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

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