Families Fly Free

By Lyn Mettler

Society & Culture Kids & Family Places & Travel

What's 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.

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Families Fly Free episodes:

05.07.2024
161 | Teachers Can Fly Free Too With Monica Marino
Monica Marino shares how implementing a simple system to use miles and points enabled her to visit her son as much as she wanted, as well as enjoy some vacations. She also explains how teachers can fly for free using...
05.01.2024
160 | Success Story: Free Flights for Life with Andrew and Kiana Joyner
Andrew and Kiana Joyner share their journey from travel rewards beginners to getting free flights for life! The couple share their best tips, including what to watch out for when booking with third-party vendors and why you need TSA PreCheck,...
04.18.2024
159 | Tips for Choosing the Right Tour Company for Your Family With Christine Sarkis
Have you ever considered traveling with a tour company to a particular destination? Christine Sarkis, with TourScoop.com and FamilyVacationist.com, gives us some tips for how to decide if a tour is a good fit for your family and if so,...
04.09.2024
158 | Success Story: The 80/20 Rule Applied to Travel With Jesse Brown
The value of focusing on the most impactful travel rewards strategies to not only save you money, but tons of time, as well from someone who once flew free as an airline employee. Plus, he shares many great travel tips...
04.02.2024
157 | Tips for Traveling to Hawaii With Young Kids With Marcie Cheung
Planning a trip to Hawaii but not sure about bringing young kids? Marcie Cheung of HawaiiTravelWithKids.com has taken her children, now 7 and 10, at least 10 times and shares how it's doable, along with some of her best tips...
03.26.2024
156 | 10 Romantic Getaways for Couples
It's a great idea for all couples to get away together without the kids from time to time. Here are 10 recommendations for fun romantic getaways for a couple's getaway. Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your...
03.19.2024
155 | Why You Should NOT Buy Discounted Southwest Gift Cards
While discounted Southwest gift cards SEEM like a good deal, they're actually not. Here's why... Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your family free? Come join us inside the Families Fly Free membership, the BEST way to...
03.05.2024
154 | Feeling Alone in Your Miles & Points Hobby? I've Got Some Tips
Do you ever feel alone in your love of collecting miles and points and scoring a great travel deal? Lyn sees this a lot and shares some quick advice. Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your family...
02.27.2024
153 | Listener Questions Part 2: Companion Pass Southwest Card Offer & Timing, Costco, Devaluing Points & More
In Part 2 of listener questions answered, Lyn explains why the current Southwest personal card offer is NOT good, when and how you should use a Costco card, if devaluation of airline points is a problem, if shopping portals are...
02.20.2024
152 | Listener Questions Answered: Flying Southwest From a Non-Hub Airport, Having Enough Points, Chase Freedom Unlimited
Lyn answers some great questions from listener Jamie about options if you don't want to fly Southwest out of your home airport, how you really can pay 7,500-10,000 points per flight and if you should use Chase Freedom Unlimited for...
02.13.2024
151 | Success Story: Traveling to All 50 States With Amanda Sanfilippo
Amanda's family of 4 has a goal to visit all 50 states before her daughters graduate high school. She shares how learning how to earn and use travel rewards has saved them thousands on trips to places like Yosemite, Lake...
02.06.2024
150 | Why You Should Not Be Intimidated to Visit US National Parks with Bryanna Royal
Don't be intimidated to visit our National Parks for any reason, including crowds, knowledge, equipment or planning. Bryanna Royal of Crazy Family Adventure explains how you can enjoy the National Parks this year without overwhelm and make memories in some...
01.30.2024
149 | Why I Don't Recommend Getting Chase Sapphire Reserve
Just a few years ago Chase Sapphire Reserve was THE luxury travel card to own, but these days, there are better options that offer the same perks for a lower cost. Lyn explains why she doesn't recommend getting Chase Sapphire...
01.23.2024
148 | Travel Trends for 2024
What's in store for us when it comes to travel in 2024? Lyn identifies 9 trends she expects to see this year including continued revenge travel, international travel, more and better travel rewards, better wifi, hotels versus vacation rentals and...
01.16.2024
147 | Top Family US Destinations for 2024 with Lesli Peterson of 365 Atlanta Traveler
Where should you travel in 2024? Lyn together with Lesli Peterson of 365AtlantaTraveler.com share their picks for 6 great US destinations for families in 2024 including Colorado, Hawaii, Glacier National Park, Huntsville Alabama, Las Vegas and San Diego. Want to...
01.09.2024
146 | Top International Destinations for 2024
