Thrifty Traveler

At Thrifty Traveler, our goal is clear: travel doesn't have to break the bank. We help you discover affordable flight deals, maximize your credit card points and airline miles, and employ effective money-saving techniques. With our guidance, anyone can explore the globe without spending a fortune. We are dedicated to helping you travel more while spending less.

Local

English

Online/Digital

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#113784

United States

#25965

Travel and Tourism/Air Travel

#150

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

Are Hilton Free Night Award Certificates Next on the Chopping Block?

4 days ago | thriftytraveler.com | Nick Serati

We’ve been singing Hilton’s praises lately – even floating the idea that Hilton could dethrone Hyatt as the best hotel loyalty program. But recent developments could turn that on its head. Late last year, Hilton quietly raised award rates at many of its top properties. Just weeks ago, Hilton did it again: standard room awards that once maxed out at 150,000 points per night now top out at a whopping 200,000 points per night.
Your Best Bets to Find Cheap Flights This Summer

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Gunnar Olson

Everyone wants to travel in the summer. And while flight prices typically rise precipitously during those peak summer months, there are some destinations where you can find great deals to book a summer trip in 2025. Everyone is off school and the weather is at its best … and airlines know that's exactly when people want to fly. Flight prices often reflect that, getting up to three or four times the price of shoulder season or off-season travel.
US Airlines Are Quietly Hitting Solo & Biz Travelers with Higher Fares

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Kyle Potter

Yesterday, we discovered that Delta was charging solo and business travelers higher fares per ticket than when booking for two or more passengers. But it turns out that pricing quirk goes far beyond just Delta.
The Thrifty Traveler Podcast, Ep. 12: How Kyle Booked a Trip to England & Scotland on Points & Miles

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Gunnar Olson

This week, Kyle walks us through how he booked an epic trip to England and Scotland using points and miles. There’s a business class award to London, an economy flight home, and plenty of flights, hotels and other travel expenses in between. Plus, the guys discuss how on earth Phoenix got its first nonstop flight to Asia and we say goodbye to the Southwest we knew and loved.
Amex’s Long Game: The Strategy Behind Its Generous Bonus Timeline

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Nick Serati

We’ve been vocal in our criticism of American Express lately – and for good reason. Skyrocketing annual fees paired with a maze of complicated, “use-them-or-lose-them” credits have made it increasingly difficult to justify the value of many Amex cards. In fact, we’ve gone so far as to say that Amex card benefits are officially out of control. But there’s one area where American Express deserves credit: how it structures the timeline to earn welcome offer bonuses.
New Delta Pricing Quirk Charges Solo & Business Travelers More

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Kyle Potter

Delta has begun charging solo passengers more per ticket than travelers booking for two (or more) on select flights. For example, Delta is charging at least $199 for one passenger on this one-way flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Miami (MIA) in early September. But search for two passengers instead, and the price drops significantly: Just $118 per ticket.
Southwest Bag Fees, Day 1: You Have to Pay at the Airport, Not Online

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Gunnar Olson

It's a new day at Southwest Airlines: As of Wednesday, May 28, the beloved “Wanna Get Away fares” have disappeared … and the airline is now charging $35 or more each way for luggage that was previously free. The airline announced those monumental changes in early March, and the day has finally come. Travelers who booked flights before Wednesday will still get the two free checked bags with Southwest – with one troubling exception.
Uh Oh: Are 34K Iberia Biz Class Awards to Spain Getting the Axe?

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Kyle Potter

For years, we've considered booking Iberia business class between the U.S. and Madrid (MAD) for as low as just 34,000 miles each way one of the best deals in the world of points and miles. It's simply one of the best, most reliable ways to cross the Atlantic, period. But it appears those days may be numbered.
PSA: Book Southwest Flights Today to Avoid Bag Fees, Basic Economy

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Kyle Potter

After decades of setting itself apart from the rest of the airline industry by including free checked bags with every ticket and resisting the rush to sell stripped-down basic economy fares, everything changes on Wednesday for Southwest Airlines and its flyers. Here's your last chance to book Southwest tickets under the current rules. Any Southwest flights booked Tuesday, May 27 – for travel as far out as late January 2026 – will still get two free checked bags.
Book AA Flights to Mexico, Europe & Beyond from 5K AA Miles!

1 week ago | thriftytraveler.com | Jackson Newman

American Airlines is currently running a massive award sale, offering over 1 million economy award seats for as low as just 5,000 AAdvantage miles each way for trips this August and September. This includes domestic flights within U.S. (but not Hawaii or Alaska), as well as routes to Mexico, the Caribbean, and even select European destinations like London and Rome.