Welcome to Thrifty Traveler – and to the world of cheap travel.
Thrifty Traveler is a go-to resource for millions of travelers looking for the cheapest flights, easy-to-understand guides on using points and miles, and must-read coverage of daily travel and airline news. And it all started back in 2015.
After years of picking up every tip and trick in the book while traveling for his corporate day job, our founder and CEO Jared Kamrowski launched Thrifty Traveler to show others how they, too, could see the world on a tight budget. Just two short years later, he made this site his full-time job, determined to grow and help more travelers.
And that’s just what happened. Fast forward to the present day, what began as a passion project and one-man show has blossomed into a growing team of 10-plus Thrifty Travelers and counting.
We’ve leaned into the vision of the original Thrifty Traveler newsletter: Creating a one-stop shop for clear, concise travel guidance. Meanwhile, we’ve called on federal officials to crack down on airlines and urged travelers to watch their carbon footprint when flying – something we do ourselves.
But our mission remains unchanged: to show you that travel doesn’t have to be expensive. Through finding flight deals, using credit card points and airline miles, and smart money-saving strategies, almost anyone can get out and see the world. We’re here to help you travel more for less.
Meet our team.
Questions / Support
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The Thrifty Traveler Team
Jared Kamrowski
CEO and Founder
Jared is our founder and CEO, and he's not like your average travel entrepreneur. After graduating from college with a mountain of debt, he and his wife wanted to travel – but had to do it on the cheap. Over the years he and Mrs. TT have devised a simple strategy to travel to amazing places – without emptying their bank account. And that's what this site is all about.
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) by trade, Jared's prior job required him to travel 100 nights a year, which quickly acquainted him with many airline and hotel rewards programs. That led him to create Thrifty Traveler in 2015 as a way to pass on all his tips and tricks. Just two years later, he made Thrifty Traveler his full-time job – and it's only grown since then.
But his goal hasn't changed: Teach you how to find the cheapest flights and minimize travel costs using points and miles. And above all, show you that travel doesn't have to be expensive.
Nick Serati
Co-founder
Nick Serati is our co-founder and joined Thrifty Traveler in 2016. Nick traveled extensively for work and became obsessed with points and miles in 2009, piling up more than 5 million points since then from credit cards and maximizing his spending. These miles have afforded him and his wife, Abbey, many trips all over the world.
Nick developed a love for travel at a young age by tagging along with his dad to conventions and meetings all over the United States. When Nick isn't working, he is likely playing golf or planning his next vacation – using points and miles, of course.
Erica Kamrowski
Lead Operations Manager
Erica joined Thrifty Traveler in 2019 after spending a decade in the wine industry. Her love of travel started at 13 with a trip to France. She studied abroad in Montpellier, France in 2007. Jared and Erica met in 2011 and have been traveling the world together ever since.
When she’s not traveling, Erica loves cooking, zumba, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Kyle Potter
Executive Editor
Kyle is our executive editor who joined Thrifty Traveler in 2018. A longtime Thrifty Traveler follower who believes in the power of travel, his goal is to help even the most novice traveler understand the sometimes confusing and complex world of airlines, credit cards, and frequent flyer programs so they can see more of the world for less.
Kyle is a journalist by trade and a native Minnesotan who spends any time he’s not working or traveling with his wife Allie and their corgi, Mikka. His favorite city in the world is Hanoi, Vietnam.
Jon Shallbetter
Chief Flight Analyst
Jon is our Chief Flight Analyst who joined Thrifty Traveler in 2019. After living in Australia for a year he traveled throughout SE Asia and quickly became a travel addict. Visiting at least one new country a year became one of his top priorities. His favorite city in the world is Sydney, Australia.
When he is not working he typically spending time with his fiancé Sarah attending concerts, watching sports, or discovering new restaurants and breweries. His goal is to help everyone see the world regardless of their income.
Rhea joined the Thrifty Traveler team in 2018. She helps find domestic and international flight deals for Thrifty Traveler Premium members.
Rhea is an artist and loves to sing & build miniatures in her free time. She is also a home baker: she enjoys making cakes & pastries.
Gunnar Olson
Travel Reporter and Flight Deal Analyst
Gunnar helps readers digest the ever-changing world of flight deals and travel news. He joined Thrifty Traveler in 2021 after years working in local TV news in the Twin Cities.
He honed his cheap travel skills during years of last-minute ski trips chasing snow storms into the mountains. Gunnar’s favorite part of any trip is getting to the highest point and soaking in the view. His favorite places he’s ever been include the Swiss Alps, Vancouver, Iceland, Patagonia, and Antarctica.
