
Thrifty Traveler: The Ultimate Guide to Smart Travel in 2025
Traveling does not have to be expensive. In fact, many people are now flying and staying in great places for less money. This is where Thrifty Traveler comes in. It helps people save money on flights, hotels, and more. If you’re someone who loves traveling but hates high prices, this guide is for you.
Let’s explore everything about Thrifty Traveler — from how it works to whether Thrifty Traveler Premium is worth it.
What is Thrifty Traveler?
Thrifty Traveler is a travel deals website and email subscription service. It finds cheap flights, travel deals, mistake fares, and points redemption offers. The company is based in Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP), Minnesota.
It was started to help travelers save money without doing hours of research. Today, it is one of the most trusted travel deal services in the U.S.
Why is Thrifty Traveler So Popular?
There are a few good reasons:
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It finds cheap domestic and international flights
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It alerts users to mistake fares (when airlines post super low prices by accident)
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It offers tips on how to use points and miles
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It has both free and paid options
Many people love the deals and personal tips they get in the emails. This helps them travel more for less.
Thrifty Traveler Premium: What You Need to Know
What is Thrifty Traveler Premium?
Thrifty Traveler Premium is the paid version of the service. It sends real-time flight deals directly to your email. These are often international deals, business class deals, or mistake fares.
How Much Does It Cost?
As of 2025, Thrifty Traveler Premium costs around $69 per year. There are sometimes discounts with a Thrifty Traveler promo code.
What Do You Get?
With Premium, you get:
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Instant email alerts
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Deals from your home airport (like Thrifty Traveler MSP for Minneapolis travelers)
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Business and first-class deal alerts
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Points and miles redemption alerts
You can also customize your departure cities.
Is Thrifty Traveler Premium Worth It?
Many users ask: Is Thrifty-Traveler Premium worth it? The answer is yes, if you:
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Travel often (especially internationally)
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Want mistake fare alerts fast
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Use points and miles regularly
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Want to book amazing deals without searching
Some users have saved hundreds or even thousands of dollars on flights just from one alert.
How to Use a Thrifty Traveler Promo Code
Thrifty-Traveler sometimes offers discount codes to new subscribers. You can find these:
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On their homepage
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On social media
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During special events (like Black Friday)
Just enter the Thrifty-Traveler promo code at checkout to save money on your Premium plan.
Thrifty Traveler Reviews: What People Say
The internet is full of Thrifty-Traveler reviews, and most are positive.
Pros Mentioned by Users:
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Saves time and effort
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Easy to understand email alerts
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Great customer service
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Alerts come fast — before the deals disappear
Common Criticisms:
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Some deals expire too fast
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Only useful if you are flexible with travel dates
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Most deals are from major U.S. airports
Still, the value many people get makes up for the downsides.
How to Sign Up and Use Thrifty Traveler Login
Signing up is simple:
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Go to www.thriftytraveler.com
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Choose Free or Premium
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Enter your email and home airport
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Confirm your email
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Done!
After that, you can use the Thrifty-Traveler login page to manage your account. You can update airports, preferences, or cancel anytime.
Thrifty Traveler MSP: Why It’s Important
Since the company is based in Minnesota, Thrifty-Traveler MSP offers more deals for people flying out of Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. This is great for local travelers.
However, the service covers over 200 U.S. airports, so you can still get deals from most major cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
How Does Thrifty Traveler Work?
Thrifty-Traveler has a team of flight deal experts. These are real people, not bots. They search airline websites and booking engines daily.
They look for:
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Flight price drops
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Mistake fares
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Airline sales
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Points and miles redemption options
Then, they send these deals through email to their users.
Thrifty Traveler vs. Other Travel Deal Services
There are many travel deal websites. Let’s see how Thrifty-Traveler compares.
Feature | Thrifty Traveler | Scott’s Cheap Flights | Dollar Flight Club |
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Human-curated deals | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Business class alerts | ✅ | ✅ (Elite tier) | ❌ |
Points/miles alerts | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
U.S.-focused | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Cost | $69/year | $49–$199/year | $69–$99/year |
As you can see, Thrifty-Traveler is strong in both cash deals and points/miles deals.
Who Should Use Thrifty Traveler?
This service is great for:
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Frequent travelers
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People who can travel on flexible dates
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Anyone looking for mistake fares
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Travelers who use credit card points
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Families planning budget vacations
Even if you travel just once a year, one great deal can make the subscription worth it.
Thrifty Traveler Careers
Are you interested in travel and saving money? You might want to explore Thrifty-Traveler careers. They often hire:
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Travel deal analysts
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Customer support agents
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Marketing experts
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Writers and content creators
They are based in Minnesota, but some jobs are remote. You can check openings on their website or LinkedIn.
Can You Use Thrifty Traveler for Points and Miles?
Yes. One of the best parts of Thrifty-Traveler Premium is their points and miles alerts. These tell you how to:
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Use airline miles for premium seats
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Transfer credit card points wisely
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Book award travel on international routes
They break it down in simple terms. Even beginners can understand.
Tips for Getting the Best Deals with Thrifty Traveler
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Be flexible with your travel dates
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Check your email often (deals go fast)
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Use a promo code to save on Premium
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Follow their blog for free travel tips
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Set alerts from your closest airports
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Plan ahead when you see a great deal
Free vs. Premium: Which One Should You Choose?
Feature | Free Plan | Premium Plan |
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Basic deals | ✅ | ✅ |
Mistake fares | ❌ | ✅ |
Business class alerts | ❌ | ✅ |
Points/miles alerts | ❌ | ✅ |
Email speed | Slower | Instant |
Cost | $0 | $69/year |
If you want serious savings and fly at least once per year, Premium is a good investment.
How Thrifty Traveler Helps You Save on Hotels
While flights are their focus, Thrifty-Traveler also shares hotel tips. They often post about:
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Hotel credit card benefits
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Points transfer options
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Hidden hotel discounts
You can also combine a cheap flight with a hotel deal using their tips.
Also Read: Fora Travel Advisor: Complete Guide, Reviews, Portal & More
Does Thrifty Traveler Have a Mobile App?
Currently, Thrifty-Traveler does not have a mobile app. All alerts go through email. But their website is mobile-friendly.
You can easily read emails and check deals on your phone.
Final Thoughts
Thrifty-Traveler is one of the best tools for smart travelers in 2025. Whether you want to fly to Europe on a mistake fare or use credit card points for a luxury seat, they’ve got you covered.
It’s not magic — it’s smart planning and real human research. For many travelers, Thrifty-Traveler Premium pays for itself with just one flight.
FAQs
1. Is Thrifty Traveler Premium worth it?
Yes. If you travel at least once a year, the savings from one good deal can cover the $69 fee.
2. Can I use a promo code for Thrifty Traveler?
Yes. You can use a Thrifty-Traveler promo code at checkout to get a discount on your Premium plan.
3. What is Thrifty Traveler MSP?
It refers to deals from Minneapolis–Saint Paul airport, where Thrifty-Traveler is based. MSP users often get early alerts.