What international destinations should you consider visiting in 2024? Lyn shares her recommendations including Costa Rica, Paris, Grand Cayman, Ireland and Sicily. Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your family free? Come join us inside the Families...
01.02.2024
145 | My 2023 Travel Rewards Savings Round-Up: 10 Free Trips to 8 Destinations
How much did Lyn's family save flying and staying free in 2023? She totals up their savings across 10 trips to 8 different destinations for you in this episode and explains how you can do the same. Want to get...
12.26.2023
144 | How to Make Traveling the World Your Way of Life With Caroline Makepeace
Caroline Makepeace has traveled the world since 1997, visiting nearly 60 countries and living in 5. She shares her inspiring story about how she got out of the "rat race" and opted for a different way of life for herself,...
12.19.2023
143 | Using Your Points However You Want With Pam Howard
Travel blogger Pam Howard shares how she uses travel rewards for everything from weekend getaways to day trips and from Disney visits to travel sports for her family of 4 without ever running out of points. Check out Pam's blog...
12.12.2023
142 | The 1 Mistake 99 Percent of Travel Hackers Make
There's 1 mistake that Lyn sees travel hackers make again and again that complicates travel rewards and prevents them from taking as many free trips as possible. She reveals this very common mistake in this episode... Want to get...
12.05.2023
141 | Are You "Under" Traveling?
Are you traveling as much as you could be or want to be? Lyn explains the concept of "under-traveling" and encourages you to truly consider this question. If you aren't traveling as much as you want, consider using travel rewards...
11.28.2023
140 | Talking Travel Rewards With Brad Barrett of Choose FI
How do travel rewards fit into a plan to retire early and become financially independent? Brad Barrett of Choose FI, the largest financial independence community in the world, explains how he became interested in travel rewards, his thoughts on travel...
11.21.2023
139 | My No 1 Airline Hack Revealed
What travel "hack" can save you the most possible points when flying that's simple and easy to do? Lyn shares her No. 1 airline points-saving hack in this week's episode. Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your...
11.14.2023
138 | How to Keep Traveling When the Budget Is Tight
Are you tightening the "belt" this year? No need to stop traveling! Travel rewards can allow your family to keep traveling even when the budget is tight. Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your family free? Come...
11.11.2023
137 | The Latest on Maui Travel With Leanne Pletcher of Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau
Maui is open and ready for visitors after the tragic August wildfires. Leanne Pletcher with the Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau joins us to share how you can visit Maui in a respectful way and why it's important to do...
10.31.2023
136 | Why I Love the Chase Ink Business Cards
The Chase Ink Business cards can be a great way to build your flexible points balance for free travel. Lyn reviews the different options, how they work and why she thinks they are a great option. Ready to jump...
10.24.2023
135 | Why No Assigned Seats Is Not as Bad as You Think
Lots of people shy away from Southwest Airlines because of their no assigned seats policy, but by doing so, they lose out on the EASY way to fly for free using travel rewards. In this episode, Lyn explains why this...
10.17.2023
134 | Earning a Southwest Companion Pass for 2024-2025: What You Need to Know
It's the time of year to start earning your Southwest Companion Pass for 2024-2025, but the timing can be very difficult to get right! In this episode, Lyn explains some of the key things you need to know to get...
10.12.2023
133 | Success Story: How to Save $20,000 Flying Free for Travel Sports with Travis Boland
How much can you save flying for free? The sky's the limit if you're traveling once a month for an activity like travel sports. Travis Boland shares his success story of saving almost $20,000 to fly his son to not...
10.05.2023
132 | Last-Minute Getaways Using Points
Should you use your points for last-minute getaways? Lyn just did on a trip she planned a week ahead. She explains why you SHOULD do this and why it's not a problem. Ready to jump to the finish line of...
09.27.2023
131 | Why You Need to Have Emergency Points
While we usually talk about how to use travel rewards to fly for free to destinations for fun, it's a fact of life that at some point you'll likely need to get somewhere beyond driving distance in a hurry. If...
09.19.2023
130 | Using Travel Rewards vs Discounts to Save as Much as Possible on Your Disney Vacation
In this free webinar, Lyn dives into the math of the potential savings of using travel rewards to pay for flights, accommodations, park tickets and more at Disney versus the various discounts you may be able to take advantage of....
09.12.2023
129 | There's No Right Way to Use Your Points
There are SO many different ways to use travel rewards and none of them is wrong except for NOT using them. Lyn explores a common concern of Families Fly Free members that they aren't using their points in the "right...
