This week, we go in-depth on Delta One business class from a person who is too young to know this much about flying Delta’s premier product around the world.
Our podcast editor Kyle Thomas joined the show to talk about how he earned more than 1 million points and miles as a college student. We break down all the best Delta One deals, how to book them, and also touch on some news about credit card offers and wonder why it is we got so wistful about Spirit’s demise?
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Show Notes
Thanks to Cozy Earth for sponsoring today's episode! Head to https://cozyearth.com and use code THRIFTY for up to 20% off!
00:00 – Cool Kyle earning a million points as a college student
02:17 – Kyle welcomes us back from the Great Barrier Reef!
03:30 – Start, Bench, Cut: 3 new credit card offers to know
10:20 – Getting wistful about the official end of Spirit Airlines
15:13 – A word from our sponsor, Cozy Earth!
16:10 – Flying Delta One to Tokyo, Seoul, Paris, Brisbane, and more
17:15 – The Delta One experience at check-in & the lounge
18:50 – Making sense of Delta’s different Delta One seats (Always use Aerolopa)
23:15 – Delta’s new suites are coming and other upgrades
26:20 – What it’s like onboard Delta One – meals & service
32:10 – The best ways to book Delta One
36:40 – Are Delta One bookings through partners officially dead?
38:30 – The Best Delta SkyMiles deals we’ve sent in 2026 (so far!)
41:00 – Thrifty Traveler Premium Destination Filters
43:20 – How to earn a million points as a college student
51:15 – Kyle’s Australia trip: Qantas, scuba certification, and more
54:00 – Helping worried listeners with their Europe trips
58:00 – Kyle’s 23 countries in 23 years adventure
59:20 – What would Gunnar do with 1 million miles?
Catch Kyle’s brand new Delta One review to Brisbane on YouTube!
Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
I enjoyed the episode, but I have to call you out, Kyle, on the Borough Market story. Your distance estimates felt off, so I checked . According to Google Maps, it is a 1.8 mile walk from Trafalgar Square to Borough Market, not the 7-10 miles you mentioned in the episode. Also, London has busses – and the front row of the upper deck on one of those double decker busses is one of the most fun ways to ride around the city. Were they on strike too?
Hey I just rounded up by 5 miles!! Not sure how I flubbed that so bad: We must have started the morning somewhere else because I know we put on a good 15+ miles total that day alone.
Buses were jam-packed due to the strike. Plus we just like walking! Just maybe not quiteeeee as much as we did that trip.
Gunnar, Really disappointed to see You use the three letter abbreviation for such an offensive word in the title of this podcast. I’m sure you could have found a more respectful way to ask the question what is happening with flight prices. I hope you consider keeping things clean in the future.
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.