with stops at the National Taiwan Museum, the 228 Peace Memorial Park, the Presidential Office Building, the Red House, Chengzhong Market, and more.

You’ll get your bearings, a crash course in the city’s history, and local recommendations you won’t find on a top-10 list.

Eat Your Way Through the Night Markets

If Taipei has a must-do, it’s this. We visited three different night markets, and each had its own personality:

• Raohe Street Night Market: Our favorite. It’s bustling, packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and the best of the bunch for food. But be warned: The stinky tofu is really stinky! You’ll know what I mean when you smell it.
• Linjiang Street Night Market: Smaller and much less chaotic. It’s a good pick for your first night, when you’re jet-lagged and not quite ready for a full-contact food crawl.
• Shilin Night Market: The biggest and most famous in the city. It’s worth a stop, but it wasn’t my favorite. Bigger isn’t always better.

Thrifty Tip: Bring cash and an empty stomach. Pace yourself, because you’ll want to try a little bit of everything.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

This was one of our favorite stops in Taipei, and it surprised me.

The massive white-and-blue memorial honors Chiang Kai-shek, who led the Republic of China government to Taiwan in 1949 and ruled the island until his death in 1975. It anchors a sprawling plaza that’s worth a wander on its own, and you can catch the changing of the guard inside.

The real highlight was the exhibits. They trace Taiwan’s history, including its long road from decades of martial law to the thriving democracy it is today. Chiang’s own legacy is complicated, and the museum doesn’t shy away from that. Walking through it all was genuinely moving.

Taipei 101

Once the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 still delivers some seriously awesome views. Tickets to the observation deck run about $18, and you can buy them right on site – no need to book ahead.

The observation deck gets crowded around sunset … but don’t let that scare you off. It’s busy for a reason.

Din Tai Fung

You’ve probably seen (or waited in line for) Din Tai Fung back home. The Taiwanese chain’s famous xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, are just as delicious in Taipei – at a fraction of the price you’ll pay at its North American outposts.

There’s almost always a line, but it moves quickly and is absolutely worth the wait.

Getting Around & Where to Stay

Taipei’s metro system is fast, clean, and simple to navigate. Uber is widely available and affordable, too, for when your feet need a break after a night market crawl.

As for hotels, there’s no shortage of great options, so pick whatever works best for you. I wouldn’t sweat location too much. Getting around is easy, if occasionally a little time-consuming.

Bottom Line

Taipei isn’t a city you do … it’s one you enjoy. Come for the convenient nonstop flights, stay for the night markets and soup dumplings, and don’t stress about crossing sites off a checklist.

I came in with low expectations and left already plotting a return trip!

– Jackson Newman, senior editor

✈️ Other Travel Tidbits

• 🚪 American Airlines is telling gate agents to stop involuntarily bumping passengers, according to an internal memo, and to keep the aircraft door open until enough people volunteer. (View from the Wing)
• 🍸 British Airways has announced a new Heathrow Terminal 5 lounge with a 17-meter bar that the airline says will be among the world’s longest airport lounge bars, opening at the end of 2028. (British Airways)
• 🏠 Airbnb has no loyalty program, but Capital One miles can still cover a stay at 1 cent apiece.
• ❄️ Hyatt has opened Hyatt Centric Sapporo, its first Hyatt Centric in Hokkaido, with award nights starting at 8,000 World of Hyatt points. (Hyatt)