Rae is a flight deal analyst and joined Thrifty Traveler in 2021. Her goal is to find cheap domestic and international deals to send to Thrifty Traveler Premium members.
Roxanne joined the Thrifty Traveler team as the Customer Support Assistant in 2021. If you've ever reached out to us with a question, it's likely Roxanne has been your point of contact!
She is passionate about spending time outside hiking, camping, scuba diving, and visiting other countries. Her next travel bucket list item? Skydiving!
Sarah joined Thrifty Traveler in 2022 as a flight deal analyst. Her goal is to help find cheap domestic and international deals. She also assists in finding award space and writing emails to our subscribers.
She loves singing and is very passionate about cooking. During her free time, she loves watching cooking shows, food shows, and travel vlogs. Her dream is to travel the world and experience dining at Michelin starred restaurants.
Peter Thornton
Senior Award Deal Analyst / Reporter
Peter joined Thrifty Traveler in 2022 after spending over a decade finding cheap flights and covering the airline industry at Airfarewatchdog. His goal is to help others see the world, whether through a cheap flight or navigating the complexities of using points and miles.
He grew up in delightful Duluth, Minnesota but now resides in San Diego, allowing him to frequently visit one of his favorite countries: Mexico. When not working, you’ll find him exploring the great outdoors.
Allie Johnson
Senior Editor
Allie is our senior editor, joining the Thrifty Traveler team in 2022 to edit and write many of the news articles, guides, reviews, and other stories you read here daily.
She got her first real taste of travel while studying abroad in South America, where she traveled extensively throughout Chile, backpacked in Patagonia, and visited Machu Picchu. Today, most of her travels revolve around getting outdoors, from hiking to kayaking to scuba diving.
Jackson Newman
Credit Cards & Award Travel Editor
Jackson joined Thrifty Traveler in 2023 after years working in banking and insurance. Today, he writes news articles, guides, and other stories focusing on the fast-changing world of travel credit cards.
Jackson got bit by the travel bug in 2016 and spent the subsequent years learning how to travel better, and more often, for less. When he's not traveling or working, Jackson enjoys spending time with his wife Whitney and their son, Benny.
Lauren joined the Thrifty Traveler team in 2023 as our social media expert. Her goal is to help normal travelers (like herself) understand the world of travel hacking and points and miles.
Lauren hails from Austin, Texas, and enjoys finding unique and hidden places whenever she travels. She loves spending time with her dog, Gogurt, and her cat, Tofu, and also enjoys DIY interior design projects, making music, art museums, and watching true crime documentaries.
Ryan joined the Thrifty Traveler team in 2023 as a flight deal analyst, helping find the cheap airfare alerts that travelers love.
He's a passionate person who enjoys playing video games and is deeply fascinated by flying. His goal is to get his pilot's license and soar through the skies, turning his lifelong interest in aviation into his career.
Long Tran
Credit Cards and Points & Miles Reporter
Long joined the Thrifty Traveler team in 2023 after working in higher education. Now, he dedicates his love for racking up credit card points and redeeming them into helping Thrifty Traveler readers do the same.
Long's love for travel stems from his desire to learn more about his culture as a Vietnamese American. His favorite (and most frequent) route takes him from San Francisco to Sydney, but his favorite country will forever be Vietnam.
Rolando joined Thrifty Traveler in 2022 as a flight deal analyst with the aim of finding affordable domestic and international deals. He also helps find the business class deals and points and miles alerts that our subscribers love.
Rolando loves collecting and playing with Tamiya cars. He also enjoys playing mobile and PC games.
Amber joined Thrifty Traveler as our Marketing Manager after taking her dream trip to New Zealand thanks to one of our Unicorn Fare alerts. Now, she wants to help others see it’s possible to achieve their own travel dreams.
Amber is a graphic designer and hand-letterer who enjoys biking, trivia, rewatching 30 Rock on a constant loop, and spending time at home with her husband, Colin, and their three cats: Tesla, Ferdinand, and Isabella. Her favorite travel memories include driving go karts around Tokyo and visiting the site of the burnt orc mound (where Viggo Mortensen broke his toe) in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Katie joined Thrifty Traveler in 2024 as a Points & Miles Deal Analyst, bringing with her years of experience from the airline industry. As an avid traveler, she’s dedicated to helping everyone—from budget-savvy explorers to luxury-seeking adventurers—maximize the value of their points and miles.
Originally from Georgia, Katie has called many places across the U.S. home. She has a knack for discovering hidden gem restaurants and always seeks out breathtaking countryside views whenever she travels. When she’s not planning her next adventure, you can find her enjoying the outdoors, working on house projects, or spending quality time with her husband, Matthew.
