This week, we round up all the recent travel news that’s fit to podcast!
That includes Kyle’s experience with CLEAR’s (honestly amazing) new e-gates, what United’s up to with its credit card moves, a shocking-but-welcome move to require headphones onboard, Southwest’s carry-on bag problems that literally everyone should have seen coming, hot and cold news from Avios, and much more! Plus, we help a listener get a refund and Gunnar declares whether he’ll ever fly Southwest again.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! And be sure to subscribe now to get each new episode every Thursday morning (and the occasional Tuesday bonus episode, like this one!)
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Show Notes
Thank you to our sponsor Bilt Rewards! Earn points on rent and make your entire neighborhood more rewarding with Bilt. Sign-up at joinbilt.com/thrifty.
- 00:00 – Kyle’s weekend in Phoenix & using CLEAR’s new e-gates
- 03:35 – Richard from Florida welcomes us back to the show!
- 04:00 – United’s credit card changes make them essential
- 09:55 – Hallelujah: United mandates headphones onboard
- 12:45 – Hot and Cold news for Avios program: A new transfer bonus & new restrictions
- 18:42 – Another way to earn JAL miles
- 23:45 – A word from our sponsor, Bilt Rewards
- 24:55 – Southwest tweaks seating, boarding, and baggage policies
- 29:45 – A new Southwest lounge in Austin
- 31:38 – Updates from the Middle East and Puerto Vallarta
- 38:05 – Combined Resy & Tock restaurant list turns heads
- 41:10 – A sweet new Capital One Shopping promo
- 43:25 – A listener wonders: Can you get refunded for a seat upgrade bought with cash?
- 46:55 – On the Spot: Would Gunnar ever fly Southwest again?
Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
Tell Kyle no one cares he is a straight white male and continually bringing it up is offensive. If he was a blind blonde lesbian african american pacific islander no one would care. Grow up people tune in to get the information and couldn’t care less about someone’s gender and ethnic make up.
I was just poking fun at myself/trying to show some self-awareness about the privilege of complaining about flying business class … but yeah, probably dropped that line one or two too many times.
Hey! Don’t knock the Hyatt Place Northwest/Medical Center. It is the closest and most convenient Hyatt for visiting Six Flags Fiesta Texas! 😉
*As a Globalist*…
But really, as a Globalist who travels with two kids and basically only ever uses points (other than Platinum credits for THC) I do think there are aspects that can’t really be replicated elsewhere unless you’re independently wealthy. As Gunnar pointed out the footprint is a challenge and may prevent me from requalifying this year, but there’s just so much that being a Globalist allows me to do that wouldn’t be possible without it unless I drained all of my Amex MRs at 1c each to book via FHR/THC. The combination of milestone rewards and straight Globalist benefits is second to none for a family – I can use 25k points per night (or less) and a suite upgrade award to put our whole family into a great room at a nice hotel with free breakfast and parking. And sometimes I can throw a Guest of Honor award at my extended family so that the cousins can come too! We just wouldn’t be able to travel as much or as well as we do – and with the people we love – with the other disloyal hotel options you mentioned*.
*The Edit with a Points Boost might be the next best thing for our needs but I’ve lost count of my rejections from the CSR personal card.