Alaska and Hawaiian have officially merged their loyalty programs into something brand new called Atmos Rewards, and if you travel as a family, this program just became even more important to understand.

If you’ve ever tried to book four (or six!) seats on the same plane for a school-break trip, you know the feeling…the price jumps while you’re still comparing flight times, and suddenly that long-awaited vacation feels out of reach.

Points changed that for us. Not because I’m chasing every shiny deal, but because I’ve learned to focus on just a few programs that make real family travel easier.

We flew to Italy on points for our 17-year anniversary. Here’s how we booked business class using 60K points instead of $2,800 per ticket.

Last winter I was numbing out by scrolling on my phone, and I decided to look through flight prices for our family of six. Everything was SO EXPENSIVE. Out of frustration I typed “Anywhere” into Google Flights, and discovered its hidden Explore tab. Suddenly, I could see flights to places I hadn’t even considered, with live prices on a map. Using Google Flights explore to save has changed the way we plan.

The truth is, you don’t need to master every points program to book free (or almost free) international flights. You just need the right credit cards. The right cards will earn you points you can actually use for long-haul travel.

I still remember the first time I used a travel credit card to get my whole family into a lounge. My kids were munching on free snacks, my husband grabbed a crispy Diet Coke, and I finally got to sit in peace for five minutes. That little pocket of calm made the whole travel day easier all because I knew the best airport lounge access credit cards for families.

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.

Southwest Airlines made changes in 2025 that really matter for family travel.

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.