Gunnar and Kyle go back to basics on the pod: It’s not the Five D’s of Dodgeball, it’s the 10 Commandments of Points and Miles!
Whether you’re just getting started with travel rewards or consider yourself a pro, this (only slightly irreverent) list can help you take things to the next level with your points. The guys also break down a troubling trend in frequent flyer programs … and Kyle roasts Gunnar for his clothes.
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Show Notes
In the fifth episode of The Thrifty Traveler Podcast, we tackle:
- (00:00) Making memes & fun new airline routes
- (04:15) Something hot: Revisiting that huge new 100,000-point bonus
- (08:27) Something cold: U.S. airlines are pulling the strings with devaluations
- (13:10) A word from our sponsor (us … and our really cool tool that’ll help you pick your next travel card!)
- (14:51) The Extra Mile: The 10 Commandments of Points & Miles
- (17:30) 1. Start slow
- (20:03) 2. Learn about how your credit score really works
- (24:04) 3. Don’t rule out cards with annual fees
- (28:52) 4. Stop before you swipe – maximize your spending
- (32.41) 5. & stop swiping your airline credit card everywhere
- (37:06) 6. Honor transferable points and airline alliances
- (39:53) 7. But don’t transfer your points without a purpose
- (42:42) 8. Use services (like ours) and other tools to help you get ahead
- Travel Freely, our favorite tool to stay organized
- (48:33) 9. Travel is not a contest
- (51:03) 10. Resist points paralysis: Earn and burn
- (55:04) A listener wonders how to tackle points & miles with a spouse – aka “two-player mode”
- (59:13) Kyle puts Gunnar on the spot about his outfit
Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati
Edited by David Strutt
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
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.