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 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 smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less.

👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com for guides, resources and insider advice.

Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 133: $20,000 Saved Flying Free for Travel Sports with Travis Boland
• Episode 127: From Overwhelmed to Confident Using Travel Rewards With Brittany Gartner
• Episode 99: But I Like Delta Better... What You're Saying No to When You Choose Another Airline Over Southwest

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

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 way that’s in YOUR best interest.

✨ 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 smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less.

👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com for guides, resources and insider advice.

Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 167: Maximizing Travel Rewards Efficiency with Jon Gombola
• Episode 126: My Fly Free Formula Revealed
• Episode 103: 5 Ways to Simplify Your Travel Rewards Strategy
• Episode 68: Stop Applying for Too Many Travel Cards - There’s a Much Simpler Way
• Episode 31: The Top 10 Mistakes People Make Flying Free
• Episode 11: The ONE Airline Perk That Makes Flying Free Easy for Families

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

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 smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less.

👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com for guides, resources and insider advice.

Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263.

Related Episodes:

• PODCAST #80: Chasing FI? An Inspiring Story of Flying Free While Achieving Financial Independence
• PODCAST #140: Talking Travel Rewards With Brad Barrett of Choose FI
• PODCAST #107: Feel Like You’ve Mastered Travel Rewards? Why Trevor & Jen Fiore Say, Like Them, You Probably Haven’t 
• PODCAST #110: Retired by 50 and Traveling the World with Chris Pisciotta
• PODCAST #138: How to Keep Traveling When the Budget Is Tight

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

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 insider travel know-how to help you fly smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less.

👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com for guides, resources and insider advice.

Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263.

Links and Resources:

• PODCAST #132: Last Minute Getaways Using Points
• PODCAST #129: There's No Right Way to Use Your Points 
• PODCAST #143: Using Your Points However You Want With Pam Howard
• PODCAST #131: Why You Need to Have Emergency Points
• PODCAST #86: All About Capital One Venture X
• REGISTER --> How to Fly MORE in 2025 Using FEWER Points Free Webinar, Jan. 15 or 16: https://familiesflyfree.com/2025webinar
• How to Leave a Podcast Review: FamiliesFlyFree.com/Review
• Join the Families Fly Free Email List: FamiliesFlyFree.com/Email
• Learn more about Capital One Venture X: FamiliesFlyFree.com/CapitalOnePodcast

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

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 stories on YouTube.com/FamiliesFlyFree.

✨ 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 smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less.

👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com for guides, resources and insider advice.

Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263.

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

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 you need to prepare for in 2025. Don't miss this episode if you'll be traveling in the coming year!

Download my free Google Flights Tip Sheet at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/googleflights

✨ 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 smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less.

👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com for guides, resources and insider advice.

Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263.

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

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 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 smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less.

👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com for guides, resources and insider advice.

Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263.

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

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 trips to Grand Cayman, Hawaii, Aruba and more.

Get access to Jon's secret of success: the Families Fly Free membership. Learn more at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join

Get on our email list to get travel-saving tips every week at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/email

Hear more travel rewards success stories on YouTube.com/FamiliesFlyFree.

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 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

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 episode, I share my thoughts and analysis as someone who has followed Southwest for the last 10 years and worked with hundreds of families flying the airline many times each year, offering how this will impact flying for free on Southwest.

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