Families Fly Free With Lyn Mettler

Lyn Mettler
  • 3.9 (127)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Travel rewards doesn't have to be overwhelming and it can work for entire families! In the Families Fly Free podcast, hosted by longtime travel journalist Lyn Mettler, you'll learn how to simply and easily fly your whole family for free using travel rewards and with minimal cards in your wallet. Lyn has taught nearly 1,000 families a simple, repeatable process to always have enough miles to fly wherever you'd like, so you can make more memories with your family before your kids or grandkids leave home.

  1. 208 | Travel During Your "Go-Go" Years: Success Story with Bret Crawford

    FEB 3

    208 | Travel During Your "Go-Go" Years: Success Story with Bret Crawford

    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 Die with Zero 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. In this episode, Bret shares: Booking 10-13 free trips annually (New Orleans, Los Cabos, Palm Springs, Hawaii and more!)Leveraging Hyatt points for stays in prime locationsPlanning a dream family Hawaii trip for his adult kids – paying for everyone's flights with pointsHis strategy for booking multiple options, then choosing what works best for his wife's teacher scheduleAbout Families Fly Free: 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 FamiliesFlyFree.com.

    36 min
  2. 207 | ✈️ Which Points Qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass?

    JAN 20

    207 | ✈️ Which Points Qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass?

    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: The major mistakes people make (including that Chase transfer trap)Why "bonus points" don't always mean what you thinkThe smartest, simplest path to earning the Pass—without cobbling together points from a dozen different placesHow to have a Southwest Companion Pass for nearly 2 full years (yes, really)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. Ready to master the full system? 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: https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join Got questions about Families Fly Free? 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

    12 min
  3. 206 | 🛑 6 Things Travel Rewards Enthusiasts Need to Give Up in 2026

    JAN 9

    206 | 🛑 6 Things Travel Rewards Enthusiasts Need to Give Up in 2026

    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. What you'll learn: Why constantly opening new cards needs to stop (especially with Chase's new restrictions)To pay attention to the cards that earn you the most points in every categoryTo stop wasting your spending on airline cardsHow to stop paying the listed points price for both flights and hotelsThe uncomfortable truth about lounge access for families in 2026How to simplify your approach while still meeting all your free travel goals✨ 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: 👉 Join: https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join Got questions about Families Fly Free? 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

    29 min
  4. 205 | 🐒 Costa Rica Case Study: How I Used Points to Save $10,000+ on Flights, Hotels & an Airbnb

    12/30/2025

    205 | 🐒 Costa Rica Case Study: How I Used Points to Save $10,000+ on Flights, Hotels & an Airbnb

    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. Here's what you'll learn: How breaking Southwest flights into segments can save you thousands of pointsThe incredible Hyatt Andaz redemption that delivered 7 cents per point in value—my best points redemption everHow to use Capital One or Chase points to cover vacation rentals and other expensesReal numbers of points paid and cash savedCritical car rental warnings for Costa Rica that could save you hundreds and major headachesIf 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. Bottom line: $10,000+ saved for an unforgettable family adventure!

    54 min
  5. 204 | ✈️ Did You Make This Common Year-End Southwest Companion Pass Mistake?

    12/19/2025

    204 | ✈️ Did You Make This Common Year-End Southwest Companion Pass Mistake?

    Did you accidentally earn your Southwest credit card bonus too early this year? You're not alone! Every year, people reach out who've made timing mistakes with their Companion Pass strategy—and it's happened more than usual in 2025 thanks to those amazing 100K+ credit card offers. In this episode, I break down exactly what went wrong, why timing matters so much at year-end, and most importantly—what you can do about it.  You'll learn: Why earning your pass in December 2025 vs. January 2026 costs you a whole year of benefitsQuick ways to finish earning the remaining points before year-end (if that makes sense for you)How to pivot your strategy to card combinations for 2026-2027Why this mistake isn't the end of the world—just a detour to Plan BIf you've been stressing about your Companion Pass timing, take a deep breath. I've got you covered!

    29 min
  6. 203 | 🛍️ How to Earn Maximum Points on Your Holiday Shopping to Fund Next Year's Travels

    12/02/2025

    203 | 🛍️ How to Earn Maximum Points on Your Holiday Shopping to Fund Next Year's Travels

    In this week's episode, I share with you all my best tips for maximizing the number of miles and points you can earn on your holiday shopping. You'll learn how to: Earn airline AND flexible points inside shopping portalsHow to earn points IN storeHow to stack points-earningHow to get EXTRA discounts on top of earning pointsHow to earn points at Amazon and TargetUse all the points you earn for your family's free travels in 2026! Happy shopping! Ready to stop wasting points and perks and make travel rewards EASY? Join Families Fly Free, my popular travel membership where I teach you my Fly Free Formula and show you a simple system to fly your whole family for free for life with the support you need for success. Stop doing it alone and join hundreds of families just like you who've saved $6 million+. Learn more at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Join.

    41 min
  7. 202 | 🛑 Stop Wasting Points & Perks: How to Do a Credit Card Audit

    11/19/2025

    202 | 🛑 Stop Wasting Points & Perks: How to Do a Credit Card Audit

    Forgetting travel credits, letting points expire, missing credit card bonuses—sound familiar? You're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing 1 simple strategy to stop leaving money on the table and start maximizing every mile and perk you already have: simplify by conducting a card audit. I'll walk you through how to decide what cards to keep, to close and to set aside, so you can take a big sigh of relief! Plus, I'm giving you my free "5 Ways to Simplify Your Travel Rewards Strategy" guide. Text SIMPLIFY to 844-403-2263 to grab it.  If you're tired of DIY-ing this alone and want a proven system that takes the guesswork out of flying free, join hundreds of families inside Families Fly Free at familiesflyfree.com/join. Because you can't recall the memories you never make...

    27 min
  8. 201 | ❤️ "You Can't Recall the Memories You Never Make": Success Story With Member Dave Banks

    11/05/2025

    201 | ❤️ "You Can't Recall the Memories You Never Make": Success Story With Member Dave Banks

    This week I’m chatting with Families Fly Free member Dave Banks—a dad of 4 from rural Oregon—who went from “credit cards are only for emergencies” to saving $2,367 on just 2 trips using my simple system. Dave shares how he and his wife flew to the Florida Keys for as low as 5,000 points each way with the Companion Pass, why the Families Fly Free Community has been the biggest surprise, and how the support inside Families Fly Free helped him go from skeptical to all-in. You’ll learn: Dave’s weekly habit that keeps spending responsible yet rewardingHow he pushed through a points hiccup and why it was worth itWhy smaller airports like Boise can still unlock big winsThe quote that guides his travel: “You can’t recall the memories you never make”Ready to make those memories with ease like Dave? Join Families Fly Free to start using miles and points with ease so you can make more family memories by flying free forever. 👉 Start here: https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join

    42 min
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3.9
out of 5
127 Ratings

About

Travel rewards doesn't have to be overwhelming and it can work for entire families! In the Families Fly Free podcast, hosted by longtime travel journalist Lyn Mettler, you'll learn how to simply and easily fly your whole family for free using travel rewards and with minimal cards in your wallet. Lyn has taught nearly 1,000 families a simple, repeatable process to always have enough miles to fly wherever you'd like, so you can make more memories with your family before your kids or grandkids leave home.

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