About this episode
Doug chats with Lyn Mettler, travel rewards expert and founder of Families Fly Free/Families Travel Free. Lyn shares insights on how to maximize travel rewards, including practical tips on using programs like the Southwest Companion Pass and flexible travel cards. She also discusses upcoming changes in the airline industry, the importance of using points wisely, tips for booking flexible travel, accessing airport lounges, and potential trends in travel accommodations. Doug and Lyn also answer a few questions from the MHFI Facebook group: Questions from the Facebook group: Niel – I’m very much a travel rewards newbie, but interested in adding it to my FI repertoire in 2025. What is the biggest bang for the buck, so to speak, in terms of where to start? A Companion Pass seems like the answer for a spouse but I’m not sure how to expand from there to include more family members. Kevin – Are there websites or people that charge to take someone’s points per organization (cards, airlines, etc) and compare those to destinations we need tickets for? Say from DEN to Dublin in August. Rakesh – How to best use Capital One Venture X rewards? Chase was so much easier to use for Hyatt and United flights. This episode is brought to you by GhostBed . Doug has the GhostBed Luxe Mattress and loves it! Take the 3 minute sleep quiz to see which mattress is right for you. Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, bed frame, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI ) Save With Mint Mobile ! ( https://milehighfi.com/mint ) New customers can get 3 months of unlimited premium wireless for $15/mo. Doug’s phone bill went from $1440/yr to $360/yr for him and his wife. It’s super easy to switch and you can use your existing phone. If you use the MHFI link, it won’t cost you extra and it helps support the show. Looking for help with your estate plan? Trust & Will provides online tools for creating, you guessed it… trusts and wills. For those who don’t have any estate planning documents in place, this could be a good option to get started. We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up. Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/trustandwill Need a fee only advisor? Nectarine is a network of financial advisors where you just pay for investing & planning advice. Advisors don’t manage your money, sell products, or earn commissions. We’re affiliates so we can earn a commission if you sign up. Thanks for the support. https://milehighfi.com/nectarine Help Doug fly for free by providing support at Buy Me A Coffee . Links (*Links to Families Travel Free are affiliate links, so MHFI might get a commission if you buy something. It helps support the show.) Families Fly Free/Families Travel Free Website Podcast Get Lyn’s “5 Ways to Simplify Your Travel Rewards Strategy” Or you can check out Lyn’s system Free Download, “Google Flights Tip Sheet” Facebook YouTube Instagram EconoMe Conference Chris Hutchins/All the Hacks MHFI Facebook group Doug’s site Check out Producer Chris’s new blog: Epic Financial Journey — Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list! Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals. ** Brought To You By: The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 0:00 Introduction 8:58 Exposure to travel rewards 12:21 Question – How to get started with points? 21:45 Lyn’s approach to using rewards 26:11 Question – Can others book travel rewards for you? 29:56 Question – How to best use Capital One Venture X? 37:48 Crackdown on airline fees & delays 43:41 Lounge access 50:47 Lyn’s travel resources & membership benefits 57:58 Soundcheck – Intersection of FI & travel rewards