09.05.2023
128 | Southwest Elite Status: Is It Worth It?
Should you go for elite status on Southwest Airlines? In this episode, Lyn breaks down what elite status on Southwest gets you, how to achieve it and if she recommends it. Put your family on the fast track to...
08.29.2023
127 | From Overwhelmed to Confident Using Travel Rewards With Brittany Gartner
Brittany Gartner, a newbie to travel rewards, shares how much her family has already saved on travel in just 6 months. Instagram: @mommyandme.pt Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your family free? Come join us inside the...
08.22.2023
126 | My Fly Free Formula REVEALED
Lyn reveals the steps of her Fly Free Formula that makes flying your whole family for free using travel rewards SIMPLE. Don't miss this one! Want to get on the fast-track to always fly your family free? Come join us...
08.15.2023
125 | 5 Things I Wish I Did When First Starting in Travel Rewards
While I did a lot of things right when first beginning my travel rewards journey, there are also some things I wished I'd done and mistakes I made that I wished I hadn't. I share 5 things that I wish...
08.08.2023
124 | Flying Free on Delta and Southwest with Team Member Lisa Whitlaw
Join Families Fly Free team member Lisa Whitlaw, a married mother of 2 teenage boys who lives in Atlanta, as she shares her travel rewards style. Lisa is the Families Fly Free Member Support Manager, working with our members day...
08.01.2023
123 | Travel Hacking 101
Get a primer on the basics of how to use travel rewards to fly and stay for free in this episode of the Families Fly Free podcast. Lyn shares how she takes a much simpler approach to travel hacking to...
07.25.2023
122 | Flying Southwest & Travel Tips with Corinne Crabtree
Super successful entrepreneur Corinne Crabtree joins Lyn to share her tips on travel, her love of Southwest Airlines and how to manage weight loss while traveling. Find Corinne...For weight loss: NoBSFreeCourse.comFor business coaching: NoBSBusinessWomen.comPodcast: Losing 100lbs With CorinneInstagram: @Corinne_Crabtree and...
07.18.2023
120 | How a Travel Rewards Newbie Flew Her Family to Florida and Cancun - Case Study with Trish Harpring
Almost brand new to travel rewards Trish Harpring details her family's use of travel rewards over the last year and a half, netting them free trips to see family in Florida plus a free all-inclusive stay with flights in Cancun...
07.11.2023
The Biggest Reason to Fly for Free I Never Thought of
There are a LOT of reasons to fly for free but here's one Lyn has never thought of that is probably one of the best! She also shares briefly about her recent trip to Paris in this episode. Want to...
07.04.2023
119 | There's Something About San Diego: My Guide to This SoCal Gem
San Diego is a favorite of Lyn's family with its fantastic weather, plentiful outdoor options, beauty and so many activities to choose from. Lyn shares an "audio tour" of this SoCal gem with her top tips and recommendations for where...
06.27.2023
118 | Say Goodbye to Travel Stress! Mastering Mindset to Enjoy Your Next Vacation With Andra Erickson
Lyn and Andra Erickson discuss how realizing that you have the ability to change your mindset can drastically improve the enjoyment of your trips and vacations by reducing worry and stress. It's a simple concept but one that many people...
06.20.2023
117 | Europe Is Bonkers This Summer: What You Need to Know with The Tour Guy's Sean Finelli
The crowds have descended upon Europe this summer so we've invited an Europe expert, Sean Finelli, co-founder of The Tour Guy tour company to fill us in on how to avoid crowds, what we need to book in advance and...
06.13.2023
116 | $5,000 Saved on a Universal Orlando Vacation: Case Study with Katie Blumhorst
Unsure how to get started traveling free with miles and points? Katie Blumhorst shares how personalized help made all the difference in developing confidence about the right steps to take. She shares their first big success: covering the cost of...
06.06.2023
115 | Thoughts on Disney's 2023 Changes: Annual Passes, Dining Plans and More!
Disney has made a lot of changes in the last year or so. In this episode, Lyn shares her thoughts on the latest Disney news from the return of the Disney dining plan and annual passes to the closure of...
05.30.2023
114 | Take Better Travel Photos with Photographer Krista Payne
Lyn talks with photographer Krista Payne about how to take amazing travel photos with your phone on your next trip. Krista gives tips for iPhone settings, must-get shots, editing photos and how to manage photos after your trip. Krista will...
05.23.2023
113 | How and Why to Create Flexible Travel Plans
In today's world, it's a good idea to make your travel plans as flexible as possible in case you need to make a change. Lyn shares how she changed her recent planned trip to Italy and Switzerland due to bad...
05.16.2023
112 | What to Do If You're Declined for a Credit Card
Getting declined for a travel card is NOT the end of the road. There are lots of steps you can take to still get approved so. you can continue your flying free journey. Don't give up! In this episode Lyn...

