Families Fly Free

<p>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 fly to California for "lunch" and to take her daughter on a flight just to try on a wedding dress. What's her secret sauce? Listen to the episode to find out.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://lynmettler.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">lynmettler.substack.com</a>

<p>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 <em>Die with Zero</em> convinced him to stop waiting. In his 60s, Bret's embracing the "go-go years," traveling as much as he can before he gets to the "slow-go" and then "no-go" years. Whether you're in your go-go years or approaching your no-go years, this episode is your reminder that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Start using those points and making those memories NOW.</p><p><strong>In this episode, Bret shares:</strong></p><ul><li>Booking 10-13 free trips annually (New Orleans, Los Cabos, Palm Springs, Hawaii and more!)</li><li>Leveraging Hyatt points for stays in prime locations</li><li>Planning a dream family Hawaii trip for his adult kids – paying for everyone's flights with points</li><li>His strategy for booking multiple options, then choosing what works best for his wife's teacher schedule</li></ul><p><strong>About Families Fly Free:</strong> Ready to stop waiting and start traveling? Families Fly Free teaches families a simple system to fly for free using travel rewards. Join our community at <a href="http://familiesflyfree.com" class="linkified" target="_blank">FamiliesFlyFree.com</a>.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://lynmettler.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">lynmettler.substack.com</a>

<p>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:</p><ul><li>The major mistakes people make (including that Chase transfer trap)</li><li>Why "bonus points" don't always mean what you think</li><li>The smartest, simplest path to earning the Pass—without cobbling together points from a dozen different places</li><li>How to have a Southwest Companion Pass for nearly 2 full years (yes, really)</li></ul><p>If you've been piecing together your Companion Pass strategy through Google searches and forum posts, this episode will save you from costly mistakes and wasted time.</p><p><strong>Ready to master the full system?</strong> Join Families Fly Free to get the complete roadmap, perfect timing strategies and step-by-step personalized guidance so you never miss out on this valuable perk: <a href="https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join" class="linkified" target="_blank">https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join</a></p><p>Got questions about Families Fly Free? Text me at 844-403-2263.</p><p><strong>Music Credit:</strong></p><p>Inspiring Optimistic Upbeat Energetic Guitar Rhythm by Free Music | <a href="https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic">https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic</a></p><p>Music promoted by<a href="https://www.free-stock-music.com/"> https://www.free-stock-music.com</a></p><p>Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License</p><p><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US</a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://lynmettler.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">lynmettler.substack.com</a>

<p>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 airline policy changes.</p><p><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>Why constantly opening new cards needs to stop (especially with Chase's new restrictions)</li><li>To pay attention to the cards that earn you the most points in every category</li><li>To stop wasting your spending on airline cards</li><li>How to stop paying the listed points price for both flights and hotels</li><li>The uncomfortable truth about lounge access for families in 2026</li><li>How to simplify your approach while still meeting all your free travel goals</li></ul><p>✨ Learn my simple, step-by-step Fly Free Formula™ for how to maximize your miles to always fly your whole family free and beyond with personal support, a customized plan and live content, along with travel inspiration in my Families Fly Free membership:</p><p>👉 Join: <a href="https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join">https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join</a></p><p><br/>Got questions about Families Fly Free? Text me at 844-403-2263.</p><p>Music Credit:</p><p>Inspiring Optimistic Upbeat Energetic Guitar Rhythm by Free Music | <a href="https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic">https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic</a></p><p>Music promoted by<a href="https://www.free-stock-music.com"> https://www.free-stock-music.com</a></p><p>Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License</p><p><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US</a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://lynmettler.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">lynmettler.substack.com</a>

<p>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.</p><p>Here's what you'll learn:</p><ul><li>How breaking Southwest flights into segments can save you thousands of points</li><li>The incredible Hyatt Andaz redemption that delivered 7 cents per point in value—my best points redemption ever</li><li>How to use Capital One or Chase points to cover vacation rentals and other expenses</li><li>Real numbers of points paid and cash saved</li><li>Critical car rental warnings for Costa Rica that could save you hundreds and major headaches</li></ul><p>If Costa Rica is on your bucket list or you want to see exactly how to maximize multiple points currencies for a trip step by step, this episode breaks it all down.</p><p><strong>Bottom line:</strong> $10,000+ saved for an unforgettable family adventure!</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://lynmettler.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">lynmettler.substack.com</a>