It’s the halfway point in 2026, so Gunnar ranked up the 10 best flight deals (and three best hotel deals) of the year so far … and Kyle got to air all of his gripes and grievances about Gunnar’s list. In a six-month span that will surely be remembered for high airfare, we’re celebrating the deals that just kept coming – from flights to Asia in the $300s roundtrip to a business class mistake fare, and more. Plus, we help a listener with their “phantom” space problem, and Gunnar revisits the Taco Bell Cantina at DEN … again …

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00:00 - What’s the big story from the first half of 2026?

04:00 - And why is that the Taco Bell Cantina DEN …

05:05 - Dana, Clayton, & Stan from White Sands, New Mexico

06:15 - A new best way to book Hawaiian Airlines Biz Class

09:30 - Qantas Biz Class on one of the world’s longest flights

11:25 - A rare sale on Delta’s flights to South Africa

13:05 - Delta One SkyMiles sale to Hong Kong

15:55 - Flights to Tahiti for $463 roundtrip

17:34 - A word from our sponsor: Fargo Airport (FAR)!

18:25 - A word from our sponsor: Saily!

19:18 - Some love for hotels, starting with Hermitage Bay Antigua

20:35 - Availability at the renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo

21:30 - The new Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica

22:45 - The first widespread Qsuites availability in years

26:50 - Delta One to Europe from 97k SkyMiles each way

31:10 - Flights to Asia from $359 … roundtrip!

33:15 - Turkish Airlines Biz Class mistake fare

35:50 - The best deal of the year … so far …

39:00 - How did Gunnar do on his top 10 list?

39:50 - Kyle’s honorable mentions

41:15 - What is “phantom” award space?

45:10 - What’s the best thing we’ve booked in 2026?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas

Video editing by Kyle Thomas
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!

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Gunnar and Kyle brag about gettin’ booksy before diving into a busy week of news: The single best redemption using Southwest miles, translating an airline CEO’s infuriating airfare comments, applaud a true sicko’s way of transferring points to Hilton, and more. Plus, the guys draft their favorite new routes debuting this winter and play the World Cup … of flight deals.

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00:00 - Gunnar & Kyle both got “booksy”

02:24 - The Larsons welcome us back from Machu Picchu!

03:50 - Is this the best Southwest Rapid Rewards redemption?

08:55 - Translating Delta CEO’s (gross) comments on airfare

16:45 - A new Delta One Lounge ATL … eventually

21:15 - Transferring points from Chase to Hilton

24:25 - A Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal World Cup

27:50 - Delta SkyMiles premium snack benefit extended!

29:30 - & T-Mobile customers get a free drink!

30:20 - We’re hiring! What it’s like to work with us …

31:45 - Drafting our favorite new winter routes

37:45 - A listener asks: How to use Google Flights for award travel?

41:05 - On the spot: Advice for getting into the travel industry

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas

Video editing by Kyle Thomas
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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Don’t dwell on the bad stuff, the guys remind themselves … because there’s plenty to be excited about in travel right now! So this week on the pod, Gunnar and Kyle outline all the things that are going well in travel right now: flight deals, new routes and airplane seats, big improvements for airport security, bigger and better lounges, massive credit card offers, and more. Plus, the guys help a listener decide on an airline from a Midwestern city and see if Kyle can stay positive for an entire 45 minutes!

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00:00 - A word from our sponsor, Bellroy!

01:19 - Is it actually “The Golden Age of Points and Miles”?

03:18 - Shiloh welcomes us back from Costa Rica!

03:50 - Flight deals are still good

07:00 - Delta SkyMiles deals keep getting better

09:45 - A bevy of (fun) new route announcements

14:10 - An exciting newcomer: Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

18:05 - Touchless kiosks & CLEAR improvements are changing TSA lines

21:40 - Credit card bonuses are better than ever

24:25 - A word from our sponsor, Saily!
25:30 - A word from our sponsor, Monarch!

26:45 - New, more lucrative ways to earn points

29:40 - New seats, new planes & new hotels

33:20 - Airline loyalty gets you further (sometimes)

36:45 - Bigger, better lounges & more of them

40:00 - An Indy listener weighs American vs. Delta

43:22 - What positive trend impacts Gunnar the most?

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas

Video editing by Kyle Thomas
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…
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.