What's Families Fly Free about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Families Fly Free episodes:

161 | Teachers Can Fly Free Too With Monica Marino

160 | Success Story: Free Flights for Life with Andrew and Kiana Joyner

159 | Tips for Choosing the Right Tour Company for Your Family With Christine Sarkis

158 | Success Story: The 80/20 Rule Applied to Travel With Jesse Brown

157 | Tips for Traveling to Hawaii With Young Kids With Marcie Cheung

156 | 10 Romantic Getaways for Couples

155 | Why You Should NOT Buy Discounted Southwest Gift Cards

154 | Feeling Alone in Your Miles & Points Hobby? I've Got Some Tips

153 | Listener Questions Part 2: Companion Pass Southwest Card Offer & Timing, Costco, Devaluing Points & More

152 | Listener Questions Answered: Flying Southwest From a Non-Hub Airport, Having Enough Points, Chase Freedom Unlimited

151 | Success Story: Traveling to All 50 States With Amanda Sanfilippo

150 | Why You Should Not Be Intimidated to Visit US National Parks with Bryanna Royal

149 | Why I Don't Recommend Getting Chase Sapphire Reserve

148 | Travel Trends for 2024

147 | Top Family US Destinations for 2024 with Lesli Peterson of 365 Atlanta Traveler

146 | Top International Destinations for 2024

145 | My 2023 Travel Rewards Savings Round-Up: 10 Free Trips to 8 Destinations

144 | How to Make Traveling the World Your Way of Life With Caroline Makepeace

143 | Using Your Points However You Want With Pam Howard

142 | The 1 Mistake 99 Percent of Travel Hackers Make

141 | Are You "Under" Traveling?

140 | Talking Travel Rewards With Brad Barrett of Choose FI

139 | My No 1 Airline Hack Revealed

138 | How to Keep Traveling When the Budget Is Tight

137 | The Latest on Maui Travel With Leanne Pletcher of Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau

136 | Why I Love the Chase Ink Business Cards

135 | Why No Assigned Seats Is Not as Bad as You Think

134 | Earning a Southwest Companion Pass for 2024-2025: What You Need to Know

133 | Success Story: How to Save $20,000 Flying Free for Travel Sports with Travis Boland

132 | Last-Minute Getaways Using Points

131 | Why You Need to Have Emergency Points

130 | Using Travel Rewards vs Discounts to Save as Much as Possible on Your Disney Vacation

129 | There's No Right Way to Use Your Points

128 | Southwest Elite Status: Is It Worth It?

127 | From Overwhelmed to Confident Using Travel Rewards With Brittany Gartner

126 | My Fly Free Formula REVEALED

125 | 5 Things I Wish I Did When First Starting in Travel Rewards

124 | Flying Free on Delta and Southwest with Team Member Lisa Whitlaw

123 | Travel Hacking 101

122 | Flying Southwest & Travel Tips with Corinne Crabtree

120 | How a Travel Rewards Newbie Flew Her Family to Florida and Cancun - Case Study with Trish Harpring

The Biggest Reason to Fly for Free I Never Thought of

119 | There's Something About San Diego: My Guide to This SoCal Gem

118 | Say Goodbye to Travel Stress! Mastering Mindset to Enjoy Your Next Vacation With Andra Erickson

117 | Europe Is Bonkers This Summer: What You Need to Know with The Tour Guy's Sean Finelli

116 | $5,000 Saved on a Universal Orlando Vacation: Case Study with Katie Blumhorst

115 | Thoughts on Disney's 2023 Changes: Annual Passes, Dining Plans and More!

114 | Take Better Travel Photos with Photographer Krista Payne

113 | How and Why to Create Flexible Travel Plans

112 | What to Do If You're Declined for a Credit Card

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