PODCAST · society
Families Fly Free
by Lyn Mettler
Want to make more family travel memories without breaking the bank? Longtime travel journalist Lyn Mettler shares her top tips to help families quickly and easily travel for less using rewards points and inspires you with ideas of where to travel on your next vacation. lynmettler.substack.com
Episodes
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Southwest Hugely Changes Companion Pass (And Not in a Good Way): My Honest Take
Well everyone. Southwest has finally cut out the last thing that I think was keeping its loyal followers hanging on: the Southwest Companion Pass, something I have said was the best deal in travel for the last 10 years. As of January 1, they are changing how you earn it, and I’m here to tell you...
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209 | When You Can Fly Free JUST to Try on a Wedding Dress: Success Story with Rachel Elston
Rachel says "I found my thing" when it comes to travel rewards and suggests "you can't go wrong investing in memories." Learn how this mother of grown kids has upgraded her travel rewards skills to take her family on a trip not "if" but "when" and "where" ever they want. She's even been able to…
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208 | Travel During Your "Go-Go" Years: Success Story with Bret Crawford
Are you waiting to travel "someday" when you have more time or money? Portland realtor Bret Crawford shares how he went from barely earning enough Southwest points to flying free multiple times a year – and why the book Die with Zero convinced him to stop waiting. In his 60s, Bret's embracing the...
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207 | ✈️ Which Points Qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass?
Think transferring Chase Sapphire points to Southwest will get you closer to Companion Pass? Think again. In this episode, I'm clearing up the biggest confusion around earning the Southwest Companion Pass—because the rules aren't what most people assume. I'll walk you through: The major mistakes...
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206 | 🛑 6 Things Travel Rewards Enthusiasts Need to Give Up in 2026
The travel rewards landscape is shifting, and 2026 requires a new approach. In this episode, I'm walking you through 6 specific changes you need to make to keep flying your family for free—whether these are strategies you've clung to for years or adjustments necessitated by recent bank and…
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205 | 🐒 Costa Rica Case Study: How I Used Points to Save $10,000+ on Flights, Hotels & an Airbnb
Ever wonder if you can really cover an entire international vacation with points—not just flights, but hotels, vacation rentals and more? In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I took 3 of us to Costa Rica and saved more than $10,000 strategically using miles and points. Here's what…
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204 | ✈️ Did You Make This Common Year-End Southwest Companion Pass Mistake?
Did you accidentally earn your Southwest credit card bonus too early this year? You're not alone! Every year, people reach out who've made timing mistakes with their Companion Pass strategy—and it's happened more than usual in 2025 thanks to those amazing 100K+ credit card offers. In this…
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203 | 🛍️ How to Earn Maximum Points on Your Holiday Shopping to Fund Next Year's Travels
In this week's episode, I share with you all my best tips for maximizing the number of miles and points you can earn on your holiday shopping. You'll learn how to: Earn airline AND flexible points inside shopping portals How to earn points IN store How to stack points-earning How to get EXTRA...
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202 | 🛑 Stop Wasting Points & Perks: How to Do a Credit Card Audit
Forgetting travel credits, letting points expire, missing credit card bonuses—sound familiar? You're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing 1 simple strategy to stop leaving money on the table and start maximizing every mile and perk you already have: simplify by conducting a card audit. I'll…
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201 | ❤️ "You Can't Recall the Memories You Never Make": Success Story With Member Dave Banks
This week I’m chatting with Families Fly Free member Dave Banks—a dad of 4 from rural Oregon—who went from “credit cards are only for emergencies” to saving $2,367 on just 2 trips using my simple system. Dave shares how he and his wife flew to the Florida Keys for as low as 5,000 points each way...
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200 | 🕵️♀️ The Southwest Scoop: Boarding Shake-up, Assigned Seat Drama & Gate Quotas
Staying successful with Southwest means keeping up with nonstop change — and that’s where I come in. In this episode I break down the latest boarding scoop from the Wall Street Journal and everything else they've announced in the last few months. I discuss the simple way to avoid paid seat...
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199 |❓Your Families Fly Free & Travel Rewards Questions Answered by Members: Open House Replay
❓Got questions about how Families Fly Free can help your family travel to more places using miles and points BEFORE the price goes up soon? In this episode, I share a replay of a recent 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Families Fly Free Open House with 4 current members on hand to answer attendees' questions honestly...
