All the points and miles in the world aren’t worth a thing if you can’t use them. If you want to fly lie-flat business class (which includes many of us, right?), it can be excruciating to find flights you can actually book with points.
But some stand out as being much easier to book – if not downright easy. Gunnar and Kyle shine the spotlight on the airlines and routes where it’s easiest to score that business class seat using miles. Plus, they chat about rising surcharges on award tickets and look at why Gunnar is adding a new credit card to his wallet ASAP … from an airline he rarely flies.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Be sure to subscribe to get each new episode every Thursday morning.
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Show Notes
- 00:00 – Finding something out: The best bits from our interview with Jason
- 02:15 – Kyle issues a correction for his bougiest travel take: SkyMiles + Champagne
- 04:00 – Something Hot: This record-setting American Airlines 80K-mile sign-up bonus
- 09:00 – Something Cold: The Taxes & Fees are Too Damn High – which airlines are worst? (Ahem: Emirates…)
- 15:12 – A word from our sponsor: Us … and how you can find business class availability with Thrifty Traveler Premium
- 16:40 – The Extra Mile: All of the easiest business class seats to book with points and miles
- 20:30 – Why Finnair might be the best of them all (and one of the fanciest) and with easy-to-earn Avios
- 23:20 – The other easiest-to-book options when flying lie-flat to Europe
- 34:40 – The #1 key to book Qatar Airways Qsuites
- 40:30 – Listener Question: How to pair award tickets with cash bookings on a group trip
- 44:45 – On the Spot: Gunnar’s dream additions to the “easiest-to-book biz class” list
Produced by Gunnar Olson & Erica Kamrowski
Edited by David Strutt
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
Episode #19 – Kyle, I feel ya big time RE: standing in line for security and people are not prepared or act surprised that they need to remove metal, liquids, etc. Hello… what have you been looking at for the last 20 minutes while waiting? Paying attention to your surroundings and taking social cues helps everyone. Phew, exits soapbox! (I think this can apply to the check-out line in the grocery store too! :-))
We loved Oban. We went to Oban by train from Glasgow. We took a boat tour to Mull, Iona, Staffa, and Lunga. We went during puffin nesting season and saw so many puffins. I highly recommend this tour company.
https://westcoasttours.co.uk/tours/tour-mull-iona-and-staffa/
Fellow travel enthusiast from the Midwest here!
Just wanted to share my travel social media username/handle – @TravelSizeBudget on Facebook and Instagram. I attended Thrifty Traveler University a few years ago regularly follow TT’s amazing content. I started @TravelSizeBudget last year to offer my own unique spin on travel – from the usual (points and miles, affordable fares) to the less common (savings and convenience on food, souvenirs and more). Thanks for continuing to inspire me, Thrifty Traveler!
Great podcast! Thanks for all the great information.
Hello Gunnar,
I am enjoying and appreciating all you travel savings information. Would you please help us finding an appropriate venue to get results form lost bag by United? In June last yWe re senior citizens 1K United. Last year in June we checked 6 bags from LAX to HNL. One of the bags never arrived and we filled a claim at HNL. There was lack or no communication from United including corporate. We provided photos and invoices for 4 pro racing high end OZONE kites $12,500.00. The bag never made it “downstairs” after being check at 1K counter at LAX. I wrote countless letters , got a lots of lying and contradicting run around or no responses. Now we found out someone is selling our stolen kites on E-Bay because they all have serial numbers and person who bought one of the kites very ‘cheap” called Ozone co. to ask why is someone selling a $4,000.OO kite for $1,500.00 and the company contacted us since they have record of us paying a full price. E-Bay is not taking any responsibility. Now United finally e-mailed us claiming they do not cover “sports equipment”. Our bags were handed to United employees and they should be responsible. Would you have any suggestions how can we recover our losses? I would appreciate any suggestion you could provide. I know its not what you are about but since you have lots of travel experience maybe you know something that can help us. Keep up the good work.