How to Money Podcast: "Families Fly Free w/ Lyn Mettler (Bestie Ep) #1079"

Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Joel and Matt
Guest: Lyn Mettler (Families Fly Free)

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Joel and Matt sit down with Lyn Mettler, creator of Families Fly Free, travel journalist, and expert on scoring free family travel through strategic use of travel rewards. Lyn shares her simplified system that enables her own family—and hundreds of others—to vacation up to six times a year for a fraction of the usual cost. The conversation demystifies travel rewards, provides actionable strategies for families, and offers tips to avoid common pitfalls. Whether you dream of domestic adventures or European escapes, this episode equips listeners with practical, jargon-free advice on how to make incredible travel memories without busting your budget.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lyn’s Personal Approach to Spending & Value (03:12–05:02)

• “I'm a book lover, so I don't limit my budget on book buying. But with travel, when you save on flights and hotels, you can actually splurge on other experiences you wouldn’t have considered.” – Lyn [03:36]
• Lyn emphasizes value: splurging strategically on memorable experiences made possible by saving elsewhere, like flights and hotels.
• Example: Used savings from free flights and hotels to do a private castle tour in the Loire Valley, France.

2. The Origin Story: From Couponing to Frequent Flyer Aficionado (05:09–07:02)

• Lyn was inspired by a couple flying globally on points—not by buying tickets, but by earning miles via credit cards and daily spending.
• Saw parallels with couponing: “It's kind of like couponing, you're collecting miles just like you're collecting coupons, but with way bigger rewards.” – Lyn [05:27]
• Developed her family’s travel-for-free system over several years, focusing on simplicity and maximum return.

3. Family Travel: Achievements & Memories (07:40–09:27)

• Over 8 years, Lyn’s family of four has taken six free trips annually to a range of destinations—U.S. national parks, Disney, Caribbean, and Europe.
• “I always encourage people to do it while your kids are at home—make those memories when you’re all together.” – Lyn [07:54]
• Abroad: Took her family to Paris and Italy; highlighted the power of giving kids real-world context for what they study in school.

4. Travel Rewards Without Damage to Your Credit (09:43–12:46)

• Simplicity and Responsibility: Lyn is against juggling a wallet full of cards and stresses responsible use (always pay balances in full).
• Suggests using only a couple of key cards for everyday spending.
  • “Credit cards are just neutral. That’s how we use them, that's good or bad.” – Lyn [12:11]
• Debunks "credit cards are bad" dogma; instead, recommends smart, regular pay-off to avoid debt.
• Tip: Use the card like a debit—pay off purchases immediately to avoid end-of-month surprises.

5. Travel Cards vs. Cash Back (12:46–14:47)

• Travel cards preferred for travelers: Points can yield far more value than cash-back cards for trips.
  • “You can't compare $2,000 cash back to $8,000 saved on travel you wouldn’t have done otherwise!” – Lyn [13:14]
• For most, a single travel card for all expenses is the simplest and most effective strategy.
• Flexibility and ease trump maximizing every single category bonus.

6. Lyn's Three-Card System for Free Family Travel (15:15–16:57, 27:25–30:25)

• Step 1 & 2: Start with TWO Southwest cards to unlock the Southwest Companion Pass (lets you bring someone free on every flight for almost two years).
  • “The Companion Pass is the best thing going to eliminate the cost of one member of your family for every flight.” – Lyn [16:19]
• Step 3: One flexible travel card, like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture X, for everyday spending and non-Southwest travel.
  • These earn transferable points that can be used for a variety of bookings, providing both max value and booking flexibility.

7. Maximizing Southwest Rewards & Comparison to Other Airlines (16:05–22:25, 19:26)

• Companion pass vastly superior to similar perks from Delta (which is one-use only; Southwest’s is unlimited during the period).
• Favorite Southwest perks:
  • Cheap points flights (sometimes 3,000–5,000 points round trip! [18:20])
  • Free changes and cancellations on point bookings—the points simply revert to your account.
• Advice: Be flexible with destinations and dates to maximize point value.

8. Credit Card Tips: Authorized Users, Churning, and Sign-Up Bonuses (33:19–35:29)

• Avoid treating rewards as a “part-time job” or “churning” (constantly opening/closing accounts).
• Don’t add spouse/partner as authorized user—instead, have them sign up separately in future for bigger bonuses and flexibility.
  • Chase’s “5/24 rule” means opening store cards can count against you [36:11].
• Accumulate via initial bonuses + consistent everyday spending.

