How My Family of 6 Flies for (Almost) Free Using Points
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
“How Are Families Affording Flights Like This?”
If you’ve ever watched a family of six casually board a flight and thought, How in the world are they affording that?, you’re not alone. A few years ago, I had the exact same question. Flights for one person are expensive enough—but five or six? Forget it.
And yet… my family has flown to places like Hawaii, Boston, California, and Europe—all using points. The truth? It’s not magic. It’s just learning how to actually earn and use points the smart way.
If you’re new to this world, don’t miss my Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles. It breaks down everything you need to know to get started the right way (and avoid the mistakes I made early on).
What Most People Get Wrong About Points
Most people assume you need a million miles to book even one flight. Or that you can only use your points on the airline that issued them. Or that award travel is always a rip-off.
And while I get where that mindset comes from (because I used to believe all of it), the truth is: your points can go much further than you think when you know how to play the game.
The Secret? Flexible Points + Transfer Partners
The real key is earning flexible points that can be transferred to different airline partners for better deals. When you stick with just one airline’s program, you’re locked into whatever pricing they give you. But when you use flexible currencies, you can take advantage of some amazing sweet spots—like booking Delta flights with Virgin Atlantic miles or using Turkish miles for cheap United flights.
If that last sentence made your head spin a little, don’t worry. This article might help explain it a little better.
Our Family's Strategy: Earning Big, Redeeming Smart
Here’s what our points strategy looks like behind the scenes:
We prioritize cards with large welcome bonuses—that’s the fastest way to rack up points for multiple tickets.
We use business credit cards (yes, even with side hustles like selling on Facebook Marketplace!) to earn even more. Here's how to know if you qualify: Can You Get a Business Credit Card With a Side Hustle?
We earn points that let us transfer to airline programs like Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, or Turkish Airlines.
And when the airline allows it, we pool our points between family members to make redemptions go further.
Want to know the cards I’ve used most for this? Here’s a list of travel cards I recommend for earning flexible points.
My Go-To Points (and Why I Separate Them)
I personally lean on my favorite bank’s points almost exclusively for hotel stays. Affiliate rules prevent me from mentioning the bank name specifically, but you can find their card here.
I personally save my American Express points for flights. Why? Because AMEX is known for offering transfer bonuses a little more frequently, and I also use Rakuten to earn even more points through everyday online shopping.
(If you want to know how to pick the best shopping portal for you, check out this post).
If you’re wondering where exactly to start, I share some of my favorite family flight redemptions in this post on how we booked a week in Hawaii with points. You’ll see how we combined flexible points, airline partner tricks, and the Companion Pass to make it happen.
Why I Focus on Southwest
Southwest is my go-to for domestic travel and the Caribbean. The biggest reason? The Companion Pass, which lets one person fly free with you for the life of the pass.
To earn it, you need to hit 125,000 Southwest points in a calendar year. The easiest way is by stacking two welcome bonuses (see a list of cards here). From there, you’ll have the pass AND the points to book your crew.
We’ve flown across the country using this strategy, and one of us always flies free.
Add a Few Smart Travel Habits
Combined Business/Leisure Travel – If you or your partner travel for work, consider tagging along and turning it into a family weekend.
Long Layovers = Bonus Trips – Booking two one-way tickets with a stopover can sometimes cost no more than a single flight. Instead of rushing through the layover, spend two days in a new city!
A Few Travel Must-Haves for Flying with Kids
A solid points strategy is only part of the equation—having the right gear for the airport and plane matters, too. These are a few of the things that make our travel days so much smoother:
Our go-to kids carry-ons are the perfect size for planes and hold up well—even when my kids are dragging them across cobblestone streets in Europe.
We always pack these kid-friendly headphones—they're durable, affordable, and volume-limited for safety.
And for long flights? I grab these inexpensive tablets just for plane rides. No stress if they break or get lost, and I load them up with downloaded shows and audiobooks before we leave.
Want to Learn More?
Want to earn more points for your next family trip?
Make sure to sign up for my weekly email where I share current deals, booking tips, and favorite redemptions.
You can also join our private Facebook group or follow along on Instagram—I share tips, deals, and behind-the-scenes peeks at how we make it all work.
Ready to Start Earning Points?
If you’re ready to dive in, start by checking out my favorite cards for beginners or take a look at my go-to business card picks.
You can fly a big family for nearly free. It just takes the right strategy—and maybe a few fewer toys at Christmas.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers
