FAMILIES FLY FREE Private Podcast

In this session Lyn answers the following questions and more:

• Do you know what percentage of Southwest flights get modified so that we can use the hack?
• Does Southwest have good deals out of Cincinnati? 
• I've had my Chase Sapphire Preferred for more than 48 months, what do I need to do before I close the account and how soon can I reapply?
• Should I buy points when they are on sale if I don't have enough to book flights?
• What can travel credits, that credit cards give you as a benefit, be used for?
• How long should I wait between Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Preferred card applications?
• If I have a cash back offer that is offered on more than one AMEX card, can it be used for each card I hold?
• I just got the Capital One Venture X. If I am booking a hotel, how do I decide whether to put my hotel on that card, use my UR points or transfer my points to a hotel if it's a card partner?
• If I have A1-15 boarding order on Southwest, does my child get it as well?
• Can I pay for my Southwesthotels.com room with any credit card as long as I input my Rapid Rewards number for the points offered? 
• Is there a way to get credit card points from a daycare facility that doesn’t accept credit cards?
• Do you know if Capital One has a rolling schedule to get their sign up bonuses like Chase Sapphire?

Links:

• “The Hack” analysis by a FFF member
• Webinar: Parking at Airports
• Southwest Points Sale Info
• Webinar: How to Find the Best Deal on Hotels
• Course: Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Webinar: Disney Theme Park Tickets
• Plastiq
• Video: How Do I Decide if I Should Use a Credit Card to Pay for a Purchase?

Once you're flying for free and going lots of places, the ability to speed up your time in the TSA Security line and/or reduce your wait in customs returning to the US from international travel can be a great perk. In this webinar, Lisa explains the difference between TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR, and shows you the process of getting approved and gives you some free ways to get each.

Question asked in the webinar:

Q: Can you make an appointment for Enrollment on Arrival? A: No

Links:

• TSA PreCheck airports and airlines: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/map
• Create a Trusted Travel Program account at https://ttp.dhs.gov/
• Find a Global Entry EoA Location
• Find an Enrollment Center
• AppointmentScanner
• Locations with Clear Kiosks
• List of Credit Cards that reimburse for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR

Families Fly Free member Diane Francis gives an overview of Branson, Missouri, a perpetually popular destination, including how to get there flying free, where to stay, what to see and do and some recommended restaurants for dining.

Helpful Links:

33 Stellar Things to Do in St. Louis

Accommodations

• Marriott Willow Ridge Lodge
• Westgate Branson Woods Resort
• Big Cedar Lodge
• Branson, MO Getaway by Redeemed Residential Investments (Cami’s friend)
• Loose Moose Lodge on Vrbo (Member Katie Blumhorst) - Use Discount Code: LOOSEMOOSE10 for 10% off your stay (Good through 12/31/23)
• Loose Moose Lodge on AirBnB (Member Katie Blumhorst) - Use Discount Code: LOOSEMOOSE10 for 10% off your stay (Good through 12/31/23)

Attractions

• Sight & Sound Theater
• Silver Dollar City
• Branson Landing
• Dick’s Five and Dime Store
• Titanic Museum
• Table Rock Dam
• Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery - currently under renovations until 2025
• Branson Scenic Railway
• Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
• Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail
• Top of the Rock
• College of the Ozarks Keeter Center

Restaurants

• Tall Tales Bar and Grill
• Finley Farms
• College of the Ozarks
• Pickin Porch Grill
• Mel’s Hard Luck Diner
• Chateau Grille
• Clocker’s Cafe
• Farmhouse Restaurant
• White River Fish House
• Oscar’s Famous Ribs
• Lambert’s Cafe - “home of the throwed roll” 

Lyn shares the pluses and minuses of visiting this group of islands in the Caribbean, along with how to fly there for free, where to stay, what to see and do and recommended dining. She also shares her top tips after visiting in winter 2023.

Links:

• Turks & Caicos Tourism Bureau
• Sailaway Cottages Vacation Rentals (where Lyn stayed)
• TCI Ferry
• Lady Grace Catamaran
• Skypass Caribbean Service to Bypass Customs/Security
• TripAdvisor Providenciales Crime Forum
• VIDEO: Grand Cayman: What to See and Do & Where to Stay

Lyn and DVC-owning Families Fly Free member Paula Yole answer DVC questions and share the latest DVC news. Lyn also recaps her attendance at DVC Moonlight Magic at Epcot in February and explains the process of getting into one of these coveted events.