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198 | 🤷♀️ What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting Travel Rewards Today
If I had to start from zero with travel rewards today, here’s exactly what I’d do — and what I’d skip. Fresh off a Families Fly Free member meetup in California wine country 🍷, I’m sharing the simple, real-time strategy my Families Fly Free members use to keep flying free without juggling 20…
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197 | 🏨 The Truth About Booking Hotels Through Travel Portals
Booking hotels through travel portals can be a brilliant points-saver, but there are also downsides to booking this way. In this episode I break down when portals like Chase Travel and Capital One beat transferring points to Marriott, Hilton or IHG, the risks of these bookings and the simple…
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196 | 💳 Capital One Venture X Is Ending THIS Popular Perk Soon; What You Need to Know
Capital One Venture X is changing this popular perk that made it one of my favorite travel cards! Find out what's changing and WHEN and my strategy for what to do next... To stay on top of the lastest and ever-changing strategies in the world of travel rewards + learn my simple Fly Free Formula,...
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195 | 😱 Is This the End of Travel Rewards as We Know It? 5 Things You Need to Know
Is this the end of travel rewards as we know it? 😱 Staying successful with miles and points in 2025 means keeping up with nonstop change — and that’s where I come in. In this episode I break down the biggest shifts I’m seeing right now from banks tightening approvals to pricey lounge access to...
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194 | 🎃 Haunted USA: Fall Trips with a Spooky Twist
Ready to add a little spooky fun to your travels this fall? 🎃 In this episode of the Families Fly Free podcast, I’m joined by Heather Alexander, author of Haunted USA, to uncover eerie—and family-friendly—ghost stories from all 50 states. From haunted hotels and mysterious lighthouses to...
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193 | 🎯 Southwest Changes Simplified: New Fares, Assigned Seats, Bag Fees - Oh My!
Southwest has made a flurry of changes in 2025 — from charging for bags and introducing assigned seats to rolling out brand-new fare types and tweaking credit card perks, including increasing their annual fees. And they’ve managed to make things very complicated. But here’s the good news: I’ve…
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192 | 🎨 Wander in Wonder: How to Better Appreciate Art on Your Travels
Ever stood in front of a famous painting and wondered, “What am I supposed to do here?” In this first episode of my new Wander in Wonder series, I dive into how to truly appreciate art — even if you don’t consider yourself an expert (I certainly don’t!). Inspired by a class I took at Notre Dame…
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191 | 🎮 Epic Universe Insider Guide (Part 2): Dark Universe, Super Mario, Berk and Food Finds
In Part 2 of my conversation with Chad Pennycuff (My DVC Points Podcast), we’re diving deeper into Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park: Epic Universe — and there’s so much more to explore! After attending the Grand Opening event for media, I share my insight on the parks along with Chad's an...
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190 | 🎢 Epic Universe Insider Guide (Part 1): Hotels, Harry Potter, Celestial Park + Line Tips
In this episode, I’m joined by Chad Pennycuff of the My DVC Points podcast to break down everything you need to know about Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe — starting with where to stay, what to skip and how to save. I share my experiences attending the Grand Opening event...
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189 | Secrets of London: A Travel Journalist’s Best Tips
Join me for an insider’s journey to London as I share my favorite travel tips, hidden gems and even a few things I wish I’d done differently. In this episode, you’ll hear how I flew to London for (almost) free, where we stayed (and why it mattered), the must-see spots I recommend and how to get...
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188 | How to Visit Colleges on Points — Without Blowing Your Travel Budget
College visits, auditions, move-in weekends and campus drop-offs — they’re all part of the college journey… and they can get really expensive, really fast. But what if you didn’t have to stress about the cost? In this episode, I share how I recently visited Notre Dame using points and stayed…
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187 | Chase Sapphire Preferred: Hidden Perks That Make This the No. 1 Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred is my FAVORITE Travel card — and right now, it’s offering a limited-time 100,000-point bonus (worth at least $1,250 in free travel) that ends May 15 at 9am ET. Thanks for using my personal affiliate link to support the podcast if you decide to apply for the card:...
