Against all odds, our baby – this humble travel podcast – is one year old! So the guys are celebrating the best way they know how: by turning the show over to you listeners for another mailbag episode.
What’s the best way to book a business class seat all the way to Australia – or Hawaii? Why do airlines charge more per ticket for more passengers? How do we rack up more points? Plus, we’ve got huge news about the show that at least four of you have been waiting for…
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 (plus the occasional Tuesday bonus episode!)
The Thrifty Traveler Podcast is going LIVE! Join us Friday, June 12 in Minneapolis. Buy your tickets now!
Thanks to our sponsor, Saily! Download Saily in your app store – use our code THRIFTY at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase https://saily.com/thrifty 🌍
Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]. Or help us kick off the next episode of the pod: Leave your “Welcome Back to the Thrifty Traveler Podcast” video message at thriftytraveler.com/voicemail today!
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Show Notes
- 0:00 – Celebrating one year of the pod & our sunscreen strategies
- 05:41 – Mike welcomes us to the show from the Milford Sound
- 06:10 – Big news: Buy your tickets for the TT Podcast Live in June!
- 07:50 – What’s the key to booking biz class awards to Australia?
- 12:50 – How to rack up more points day to day
- 18:51 – The best lie-flat seats you can fly to Hawaii on points
- 22:22 – Why do more passengers = higher fares?
- 26:30 – And why we love beating the airlines at their silly games
- 27:15 – Strategies & best bets for cheap upgrades
- 31:37 – A word from our sponsor: Travel abroad with an eSim from Saily!
- 32:50 – How we track price drops and deals to rebook & save more
- 35:57 – And how to cancel your first flight for free
- 39:09 – Points to earn & lie-flat options to Europe for the family
- 42:29 – Would we ever use travel agents?
- 45:39 – An amazing sighting in the Delta Sky Club
- 47:59 – On the spot: A beautiful proposal … at the O’Hare Chili’s
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.