It’s a December news roundup! On the latest Thrifty Traveler Podcast, the guys run through eight major news stories in travel and points and miles, including breaking down the latest Unicorn alert for Delta One flights to Australia, a pair of deeply troubling trends in points and miles, a hefty fee if you don’t have Real ID, some lounge and check-in openings, and more!
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.
Thanks to HotelSlash for sponsoring this episode of the show! Try it out today: Use promo code THRIFTYTRAVELER for a free 90-day trial – plus, get $20 off your first prepaid booking!
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 – Gunnar’s strange clothes habit and a Delta One Unicorn deal to Brisbane
- 05:00 – 2 troubling new trends in points and miles: Will they get worse?
- 12:00 – The 2025 End of Year Checklist
- 17:40 – Why it’s the best time of year to open a new credit card
- 20:00 – The TSA’s new $45 fee you’ll (soon) pay if you don’t have Real ID
- 24:40 – A word from our sponsor: HotelSlash, the easiest way to book a cheaper hotel stay – & rebook when prices drop
- 25:30 – More Delta One check-ins are open now – including a mini-review of the Minneapolis Delta One check-in
- 30:10 – Chase’s Sapphire Lounge in Las Vegas (LAS) is now open…but is it big enough?
- 35:30 – RIP: The cheapest way to fly to Hawaii using points and miles
- 39:14 – Listener Feedback: Brian tells Gunnar not to worry about traveling with kids…yet, Karla recommends a travel baby carrier, and Jessica brags about her rebooking wins
- 42:55 – Kyle puts Gunnar on the spot: What did Gunnar learn from last week’s Points Talk Squad interview about traveling with kids before his first big trip abroad
Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
Episode 39: Family Travel Tips with the Moms of Points Talk Squad
I KNEW there was a good reason I like Kyle’s perspective. YES! Puka Dog! What relish do you choose? Doesn’t get a whole lot better than to get the Polish sausage Puka Dog, a bag of Maui Style chips, and freshly-squeezed lemonade, head across the street to Poipu Beach and then people watch.
BTW, It’s ‘Anake’s Juice Bar located in the Kukui’ula Local Market
Great episode! I wish I would have known all these tips 2 years ago before I started the points and miles game. We had a cancelled flight from Newark to Krakow after multiple delays. I wasted precious hours doing NOTHING! Just waiting through delay after delay. Then at midnight, another 6 hrs of waiting in a line, trying to get the airline on the phone, etc. It was a nightmare. I have learned so much since then and this episode was very helpful! I have a few flights coming up in the next 2-3 weeks and I am much more prepared. Thank you!!!
Cruise ships park in Sydney Harbour in front of the Opera House, almost everyday. Just so you know! If staying at Park Hyatt, the only way to see the harbour is from the rooftop pool. Even then, a cruise ship could block a majority of the harbour view.
Hi guys! Very interesting discussion on the new Amex Platinum Card and the fact that you have a really cool spreadsheet to track all the benefits. My wife and have been doing some personal calculus on if that card is right for us, and it actually makes more sense to potentially get the Amex Gold Card. Do you guys have a tracking spreadsheet like this that’s specific to the Amex Gold Card?
We appreciate everything your team does and we love the podcast!
Thanks for the kind words, Marcus! Stay tuned for something for the Gold Card.
Great episode! Thanks!
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.