Is it okay to watch a violent movie next to a stranger's kid on a plane? Should you abandon your airline loyalty card? And wait—is March actually the real start of the new year?

On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene is joined by Afar editorial director Billy Cohen and deputy editor Michelle Baron for a wide-ranging conversation tied to Afar's annual Plan Your Travel Year package on afar.com. Together they break down what travelers actually need to know heading into 2026—from the shifting airline loyalty landscape and the true cost of travel credit cards to the events, destinations, and flight routes worth planning around this year.

Plus: Michelle debuts a very special musical interlude. You'll want to stay for that.

On this episode you'll learn:

• Why February (or maybe March?) is the real time to start planning your travel year
• How the airline loyalty and travel credit card game has changed—and what to do about it
• Which destinations are worth getting to before they blow up (Malta and Panama are calling)
• What events—from the World Cup to America's 250th—are shaping travel in 2026
• Tips for stretching your PTO using federal holidays strategically

Don't miss these moments:

• [01:45] The lightning round: TSA PreCheck, window vs. aisle, and travel credit cards in one word (or two)
• [09:45] Why the airline loyalty game "isn't so loyal anymore"
• [16:00] The Chase Sapphire Reserve breakup, and what it means for your points strategy
• [25:20] Biometrics, face scanning, and how close we really are to a passport-free airport
• [30:00] The lounge wars—and the case for a family-friendly soundproof play area
• [33:30] America 250: Tall ships in New York, a new Roosevelt Presidential Library, and a reexamination of the Battle of Little Bighorn
• [38:00] World Cup 2026: How to get tickets, where to stay, and why Providence might be smarter than Boston
• [44:30] How to stretch your PTO using federal holidays—and why Terry Ward changed Michelle's mind
• [48:30] Places to go before they get popular: Panama, Malta, Warsaw, and more
• [54:00] Revisiting the lightning round—and Billy's unexpected in-flight encounter with a Mad Men star's dad

Resources:

• Explore Afar's complete ⁠Plan Your Travel Year⁠ package on afar.com.
• Read our story about whether or not airline loyalty is still worth it.
• Read Terry Ward's story on ⁠how to maximize your PTO⁠ in 2026.
• Read Afar's guide to ⁠12 places to visit before they get popular⁠.
• Explore Afar's ⁠Where to Go in 2026⁠ list.
• Stay up to date with Afar's ⁠travel news coverage⁠, including airline routes, loyalty programs, and credit card updates.
• Use ⁠points.me⁠ or ⁠Points Path⁠ to help maximize your miles and points redemptions.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠Behind the Mic⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠Travel Tales⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel.

Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices