Advertise on podcast: Families Fly Free With Lyn Mettler

Well everyone. Southwest has finally cut out the last thing that I think was keeping its loyal followers hanging on: the Southwest Companion Pass, something I have said was the best deal in travel for the last 10 years. As of January 1, they are changing how you earn it, and I’m here to tell you that with those changes: the Southwest Companion Pass is NO LONGER A GOOD DEAL. Yes, I said it and it’s a sad day indeed: Synonara Southwest Companion Pass. I detail everything in the live video above and answer many, many questions from viewers about Southwest’s October 15 announcement, which Southwest plays as “great news” and “much simpler” when in fact it’s a huge devaluing and WAY more complicated. I also share clarification on some confusing wording on their page announcing the changes that I was able to confirm DIRECTLY with Southwest Airlines via my sources there. Essentially, you have to spend $140,000 on a Southwest card in one year in order to get the same unlimited, 2-year Companion Pass they offer today. I will never recommend anyone do that. A Southwest card is not a good place to put your spending, and even IF you could spend that much (I could not!), it would take you the better part of a year, leaving you with a Companion Pass that’s only good until the following year. And to keep it ongoing, you’d need to spend that amount EVERY year. No thanks, Southwest. I’m moving on. And I’m hugely disappointed in this change. I know how to play the miles and points game, and I’m just going to start paying points for my Companion after I no longer have my current Companion Pass. Southwest wants you to spend on their card. I’m too smart for that and I want to make sure you are too. I’m putting my spend on a flexible card. I’m also going to start looking at other airlines and comparing their points prices. Without the Companion Pass, other airlines are now fair game. All that said, there IS still time to get a Companion Pass in hand the CURRENT, MUCH EASIER WAY by only spending $4,000-$5,000 of your everyday spend instead of $140,000. You’ll need to open 2 Southwest cards by year’s end, meet the minimum spends on both BEFORE your December close date, in order to get 2 points bonuses that together accrue 135,000+ Companion Pass qualifying points and enough to secure a Companion Pass good through Dec. 31, 2027. Yes, it’s possible; you just need to know what you’re doing! While this is MUCH simpler, it’s still complicated with the timing and Southwest’s many rules and regulations. You need someone to make sure you get this right because it’s the LAST TIME TO EVER GET THIS A COMPANION PASS WITH SO LITTLE SPEND. Did you hear that? This is the LAST GREAT COMPANION PASS. Get one and make the most of it in 2027! I currently have availability to help 10 (and only 10!) additional people within my small, private Families Fly Free Elite Travel Club, which I closed earlier this year. In the Club: * You work directly with me on your miles and points strategy, including earning the Southwest Companion Pass, via live Q&As, webinars, direct email and text and private Zoom consults * You are part of a small private travel community who helps one another via our Community forum and real-time group texting * You can attend exclusive members-only trips in the US using miles and points for flights and accommodations (we just went to Portland, Oregon in September) * Get all the latest travel news you need to know like how to best execute on getting a Southwest Companion Pass through 2027 in light of the changes * Learn how to maximize flying Southwest Airlines, fly free to Europe and stay free at hotels and Airbnbs * You can access my on-demand travel content library and destination itineraries I keep this club private and small so I personally know, and can work with, everyone. I can only take 10 people, and I don’t know when or if I will be able to open it again based on availability. If you want to be sure you get the LAST EVER Southwest Companion Pass (which I value at more than $6,000), navigate card declines, etc., I encourage you to grab a spot ASAP so I can help you. Securing a Companion Pass by itself is worth the cost to join, not to mention all the other benefits. If spots remain on Monday, I will be opening it to my tens of thousands of followers. Stay tuned for additional insight and analysis of Southwest's changes. Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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. Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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. Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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! Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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! Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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. Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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... Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

❓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 [email protected] Text them to me at 844-403-2263 Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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. Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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 Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe

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 Explained 86 | All About Capital One Venture X Get full access to Secrets of a Travel Journalist at lynmettler.substack.com/subscribe