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:

1. My #1 strategy to beat jet lag
2. Why flexibility can be your travel superpower
3. How to stay on top of major travel news (and why it matters!)
4. When it’s worth splurging — and how to do it guilt-free
5. The mindset shift that will help you savor every moment

✨ Want to learn how we flew to London completely free using miles and points — and how you can do the same?

Inside my Families Fly Free membership, I teach a simple, proven system to fly free again and again — with personal support, exclusive travel content, and live access to me.

🎟️ Join us at FamiliesFlyFree.com/join
📬 Grab my best free travel tips at FamiliesFlyFree.com/email
❓Got questions? Email [email protected] or text 844-403-2263

RELATED EPISODES:

• Episode 28 | Oh the Places We've Gone! My Family's Top 15 Bucket List Adventures Flying Free
• Episode 32 | The Quickest Way to Learn a Language Slowly: How I'm Learning Italian Inspired By My Travels
• Episode 67 | First-Timer's Guide to Europe: Everything You Need to Know for a Smooth 1st Trip Across the Pond
• Episode 106 | Don't Make These Passport Mistakes
• Episode 117 | Europe Is Bonkers This Summer: What You Need to Know With The Tour Guy's Sean Finelli

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, I’ll show you how Costco fits into a smart travel rewards strategy.

✨ Want to learn my simple, proven system to always fly for free with miles and points — without overwhelm?

Inside the Families Fly Free membership, I’ll guide you step by step, with expert help, live Q&As, and all the travel tips you need.

✈️ Join now at FamiliesFlyFree.com/join

📬 Get my free travel tips at FamiliesFlyFree.com/email
 
Have questions? Email [email protected] or text 844-403-2263

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 flights!

💡 It’s one of my favorite creative ways to rack up rewards — and it might just change how you look at tax season.

✨ Ready to learn the full system I use to fly my family free again and again?

 Join the Families Fly Free membership and get step-by-step training, personal support, exclusive travel content, and live Q&As.

✈️ Enroll now at FamiliesFlyFree.com/join

📬 Grab my free tips at FamiliesFlyFree.com/email
 
❓Questions? Email [email protected] or text 844-403-2263

CARD AFFILIATE LINKS:
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Capital One Venture X
IHG Business Premier
Southwest Personal Cards

RESOURCES:

IRS Card Payment Options

RELATED EPISODES:

• 4 | You Can Earn Free Travel While Holiday Shopping! Here's How...
• 86  | All About Capital One Venture X
• 178 | The Benefits of Banking With Chase for Travel Rewards

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 May 28?
• Should I stop booking the cheapest Southwest fare?
• Would I get points back if I canceled a Basic fare booked with points since it’s nonrefundable?
• What does "variable points pricing" mean?
• And more!

Here is the link to Southwest's page with additional information on the changes:
https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/policy-changes

Here is a link to a YouTube video Southwest shared March 20, addressing several of these questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SUkyTdvWT8

Music Credit:
Inspiring Optimistic Upbeat Energetic Guitar Rhythm by Free Music | 
https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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 what shifts you need to make in this episode.

After recording this podcast, Southwest did confirm that they will "introduce variable redemption rates across higher-demand and lower-demand flights." My best guess is that points will be worth less for higher demand flights, pushing the points prices higher, and points will be worth more for lower demand flights, pushing the points price lower. I think it means more variability in the value of the points, so it will cost more points to book high-demand routes and less points for low-demand routes.

Music Credit:
Inspiring Optimistic Upbeat Energetic Guitar Rhythm by Free Music | 
https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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...

Want to learn my simple system to use miles and points to always fly for free and learn my clever technique to earn Southwest A-List? Come join my Families Fly Free membership, where you'll learn my expert process from my years as a travel journalist, work directly with me, receive personal support and get access to lots of great travel content and regular live webinars and Q&As. Learn more at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join

Join the Families Fly Free email list at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/email

Got questions about Families Fly Free? Email info AT familiestravelfree.com or text 844-403-2263

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 if you use travel rewards on the regular.

If you decide to open a checking account at Chase, you can use my referral link to earn $300 after making a direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 90 days. By using my referral link, you get the current bonus and you support the podcast as well -- thanks! The $300 bonus arrives in only 15 days after your deposit. Free money!

Chase Banking $300 Bonus Link → https://familiesflyfree.com/ChaseBanking

You might also like these episodes...
Episode 87 | The Chase 5/24 Rule Explained!
Episode 19 | 5 Reasons to Make Friends With Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Travel Free With Your Family
Episode 25 | Chase Sapphire Preferred, the "King" of Travel Cards: 10 Reasons to Add It to Your Wallet
Episode 59 | Funding Your Free Travels with Your Small Business
Episode 103 | 5 Ways to Simplify Your Travel Rewards Strategy

Want to learn my simple system to use miles and points to always fly for free? Come join my Families Fly Free membership, where you'll learn my expert process, receive personal support and get access to lots of great travel content and regular live webinars and Q&As. Learn more at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join

Join the Families Fly Free email list at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/email

Got questions about Families Fly Free? Email info AT familiestravelfree.com or text 844-403-2263

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.

Want to learn my simple system to use miles and points to always fly for free? Come join my Families Fly Free membership, where you'll learn my expert process, receive personal support and get access to lots of great travel content and regular live webinars and Q&As. Learn more at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join

Join the Families Fly Free email list at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/email

Got questions about Families Fly Free? Email info AT familiestravelfree.com or text 844-403-2263

Related Episodes:

• Episode 143 | Using Your Points However You Want With Pam Howard 
• Episode 39 | How to Shift From a Vacation Mindset to a Year-Round Travel Mindset
• Episode 103 | How to Simplify Your Travel Rewards Strategy
• Episode 31 | Top 10 Mistakes People Make Flying Free
• Episode 38 | 5 Priceless Reasons to Start Traveling More With Your Kids
• Episode 63 | Yes! You Can Fly Free Around School Schedules

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.

Want to learn my simple system to use miles and points to always fly for free? Come join my Families Fly Free membership, where you'll learn my expert process, receive personal support and get access to lots of great travel content and regular live webinars and Q&As. Learn more at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join

Join the Families Fly Free email list at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/email

Got questions about Families Fly Free? Email info AT familiestravelfree.com or text 844-403-2263

LINKS:

• Download my free Southwest Companion Pass ebook: https://www.familiesflyfree.com/CompanionPass
• Follow along with Southwest's changes: https://www.southwest.com/customer-enhancements/ 
• How to add your Southwest account # to your Icelandair reservation: https://www.southwest.com/icelandair/

RELATED EPISODES:

• BONUS Episode | Is Southwest's Surprise Reduction in Points Earned on Flights a Big Deal?
• Episode 179 | Southwest Airlines Ends Free Checked Bags + Other MAJOR Changes: What You Need to Know…
• Episode 165 | Southwest Just Announced These BIG Changes: My Thoughts and Analysis

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 most affordably.

Resources:
Capital One Venture X referral link - https://familiestravelfree.com/capitalonepodcast
Chase Sapphire Reserve affiliate link - https://familiestravelfree.com/ReservePodcast
Capital One Lounges

AMEX Lounge Search

Chase Sapphire Lounges

Want to learn my simple system to use miles and points to always fly for free? Come join my Families Fly Free membership, where you'll learn my expert process, receive personal support and get access to lots of great travel content and regular live webinars and Q&As. Learn more at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join

Join the Families Fly Free email list at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/email

Got questions about Families Fly Free? Email info AT familiestravelfree.com or text 844-403-2263