The hilarious Jason Matheson - host of The Jason Show on FOX and a 20-year veteran of morning talk radio - joins the show to talk all things travel with Kyle and Gunnar. Claiming to be Thrifty Traveler’s #1 fan, Jason tells us what Canadian city sparked his love of travel before diving deep into what he loves about Hawaii and Disney. He also tries to sell the guys on cruising and he even reveals his bougiest travel take. Join us for the funniest episode of the Thrifty Traveler Podcast yet!

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00:00 - Introducing Thrifty Traveler’s #1 Fan

01:02 - We fix CLEAR and put airport speakerphone users on the no-fly list

05:35 - The new Delta One Lounge impresses at LAX … but would you eat the sushi?

13:00 - Who’s fighting back against AI and “surveillance-based” airfare pricing?

18:50 - Jason tells us about the latest flight deal that impressed him and his friends (use promo code TTPOD for $20 off your first year of deals!)

20:00 - Jason’s travel story: how Vancouver (& The Fantastic Four) sparked his love of travel

22:30 - What’s next on Jason’s travel bucket list? And what got taken off the list because of “critters.”

23:20 - His long love affair with Hawaii & why Jason loves Oahu the most

28:30 - Why everyone needs to go see Susan at the Mai Tai Bar

32:15 - Jason’s Delta loyalty – the good, the bad, the ugly, and when he cheats on them with United…

38:00 - Jason pitches the guys on (most) cruises

41:00 - Why his first Disney Cruise blew him away

45:30 - Tips to do Disney for adults

51:00 - Why did Jason get into travel and how he became Thrifty Traveler’s #1 fan

58:45 - Listener Question: Are flexible points worth the pain? Should you just retreat to Delta SkyMiles?

01:02:50 - On the spot: Jason and Kyle’s bougiest travel taste, take, or rule

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Nick Serati

Edited by David Strutt

Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at podcast@thriftytraveler.com

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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The world of airfare is changing before our eyes. Airlines have jacked up the price of one-way flights and targeted solo passengers with higher fares, too. And, more troublingly, carriers like Delta (and others) are now leaning on AI to set airfare … raising the prospect of personalized pricing. What does it all mean? Kyle and Gunnar break it all down on this week’s episode, telling you how airfare is changing, why, and who’s responsible. Plus, why this is your year to go to Costa Rica … and the airline that both Kyle and Gunnar are embarrassed to have never flown before.

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00:00 - Did AI write this intro?

01:08 - Should we be worried about AI-fueled airfare?

02:43 - Want to go to Costa Rica? Go this year (while deals are white hot)

06:25 - The surprising return of one-way airfare penalties

11:45 - Stay current on the news: Subscribe (for free!) to The Daily Beat email newsletter

13:00 - As AI enters airfare, how does airfare actually work right now?

19:30 - By penalizing one-way travelers and solo travelers, the airlines are shifting strategies…

22:25 - How Delta (& others) are actually starting to use AI to price flights

27:00 - What is Fetcherr? What they’re doing for Delta - and the article they didn’t want you to see

34:40 - What can we do to protect ourselves from AI? Are there any guardrails out there?

41:20 - Listener Question: Done with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card? What to pick up next?

46:10 - On the spot: What airlines have you not flown?

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Jackson Newman
Edited by David Strutt
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at podcast@thriftytraveler.com

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

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Bluesky

We’re in the heart of the summer travel season, so Gunnar and Kyle put together a Travel Survival Guide to help you grease the wheels of your next trip. The guys dig into the best ways to avoid delays and cancellations (including sharing their own worst delays), plus tell you all the apps, tools, and knowledge you should bring with you on your trip to make it go smoothly this summer or fall. The guys also talk about TSA’s new (and drastically improved) shoe policy and the insane thing CLEAR wants to charge you for now. Stick around for Gunnar’s bougiest travel take.

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00:00 - Finding something out: What’s your worst flight delay?

04:30 - Something Hot: TSA reverses course on shoes-off policy in all security lanes

08:25 - Something Cold: CLEAR wants to charge you for what, now?

11:55 - A word from our sponsor (us, & how you can sign up for our free flight deal alerts and book roundtrip flights to Ireland under $299!)

13:25 - The Extra Mile: All the best travel tips and tricks to avoid delays & cancellations and be a better traveler this summer

17:00 - Using Google Flight Price Alerts and rebooking your flights for a voucher

19:30 - You need to be using Aerolopa when you pick (or upgrade) your seats

21:40 - Why Kyle and Gunnar use TripIt to organize their reservations

28:20 - Gunnar gushes about his favorite app for dealing with disruptions: Flighty

32:10 - PreCheck saves you from 98% of things you hate about going through the airport

35:30 - Window or aisle?

41:30 - The travel debit card that every member of our team has: Charles Schwab

46:40 - Listener Question: Carry-on or checked bag with a 2-hour layover in Paris

50:45 - On the Spot: Gunnar’s snobbiest travel take

Produced by Gunnar Olson & Erica Kamrowski
Edited by David Strutt
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

Support the show by leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at podcast@thriftytraveler.com

Get 20% off your first year of cheap flights and points and miles deals with Thrifty Traveler Premium - use promo code TTPOD to save even more!

See what we’re all about at https://thriftytraveler.com - or subscribe to our free weekly points and miles newsletter, The Extra Mile!

Follow us on…
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YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky