iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Google released its top trending Thanksgiving destinations. No. 1 is a head-scratcher...until it isn't...

Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

It's going to be another one of those days, Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers... ...but only if you like flights to Rome for $384 roundtrip... The deal will be out shortly. In our system, it's currently titled: "SMOKING HOT EUROPE sub-$399."

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

How big is Canada? Well, WestJet just announced transcontinental Halifax (YHZ) to Vancouver (YVR) flights, which is ~200 miles longer than its transatlantic Halifax-Dublin (DUB) flights. Data from Great Circle Mapper, collected by @kpottermn.bsky.social

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. WestJet just tacked on these "Ultrabasic" fares (that don't even include a carry-on) on many of its Canada-US routes. These fares were not there just a week ago. A new leader in the race to the bottom.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Free flight deal for ya, MSP! Wake up to snow on the ground this AM? Book a nonstop Delta flight to Cancún THIS WEEKEND for $375 roundtrip. You can even leave today. Wide open availability. Book this so I don't have to. www.google.com/travel/fligh...

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Who wants to fly to New Zealand tonight? $747 roundtrip on United. One stop.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Last-minute flight to Belize for next weekend, Minnesota. Get some sun. You need it. Everyone says so. Another free flight deal courtesy of Thrifty Traveler Premium.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Me: After years of loyalty, I just want to use my SkyMiles to book a reasonable Delta One fare once in my lifetime. Delta:

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

It's -18 in Minnesota this morning. Here's something you can do about it: Fly to Mazatlan, Mexico next weekend (Thurs-Tues). Delta. Nonstop. $441 roundtrip , or $501 in Main Cabin. Eligible for Delta Companion Certificates. 70s and sunny on Mexico's west coast...your call...

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Want to fly to Auckland tonight? $520 RT in Main Cabin from LAX. Tons of last-minute availability to New Zealand. These American planes must be totally empty. www.google.com/travel/fligh...

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

45 mins of back-breaking shoveling to set up this photo. The 1-3 likes I get on this will make it worth it.

A puck sits on a frozen pond with a pink sky sunset glow behind the trees in the background.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Last month I reviewed Cathay Pacific Business Class. It was terrific, despite the seat itself lacking amenities of the newer products out there. The lounges were massive, featured made-to-order noodle bars, and you could order a special beer: The Betsy. thriftytraveler.com/reviews/flig...

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Alaska out with some fun news today about a new premium credit card and new nonstop routes from SEA to Tokyo and Seoul. thriftytraveler.com/news/airline... But this is the funniest thing I found in the presentation: How we feeling about the 2-5-4-5-2 economy seat layout on this bad boy?

Alaska Airlines rendering of a white blended wing jet that is extra wide, has engines on the top, and is flat on the back, along with a seat map of what that aircraft could look like with a hilariously wide cabin featuring a 2-5-4-5-2 economy seating layout.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Winter is here! There are 2 types of Minnesotans: The ones who hate it here and the ones who have winter hobbies. ⛸️: Silver Lake, Excelsior 🎿: Welch Village

A ski slope from the perspective of a skier on the chair.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

From Sen. Richard Blumenthal's report on airline junk fees. Thanks for reading, Senator!

A Thrifty Traveler story highlighted in red in the footnotes of senate report on airline junk fees on pg. 51.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Dec. 2: We're calling it .25 inches at the stake overnight in Longfellow, Minneapolis. ❄️

A black snow-measuring stake in front of a white fence in a slightly snowy Minneapolis yard.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

The best sale in skiing starts this AM. Mount Bohemia is a hidden gem on the Upper Peninsula. Biggest terrain in the Midwest, best snow, and pristine vibe. Best of all: Season pass is $109. $99 if you exclude Saturdays. And you have to be a passholder to ski Saturdays at all.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Let's play Best Flight, Worst Flight: Here's the best way we could find to get from San Francisco to Sao Paolo, Brazil for our Thrifty Traveler Premium members. $447 on Delta. And then there's the worst: - 2 consecutive red-eyes on COPA with a 16-hour daytime layover in Panama City 🫠 - $903...

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Going back to Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, and Lake Louise this winter. Went last year for the first time. Revvy & KH are by far the best places I've ever skied. Skiing in B.C. and Albert, Canada is... - Way cheaper (flights, lift tickets, food, & beer) - Way snowier - Way less crowded

Skier underneath his tracks on a snowy Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

And this is all happening as Austin (AUS) is re-allocating and adding a bunch of new lounge space. Delta opened the AUS SkyClub five years ago (our review linked), but AUS wants an airline tenant to snag this bigger space by 2030. Is AUS a Delta hub by then? thriftytraveler.com/reviews/airp...

Austin airport board meeting slide showing a new lounge space.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Delta added another Austin (AUS) route to its schedule with Jacksonville (JAX) starting in May. After American pulled out of AUS as a focus city, Delta has swooped in with service to Nashville, Panama City, Harlingen, Indy, JAX, Vegas, Midland, Orlando, Memphis, McAllen, Nola, SFO, & Tampa.

A route map of flights on Delta from Austin, Texas to non-Delta hubs.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

This is Wallie. Today he limped around the house like he tore his ACL. Wouldn’t put his paw down. No weight on it whatsoever. Was literally shaking in pain and suffering. Until…that is…until I put his Kirkland sweatshirt on him. He’s totally fine. Unbelievable.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

From Delta's investor day presentation today: Unbundled Delta One, Premium Select, 1st Class, & Comfort Plus is coming. This means you might get a lowest Delta One fare with no seat selection or lounge access, etc. This will spread to all cabins. Can't wait for Comfort Minus...

Screenshot of a Delta presentation talking about cabin segmentation.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Alterra – ski resort owner and the operator of the popular Ikon Pass – just announced a Kids Ski Free week. Kids under 12 (and under 17 at Stratton, Vermont and Schweitzer, Idaho) get a free ski day between Dec. 7 and Dec. 13 at 15 different ski areas this year. Destinations in screenshot below.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

(Free flight deal!) LAX flyers – Just found these crazy cheap $598 RT fares to New Zealand. Airline: Air Canada Route: 1 stop in Vancouver (YVR) Fare: Basic economy (carry-on/checked bag) www.google.com/travel/fligh...

Airfare from LAX to Auckland, New Zealand.

Calendar view of airfare between Los Angeles and Auckland.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

INBOX: Frontier pouncing on Spirit's weekend woes with a flash sale. Offering "100% off base fares" on select routes with promo code SAVE100. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday flights only. Must book roundtrip. Book by Wednesday night. Thanksgiving, Xmas, NYE, MLK, Prez Day all blacked out.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

My Minneapolis yard is officially ready for winter. ❄️

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

FYI, Icelandair's sale ends tonight at midnight, including some excellent rates on their Saga Biz Class. Not lie-flat, but rich in amenities and service (and a sweet KEF lounge). Here are the (roundtrip!) fares we dug up earlier this week. My review of Saga: thriftytraveler.com/reviews/flig...

Flight deal information for an Icelandair Business Class flight deal.

Two Icelandair Saga Business Class seats.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

I'm manning the ✈️ Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alert service this morning, and we're about to send something awesome. The brand new service to South Caicos (XSC) on American is finally on sale – including connections! Service starts Feb. 15. Crazy there's service to an island this small. 🏖️

A map of the flight between Miami and South Caicos Island.

A Google Flights screenshot of $400 airfare between Chicago and South Caicos on American Airlines.

A screenshot of the Google Maps view of South Caicos Island.

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Gunnar Olson ✈️ @gunnarolson.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Last week, I flew the longest flight in the world – about 19 hours in the sky from JFK to Singapore. The super unique Singapore plane, a comfy Premium Econ. seat (no economy on this bird), and wonderful service made it comfortable. Go hour-by-hour with me: thriftytraveler.com/news/flights...

Two premium economy airplane seats aboard a Singapore Airlines A350.

A screenshot from the app Flighty of the longest flight in the world from New York to Singapore.

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