9. Small Business Cards: Who Qualifies and Why They're Useful (37:56–40:16)

• Even side gigs (Etsy, eBay, rentals, etc.) qualify you for business cards—don’t think you need to be an LLC!
• Business card accounts expand your total points earning and help with the Companion Pass.
  • “Opening your mind to business cards unlocks a lot of savings.” – Lyn [39:14]

10. Destination Strategy: Letting Deals Drive Your Travel (22:25, 51:34)

• Be flexible—let cheap point deals dictate destinations and dates rather than set-in-stone plans.
• Look for where “everyone else isn’t going.” E.g.: visit national parks in early spring vs. expensive beach spring breaks [52:25].

11. Free (or Nearly Free) Disney Vacations (41:13–44:09)

• Used Capital One Venture X to erase Disney park tickets and even meals by buying through third-party travel agencies (to classify as “travel” spend for point redemptions).
  • “You can literally do Disney for free now, start to finish—including meals.” – Lyn [43:09]
• Ongoing deals: Disney vacations during off-peak for up to 35% off via direct booking.

12. Hotels, Airbnbs, and Alternative Lodging (53:14–55:34)

• Use flexible cards (e.g. Capital One Venture) to “erase” all sorts of travel purchases, including Airbnbs and some VRBO stays (if coded as “travel”).
• Timeshare rentals: direct arrangements (via groups, FB pages, or referrals) better value than using middleman sites.
• Realistic expectations: Easier to fly free more often than to get totally free hotel stays for every trip.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It's kind of like couponing, but with way better rewards." – Lyn [05:27]
• "The Companion Pass is just hands-down the best deal out there... Unlimited free flights for your companion!" – Lyn [16:19]
• “I wish people would stop thinking ‘credit cards are bad’—they’re just a tool. It's how you use them that matters.” – Lyn [12:11]
• “You can't compare $2,000 cash back to $8,000 of travel you never thought possible.” – Lyn [13:14]
• “Don’t add your spouse as an authorized user; you want them to get their own card, their own bonus two years later!” – Lyn [35:29]
• “If you can be a little flexible about where and when you go, you’ll pay way less in points or dollars.” – Joel [22:25]
• “Don’t just chase bonuses or sign up for every high offer—you need a strategy. That’s how it becomes overwhelming.” – Lyn [56:37]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:12 Lyn’s “craft beer equivalent”—where she splurges and her value philosophy
• 05:09 Why she started “travel hacking” (from couponing to points)
• 07:40 Lyn’s family travel milestones—favorite destinations
• 09:43 Credit card risks, managing credit, keeping it simple
• 12:46 Travel cards vs cash back: why points win for travelers
• 15:15 Lyn’s three-card method: Southwest + flexible travel card
• 19:26 Southwest's unique features vs other airlines
• 22:25 Letting deals drive your destination; flexibility matters
• 27:25 Revisiting the three-card system; which specific cards to pick
• 33:19 Signup bonuses, churning, and why to avoid adding spouse as user
• 37:56 Small business credit cards and who qualifies
• 41:13 Disney vacations: how to do it for (almost) free
• 51:34 Trends in travel deals: U.S., Europe, Caribbean
• 53:14 Staying in hotels vs. Airbnbs; maximizing flexibility
• 55:34 Alternative lodging (timeshares, direct deals)
• 56:22 Common mistakes & pitfalls: the need for a plan

Biggest Mistakes Travelers Make

Common pitfalls Lyn highlights:

• Chasing card bonuses/“shiny offers” without a specific travel plan/goal.
• Putting all spending on an airline-specific card versus a flexible points card.
• Overcomplicating things with too many cards, losing track and getting overwhelmed.
• Skipping the fine print on rewards restrictions and application timing.

Final Takeaways

• Keep rewards travel simple. One or two carefully chosen credit cards can achieve 80% of your goals.
• Southwest Companion Pass is the secret weapon for free family travel—especially if you can plan to earn nearly two years' worth at once.
• Be flexible and opportunistic: let deals guide trip timing and destinations.
• Responsible credit management is key: Always pay your cards off in full, and don’t use the system if you’re at risk of debt.
• Have a plan: Don’t chase offers or stack cards without knowing how they fit your personal travel goals.
• Almost anyone with a side hustle can open a business card for even better rewards—don't miss out on this angle!

Where to Find Lyn

• Website: familiesflyfree.com
• Instagram & YouTube: @familiesflyfree

In the Words of the Hosts

“My big takeaway: pick a system, keep it simple. Chase the Companion Pass... and use one or two flexible cards for everything else. You'll look back and wonder why you waited so long to start.” – Matt [58:29/60:35]