Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

Making the Most of Family Travel with Points & Miles

Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

Show Notes

Traveling with kids doesn’t always mean sacrifice, especially when you know how to leverage points and miles for the whole family! In this episode, host Bryce is joined by seasoned family travelers Katie and Raya, who share their wealth of knowledge about navigating the world of points and miles with kids in tow. Throughout the episode, Raya, Katie, and Bryce share essential tips and strategies for booking award flights for families, maximizing hotel redemptions, and preparing for long flights with kids. From tackling school schedules to managing car seat challenges, Katie and Raya break down practical advice to make family travel smoother and more enjoyable. Hear about their highlight trips, upcoming plans, and how they strategically earn points to keep traveling as a family without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a parent looking to plan your next getaway or just starting your points journey, this episode is packed with actionable insights to elevate your family travel game. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction and Special Guests 00:38 Exciting Updates from 10xTravel 02:41 Meet Katie and Raya 05:03 Family Travel Tips and Strategies 08:20 Booking Award Flights for Families 19:05 Navigating School Schedules and Travel Planning 31:25 Repositioning Flights and Car Seat Challenges 37:04 Maximizing Hyatt Redemptions 38:03 Using Portals for Hotel Bookings 39:20 Exploring Airbnb Options 40:32 Family Travel Tips and Experiences 44:59 Highlight Trips and Upcoming Plans 54:34 Traveling with Kids: Tips and Tricks 01:00:35 Earning Points for Family Travel 01:06:17 Final Thoughts and Advice Links and Resources from this Episode: How to take a family vacation using points and miles Take our free points and miles course Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly) My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place Let us book your next award flight for you 10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today Stay Connected: Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog Watch this and every episode of Takeoff on YouTube: @10xTravel

More from Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

Oct 21, 2026

Still need to book flights for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's? Don't panic! Last-minute holiday travel can be challenging, but the right points and miles strategies can help you find available flights without overspending.✈️ Try 10xTravel+ free for one month: Use promo code PODCASTOn this episode, Travis and Lovan break down how to book last-minute flights with points and miles, even when prices are high and your preferred award seats are hard to find. They're sharing practical ways to expand your search, compare booking options, and decide when paying cash actually makes the most sense.In this episode, you'll learn:

Oct 7, 2026

Flying Blue just changed its award pricing, and there's a lot to unpack. In this episode of Takeoff, Travis and Lovan break down what changed with Flying Blue award tickets, what the new fare types include, and what it all means if you're planning to use Flying Blue miles for Air France or KLM flights. ✈️ Try 10xTravel+ free for one month: Use promo code PODCAST In the episode, Lovan and Travis share what partner booking looks like, and walk through a workaround that could help you book Air France flights for significantly fewer miles and much lower taxes and fees by using Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles instead. The episode covers:• The 2026 changes to Flying Blue award tickets• The difference between Light, Standard, and Flex awards• What's included at each level• How to effectively book with Flying Blue partners

Sep 23, 2026

Takeoff is back! After a summer break, Travis Cormier is joined by Lovan Edwards as the recurring co-host for a new chapter of the podcast. And to kick things off, they’re tackling 10 of the most frequently asked questions in points and miles.~ What points should you earn for a specific destination?~ Which points currency should you focus on?~ Will opening more credit cards hurt your credit?~ And how do you know which card to apply for next?Travis and Lovan are answering these questions and more! Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place ✈️ Try 10xTravel+ free for one month: Use promo code PODCAST In the episode, they're getting into the realities of last-minute award travel, whether you should use points for flights or hotels, how transfer partners work, and what to know before relying on award search tools. Plus, they discuss how to keep track of your points, cards, annual fees, and benefits without turning your points and miles hobby into a second job.Whether you're brand new to points and miles or you've been earning rewards for years, this episode tackles some of the questions that come up again and again. Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Sep 9, 2026

We’re wrapping up the summer with the final episode from the archives, but this isn’t the end of the journey. On September 23, Takeoff: A Points & Miles Podcast by 10xTravel returns with something new, including a few exciting changes to the show!Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one placeBefore we get there, we’re revisiting past conversations with 10xTravel's Lovan Edwards, a frequent traveler who has a unique perspective on making points and miles work as part of everyday life. In the episode, Lovan shares his thoughts on a range of topics, from booking unique travel (like an African safari) to why he never checks bags on his flights.Learn from this travel pro, and stay tuned for what's coming next here on Takeoff!Original Episodes From This Episode:

Aug 26, 2026

Do you know how many points and miles you actually have? Not just in your favorite airline or hotel program, but across all of your cards, airlines, hotels, and bank accounts. And more importantly, do you know roughly what all those points are worth?In this episode, Travis digs into a problem that even experienced points and miles enthusiasts run into: having plenty of knowledge about the hobby, but not having a clear picture of what you already have. Drawing from four years of Takeoff conversations, the episode explores why spreadsheets become difficult to maintain, how keeping track of points can create unexpected mental load, and why not knowing your balances can affect everything from credit card decisions to booking trips.The conversation also gets into a less obvious problem: what happens when you have hundreds of thousands of points but hesitate to spend them because watching the balance drop feels like a loss.And eventually, the team reveals what they built to help you see your points balances, upcoming annual fees, card recommendations, and past redemptions in one place.Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member todayOriginal Episodes From This Episode:

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