Last year, I booked 8 round-trip flights and only paid for one. The rest? Covered by a little-known benefit that lets a companion fly free (plus taxes) again and again. If you’ve ever wished for a way to double your travel without doubling your cost, this post is for you.

We were all waiting to see if Southwest would actually follow through on the big changes they announced—and as of today, May 28, 2025, they did.

So you’ve earned a bunch of credit card points, now what?
There are smart, flexible ways to book flights with your points, even on airlines your card doesn’t partner with.

Long flights? Road trips? Laundry that never ends? Audiobooks are one of my favorite ways to make the most of all of it—and to sneak in a little joy or inspiration during the chaos of everyday life. This list includes the audiobooks I’ve actually loved (or can’t wait to listen to). If you don’t have an Audible account yet, you can try it free here.

When we first started using points, I remember staring at our balance of 100,000 and wondering: how far can this actually take a family of six?

I had seen people use that many points for one first-class flight or two nights at a luxury hotel. But I knew there had to be a better way—especially if I wanted to stretch those points into real family vacations. And the good news? There absolutely is! We’ve used 100k points for a full week of hotel stays, roundtrip flights for four, or two rooms at a resort where my husband and I got our own room. That’s the magic of smart redemptions.

You carefully booked the perfect flights for your family trip. Then weeks (or even months) later, that dreaded email hits your inbox:
“Your Southwest flight schedule has changed.”

Flying budget airlines with kids might sound like a disaster waiting to happen—but it doesn’t have to be. On one of our recent trips, I had all four kids, snacks, tablets, and backpacks in tow. We boarded a low-cost airline, and honestly? It was one of the smoothest flights we’ve ever had. The trick is knowing what to pack (and what not to), and which travel hacks and credit cards will help get you there without overspending.

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Hawaii is a bucket list trip for so many families—and for good reason. The beaches, volcanoes, and island adventures feel a world away, but you don’t need a passport to get there. The catch? Flights to Hawaii can be pricey, especially when you’re booking for a whole family. That’s why using points strategically can make this trip go from “maybe someday” to “booked!”

Frontier just launched a limited-time promotion they are calling ‘Divorce your old airline’ (ha ha) where you can book summer flights with a free carry-on bag and free seat selection—a rare deal for this ultra-low-cost airline.