Families Fly Free With Lyn Mettler

Lyn Mettler
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  • PLACES & TRAVEL
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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. 201 | ❤️ "You Can't Recall the Memories You Never Make": Success Story With Member Dave Banks

    2D AGO

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

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  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

    43 min
  2. 200 | 🕵️‍♀️ The Southwest Scoop: Boarding Shake-up, Assigned Seat Drama & Gate Quotas

    OCT 24

    200 | 🕵️‍♀️ The Southwest Scoop: Boarding Shake-up, Assigned Seat Drama & Gate Quotas

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  Staying successful with Southwest means keeping up with nonstop change — and that’s where I come in. In this episode I break down the latest boarding scoop from the Wall Street Journal and everything else they've announced in the last few months. I discuss the simple way to avoid paid seat headaches — lost seats on changes, messy expiring credits and poor points-plus-cash value — by booking in points and using the right Southwest card so you get an assigned seat without paying extra. I round things out with some good news:  free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members starting today!new aircraft featuresnew routes like Alaska and the CaribbeanPlus, I share what we do and don’t know yet about the Southwest Companion Pass for next year. Want real-time answers to change in the travel rewards industry and a plan that fits your family's travel style? Join Families Fly Free for my simple Fly Free Formula, personal support and up-to-the-minute guidance — the price increases October 29. Get started at FamiliesFlyFree.com/join 🧳✈️ Related Episodes: 199 |❓Your Families Fly Free & Travel Rewards Questions Answered by Members: Open House Replay193 | 🎯 Southwest Changes Simplified: New Fares, Assigned Seats, Bag Fees - Oh My! 186 | New Rules, Same Free Perks? How to Outsmart Southwest’s Changes

    28 min
  3. 199 |❓Your Families Fly Free & Travel Rewards Questions Answered by Members: Open House Replay

    OCT 16

    199 |❓Your Families Fly Free & Travel Rewards Questions Answered by Members: Open House Replay

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  ❓Got questions about how Families Fly Free can help your family travel to more places using miles and points BEFORE the price goes up soon? In this episode, I share a replay of a recent 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Families Fly Free Open House with 4 current members on hand to answer attendees' questions honestly and directly. We had a HUGE turnout and so many great questions AND answers from our amazing members. Some of the questions included: Do I have to have a Southwest Companion Pass to get my value from the membership? (Answer: No ;-) - 2 of our panelists don't even have one!)Do I have to spend a lot of money on credit cards to earn all these points?Does it involve closing and opening a lot of credit cards?Does it work for international travel?Do I always have to fly Southwest?Is it worth it to pay the annual fees on travel cards?Is this a one-time fee or does it renew every year?And TONS more!Dive into this episode to get all your questions answered about this life-changing membership and hear how it's about so much MORE than the information that will help your family fly free in the simplest possible way. It's the people, the real-time info, the support, the continuing knowledge you gain, the hacks and the list goes on. It's everything you need to not just learn, but take action and be successful year after year. ✅ Join Families Fly Free at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Join Want an invitation to the next Open House? Get on my email or text alert list.👉 Join my email list at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Email📱 Get text alerts by texting FLYFREE to 844-403-2263 (no more than 1/week) Still have questions?Email me at info@familiesflyfree.comText them to me at 844-403-2263

    1h 11m
  4. 198 | 🤷‍♀️ What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting Travel Rewards Today

    OCT 8

    198 | 🤷‍♀️ What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting Travel Rewards Today

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  If I had to start from zero with travel rewards today, here’s exactly what I’d do — and what I’d skip.  Fresh off a Families Fly Free member meetup in California wine country 🍷, I’m sharing the simple, real-time strategy my Families Fly Free members use to keep flying free without juggling 20 cards or chasing outdated advice. You’ll learn why narrowing your focus is the fastest win: master flying free first, stick to one flexible ecosystem (hello, Chase), fly one primary airline (yes, Southwest still works when you know how) ✈️ and skip high-fee lounge cards and hotel cards until year two. I’ll show you how “simple equals successful” and: Which cards to actually put your spending onHow to adapt to airline changes without paying moreWhy you can stop nickel-and-diming every little credit. If you’re overwhelmed or short on time but want to travel more for less, this is your roadmap 🎯. Interested in Families Fly Free? Attend my Open House on Zoom on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 2pm ET, 1pm CT, Noon MT 11am PST and hear from current members, learn more about membership and ask your questions live! Register at FamiliesFlyFree.com/OpenHouse. Families Fly Free is where I walk beside you — with live Q&As, texting, small groups and 1:1 support — so you stay current as things change. The price is going up soon, so now’s the moment to jump in and lock it in: FamiliesFlyFree.com/join.