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186 | New Rules, Same Free Perks? How to Outsmart Southwest’s Changes
Southwest Airlines is shaking things up—starting with assigned seating in January 2026 and a new policy that could mean paying for checked bags. 😲 But don’t panic! In this episode, I’ll walk you through exactly what’s changing, what’s not changing, and most importantly—how you can still get your...
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185 | Why Travel Feels So Hard — And How to Make It Much Easier
Ever feel like travel is more stressful than it should be? You’re not alone — and you’re not imagining it. In this episode, I unpack the real reason travel feels overwhelming: No one ever taught us how to do it well. From not knowing if you passport will pass muster to panicking when a flight…
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184 | The Problem With Opening Too Many Travel Cards
Unfortunately, it's commonly recommended to open a lot of travel cards in order to earn the "sign up bonus" (SUB), but this can quickly lead to overwhelm, getting banned by banks and cause you to miss out on the truly great deals and a simpler system that could save you thousands on travel. In…
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183 | London Trip Top 5 Travel Tips
Fresh off my family’s trip to London, I’m sharing 5 travel insights you can use on your next international adventure. These simple but powerful tips helped make our trip smoother, more memorable — and more fun! You’ll learn: My #1 strategy to beat jet lag Why flexibility can be your travel...
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182 | Does Costco Fit Into a Travel Rewards Strategy? Let's Break It Down
If you love shopping at Costco (who doesn’t?), you might be missing out on a hidden travel perk. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to make your Costco spending — and even your Costco credit card — work harder for your travel goals. Whether you’re earning points or planning your next trip…
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181 | Turn Your Tax Bill Into Travel Rewards
No one loves writing a check to the IRS — but what if it could help fund your next vacation? With the tax deadline approaching, I’m sharing smart ways to earn valuable travel points when paying your taxes. If you owe money this year, don’t miss this chance to turn a painful payment into free...
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180 | How to STILL Fly Your Southwest Bags Free + Other Questions About Southwest's Changes
We continue our discussion with more information now available about Southwest's big changes announced on March 11, 2025. We discuss the answers to questions like: Is there an easy way to still get my checked bags free? Yes! Do these changes affect flights I've already booked or will book before...
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179 | Southwest Airlines Ends Free Checked Bags + Other MAJOR Changes: What You Need to Know...
Southwest ends free checked bags and announced other MAJOR changes recently, including a new "Basic" fare. While much of these changes are very disappointing, in reality, they only requires a few minor adjustments for those of us flying Southwest using travel rewards. I explain the changes and…
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BONUS | Is Southwest's Surprise Reduction in Points Earned on Flights a Big Deal?
Is Southwest's surprise reduction in the number of points you can earn on certain fares when you book paid flights a big deal? It's not, trust me. I explain in this episode... ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider…
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178 | The Benefits of Banking With Chase for Travel Rewards
If you follow my simple system to use travel rewards to fly for free, you know that Chase cards are some of my favorite travel cards. That makes doing all, or most of, your banking at Chase a no-brainer. As a longtime Chase banker, I explain some of the benefits of banking with Chase, especially…
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177 | What Travel Rewards ACTUALLY Is Versus What You Think It Is
A lot of people have mistaken assumptions about travel rewards that simply aren’t true. In this episode, Lyn lays out what you “think” travel rewards involves, versus the reality of what is actually the case. ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the...
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176 | The Latest on Southwest Airlines' Changes Coming Soon
Lyn shares the latest about the changes coming to Southwest Airlines this year and next year, including assigned and extra legroom seating, their partnership with Icelandair, credit card changes, hotel partnerships and more. ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m…
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175 | The Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
When you start flying more because you're using miles and points, having access to airport lounges can be a nice perk of traveling! In this episode, Lyn shares the easiest way to get access to airport lounges - by holding the right travel cards - and her favorite card options to help you do so…
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174 | Success Story: Flying Free for Travel Sports with Amy Heffern
Learn how Amy Heffern, a mom of 2, has used travel rewards and Southwest Airlines specifically to not only save on the cost of flights for travel sports for her son's travel lacrosse tournaments, but also how flying Southwest is a more flexible and convenient option for her family. ✨ Join me…
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173 | Shhh... 5 Things They Don't Want You to Know About Travel Rewards
Here are 5 things that banks, airlines, hotels and others DON’T want you to know about travel rewards because it’s not in their best interest for you to know. In this episode, I’m sharing the straight truth to help you fly and travel for free in the most efficient, effective and easiest possible...