Links:

• Disney Vacation Club $500 off Members' Link
• VIDEO: Disney Vacation Club Explained: Members Panel
• DVC Moonlight Magic Info Page
• Moonlight Magic 2023 Dates:
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios®: 5/11, 9/13
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park: 7/11, 8/2
  • Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: 5/23, 8/23
• DVC Member Benefits
• Top of the World Lounge
• Buy DVC Resale Through Fidelity
• DVC 2024 Points Charts
• DVC One-Time Use Points Explained
• Current Buy Direct From Disney Offers
• Rent FFF Members' DVC points
• DVC Resource Tip Sheet
• VIDEO: How to DVC for Free
• VIDEO: Lyn's Personal DVC Strategy

In this session Lyn answers these questions:

• Is it possible to earn a Companion Pass that would start on January 1?
• Does the Capital One Venture X card bonus go up and down?
• Should I buy a Wanna Get Away Plus fare to try to use same day flight changes to get the better flight times?
• How does getting Southwest points back work exactly? Does it have to go down on both ways to get points back?
• How long does it take to get referral points on a credit card?
• Are the Priority pass benefits different between the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X?
• Can I use the Southwest app to add my companion?
• What hotel card would you recommend I add?
• Can I book a hotel through Southwesthotels.com on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card or should I use my Southwest card?

Links:

• Small Business Card Application Tip Sheet
• VIDEO: How to Get Enough Points to Book a Hyatt All Inclusive
• VIDEO: Everything You Need to Know About Capital One Venture X
• VIDEO: Lyn's Fly Free Formula
• VIDEO: How to Decide If I Should Use a Credit Card to Pay for a Purchase (like taxes)

Confused about your options to get an earlier boarding order on Southwest? Cami reviews all the options currently available, the different ways to get them and why it's harder than ever to get an earlier boarding order on Southwest.

Links:

• Southwest Fare Type and Benefits
• A-List and A-List Preferred Benefits
• Upgraded A1-15 Boarding
• EarlyBird Check-In
• How to AUTOMATE Southwest Flight Check In
• The Art of Travel Hacking blog
• Southwest Boarding Process
• Southwest Check-In Checklist

Lyn shares some additional steps you can take beyond flying free to:

1) Stay free in hotels

2) Earn some premium travel perks

3) Use points to book one-of-a-kind experiences

Related Resources:

COURSE: How to Stay Free in Hotels (5 modules)

COURSE: Chase Ultimate Rewards

LIST (PDF): Cards That Reimburse for TSA Precheck/Global Entry

WEBINAR: Should You Get TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or CLEAR? (Video, 30 minutes)

ARTICLE: How to Use Southwest Points to Participate in Amazing Events

WEBINAR: Getting Started With Travel Credit Cards (Video, 41 minutes)

WEBINAR: How to Pick Your Next Travel Credit Card (Video, 26 minutes)

WEBINAR: Understanding the Chase 5/24 Rule (Video, 40 minutes)

Lyn explains her 6-step system for paying the lowest points price for a Southwest flight so you can stretch the points you've earned as far as possible to take as many flights with your family as you can. She also reviews how to save on flights outside of Southwest, such as those to Europe.

Here are key areas of information to help you save on flights inside the Families Fly Free program.

You will find most listed under Southwest Airlines/Updates.

• Latest Southwest Sale Details & Analysis
• Best Ways to Earn Southwest & Chase Ultimate Rewards Points This Month
• Next Southwest Flight Release
• Current Southwest Credit Card Offers
• Current Chase Ultimate Rewards Card Offers
• Get Organized Miles & Points Toolkit

Related Information:

WEBINAR: How to Save on Southwest Fares (67 minutes)

 WEBINAR: How to Change Southwest Flights Webinar (37 minutes)

Lyn explains the key to her simple process: using the right card for your everyday spending and outlines some of our favorite everyday spending cards.

MORE RESOURCES:

• Introduction to Chase Ultimate Rewards (Video, 47 minutes)
• Everything You Wanted to Know About Chase Sapphire Preferred (Video, 26 minutes)
• How to Stay Free in Hotels (5-Module Course)
• Should you get TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or CLEAR? (Video, 30 minutes)
• How to Find the Best Flights to Europe including using Capital One Venture X (Article & Video, 60 minutes)
• Capital One Venture X
• Apply for Travel Cards (thanks for using our links for your applications!)