    43 min
  5. 197 | 🏨 The Truth About Booking Hotels Through Travel Portals

    SEP 24

    197 | 🏨 The Truth About Booking Hotels Through Travel Portals

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  Booking hotels through travel portals can be a brilliant points-saver, but there are also downsides to booking this way. In this episode I break down when portals like Chase Travel and Capital One beat transferring points to Marriott, Hilton or IHG, the risks of these bookings and the simple steps I teach my Families Fly Free members to mitigate any issues. We’ll also cover the powerful Hyatt exception—why transferring Chase points to Hyatt often costs fewer points and avoids third-party headaches—plus real stories from listeners and my own trips. You’ll learn: Why to compare portal prices vs. transfers in 2 minutes and pick the cheaper optionThe biggest pitfalls with third-party hotel bookings and how to avoid themMy confirm-confirm-confirm, validate-validate-validate strategyWhy Hyatt is the go-to sweet spot for fewer points and direct-booking peace of mindWant my swipe files, step-by-step Stay Free Formula™ and real-time help and community support as things keep changing? Join Families Fly Free to stretch your points further with fewer cards and less hassle, so your family can make more travel memories together: https://www.FamiliesFlyFree.com/join

    17 min
  6. 196 | 💳 Capital One Venture X Is Ending THIS Popular Perk Soon; What You Need to Know

    SEP 16

    196 | 💳 Capital One Venture X Is Ending THIS Popular Perk Soon; What You Need to Know

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  Capital One Venture X is changing this popular perk that made it one of my favorite travel cards! Find out what's changing and WHEN and my strategy for what to do next... To stay on top of the lastest and ever-changing strategies in the world of travel rewards + learn my simple Fly Free Formula, join me inside of my hallmark Families Fly Free membership. Learn more at https://www.familiesflyfree.com/join RELATED EPISODES:87 | The Chase 5/24 Rule Explained86 | All About Capital One Venture X

    23 min
  7. 195 | 😱 Is This the End of Travel Rewards as We Know It? 5 Things You Need to Know

    SEP 9

    195 | 😱 Is This the End of Travel Rewards as We Know It? 5 Things You Need to Know

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  Is this the end of travel rewards as we know it? 😱 Staying successful with miles and points in 2025 means keeping up with nonstop change — and that’s where I come in. In this episode I break down the biggest shifts I’m seeing right now from banks tightening approvals to pricey lounge access to Southwest’s new complexities — and offer 5 things you need to know as a result to keep flying free. I’ve spent 10+ years in this space and coach hundreds of families day in and day out, so you’ll hear the simple, real-time strategies that are actually working today 🔄. Listen in to learn: How to adjust when banks tighten, bonuses become limited and fees increaseWhich cards to keep vs cutHow to shift your strategy so continual card bonuses aren't necessary (because that's no longer going to work!)If you want ongoing, up-to-the-minute guidance you can trust — plus monthly live Q&As, real-time community-tested tips, and my step-by-step Fly Free Formula™ — join my Families Fly Free membership. I stay on top of the changes so you don’t have to 🧠. Ready to simplify and always travel free? Join at FamiliesFlyFree.com/join. Related Episodes: 193 | 🎯 Southwest Changes Simplified: New Fares, Assigned Seats, Bag Fees - Oh My! 68 | Stop Applying for Too Many Travel Cards! There's a Much Simpler Way...

    42 min
  8. 194 | 🎃 Haunted USA: Fall Trips with a Spooky Twist

    AUG 27

    194 | 🎃 Haunted USA: Fall Trips with a Spooky Twist

    🔥 Would you love to have 10,000 Southwest points FREE? Get your chance by entering to win 10,000 Southwest points through Nov. 14, 2025 as part of the Families Fly Free Southwest Points Giveaway. 1 entry per mobile number. Enter at FamiliesFlyFree.com/Win  Ready to add a little spooky fun to your travels this fall? 🎃 In this episode of the Families Fly Free podcast, I’m joined by Heather Alexander, author of Haunted USA, to uncover eerie—and family-friendly—ghost stories from all 50 states.  From haunted hotels and mysterious lighthouses to tap-dancing ghosts and legendary pirates, you’ll discover plenty of places to explore this Halloween season without the gore.  Whether you’re planning a fall getaway, looking for unique history lessons for the kids, or just love a good ghost story, this episode will spark ideas for memorable (and slightly spooky!) adventures. Want to fly free to haunted hotels or pumpkin-filled fall destinations? Join Families Fly Free and I’ll show you my simple formula to make it happen: FamiliesFlyFree.com/join Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 42: My Favorite Family Halloween Travel "Treat": Disneyland at HalloweenEpisode 43: Yikes! Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights: Your Guide From a Mom's PerspectiveEpisode 76: 5 Fun Halloween Getaways for the Spookiest Season⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thanks for leaving me a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this podcast episode! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    27 min
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3.9
out of 5
126 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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