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172 | Dave Ramsey and Travel Rewards
Lyn shares how aficionados of Dave Ramsey can still follow his advice and remain debt free, while responsibly taking advantage of travel rewards. ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider travel know-how to help you fly...
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171 | My 2024 Travel Rewards Savings Round-Up: $11,000 on 6 Trips
Lyn shares how her family saved $11,000+ on free flights, hotel and vacation rental stays across six trips in 2024. This included trips to Orlando, Costa Rica, Austin, New Orleans and more. ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of...
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170 | Success Story: Prioritizing Travel Despite Reduced Finances With Michele Holmes
Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club member Michele Holmes shares how she went from never using miles and points to save thousands with travel rewards and prioritizing remaining a member despite a job loss to ensure her family can continue to travel affordably. Hear more travel rewards success...
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169 | Top 5 Things to Know About Travel in 2025
What are some trends I'm seeing in travel among my Families Fly Free members? In this episode, I share not silly, made up travel trends like "multi-generational" travel or "babymoons" but real, on-the-ground things that I've seen in 2024 regarding flights, hotels, vacation rentals and more that…
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168 | Aren't 2 Southwest Companion Passes Better Than 1?
Lots of people are under the mistaken assumption that because the Southwest Companion Pass is such a great deal that having 2 would be better than having 1! But that is NOT the case. I explain why a) it's not necessary to fly for free and b) why it overcomplicates everything. ✨ Join me inside my...
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167 | Maximizing Travel Rewards Efficiency With Jon Gombola
In this podcast episode, travel rewards user Jon Gombola shares how learning not just how to collect miles and points but understanding how to use them most efficiently, paying the fewest possible points, has allowed his family to save more on travel than they could have ever imagined, enjoying...
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166 | How My Motto "Just Keep Checking" Can Help You Save & Travel Better
One of my travel mottos is: Just Keep Checking. Whether it's hotels, dining reservations, flights or car rentals, this motto can save you a lot of points and money and score you the reservations you dreamed of. I explain how in this episode. Want to learn my simple system to use miles and points…
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165 | Southwest Just Announced These BIG Changes: My Thoughts and Analysis
Southwest announced lots of BIG news at its Investor Day on September 26, 2024. These big changes include partnerships with Icelandair, the ability to fly to Europe through new airline partnerships, more details about how their assigned seating will work, elite status changes and more. In this...
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164 | No More Assigned Seats? My Thoughts on Southwest's Big Change
Southwest announced this summer that they will be ending their no assigned seats policy in 2025. What will this look like? How will it change flying for free? I break it all down in this episode. Join Families Fly Free by Sept. 4 and get access to my Fly Free Formula classes which I'll be…
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163 | Highest Ever Offer for Chase Ink Business Preferred
The Chase Ink Business Preferred card, which earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, one of my favorite flexible travel points, currently has its HIGHEST EVER bonus for a limited time (there is no end date, meaning it could end at any time). This is ALSO highest bonus currently available to earn...
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162 | All About Chase Sapphire Preferred
Learn all about my favorite travel card, Chase Sapphire Preferred. I explain the offer, the card's features, how you can earn $1100+ in FREE travel, why it's my favorite travel card and walk you through how to fill out the card application. Thanks for using my affiliate link if you decide to…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Want to make more family travel memories without breaking the bank? Longtime travel journalist Lyn Mettler shares her top tips to help families quickly and easily travel for less using rewards points and inspires you with ideas of where to travel on your next vacation.
lynmettler.substack.com
HOSTED BY
Lyn Mettler
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Families Fly Free have?
Families Fly Free currently has 216 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Families Fly Free about?
Want to make more family travel memories without breaking the bank? Longtime travel journalist Lyn Mettler shares her top tips to help families quickly and easily travel for less using rewards points and inspires you with ideas of where to travel on your next vacation. lynmettler.substack.com
How often does Families Fly Free release new episodes?
Families Fly Free publishes regularly with 216 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Families Fly Free?
You can listen to Families Fly Free on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Families Fly Free?
Families Fly Free is created and hosted by Lyn Mettler.
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