It’s our first ever mailbag episode! Kyle’s on vacation, so we lined up a bunch of the best questions we’ve been asked and gave you our best advice.
We tackle topics such as positioning flight tips, what we would pay for a Delta One upgrade, how to maximize your Amex Platinum credits with a refresh coming, destinations that exceeded our expectations, airlines as NFL quarterbacks, and the best and worst parts about our jobs. And remember: Be like Kyle and take your vacation days, people!
Join us for all the travel news that’s fit to podcast! Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! And be sure to subscribe to get each new episode every Thursday morning.
Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s episode, Abundo Wealth! Mention “Thrifty” when you inquire for 50% off your first month with Abundo Wealth!
Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected].
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Show Notes
- 00:00 – Kyle’s on vacation, and you should, too! (Only 48% of Americans use all their vacation days…and that stinks)
- 03:00 – It’s Mailbag time! Brought to you by…us! Sign up for Thrifty Traveler Premium today. Use promo code “TTPOD” for $20 off your first year of flight deal alerts.
- 04:00 – Airlines & hotels questions – More Southeast Asia flights,positioning flights strategies, Delta One upgrades, and more.
- 18:35 – Award travel questions – Thailand on points, biz class to Tokyo, booking to Athens now that Emirates fees got too expensive, and more.
- 34:30 – This week’s show is sponsored by Abundo Wealth!
- 35:30 – Credit card questions – When cash back makes sense, ways to get points fast, with the new Amex Platinum card coming, can you double dip on credits?
- 51:00 – Travel tips and wanderlust – Places that exceeded our expectations, Glacier National Park recommendations, best backpacks and more.
- 59:15 – Personal questions: Fear of devaluations, fighting FOMO, airlines as NFL quarterbacks, and why we love our jobs!
- 01:13:00 – On the Spot: What’s our best episode of the pod so far?
Produced by Gunnar Olson
Edited by David Strutt
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
My husband and I have 15-20 credit cards each and are entering retirement (i.e., much lower spending). We’d both like to get down to about 4 cards each. How do we do this without cancelling most of them and totally taking a hit to our (stellar) credit ratings?
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.