✈️ Travel Hacker of the Month — June: Katie Wilson
Family of 6 | Southwest Loyalist | Grand Canyon Dreamer
👋 Meet Katie
Every month inside the Travel Hacking Moms Group, I highlight a real travel hacker who is using points and miles to make travel more affordable, more fun, and more accessible for their family.
This month, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Katie Wilson — a mom of four, a Southwest Companion Pass pro, and someone who makes travel hacking look joyful, simple, and totally doable.
👨👩👧👦 Who Katie Travels With
Katie and her husband are raising four kids — all 11 and under — which means every trip is a full family adventure.
Most of their travel is with all six of them, but Katie also sneaks in a solo trip each year to Washington State for an annual event. And once a year, she and her husband take an anniversary getaway (which I fully support — parents deserve their own trips too).
💳 How She First Got Into Points
Katie used to think people with stacks of credit cards were drowning in debt or doing something complicated and overwhelming.
But after listening to podcasts and reading more about points and miles, she and her husband decided to open one card just to test the waters.
Two months later, they booked a trip to Orlando — and paid for her husband’s parents to join them using points.
That was the moment everything clicked.
“It was a sealed deal! We haven’t looked back since.”
🏜 Her Favorite Trip Booked With Points
Katie and her family at the Grand Canyon
Without hesitation: The Grand Canyon.
A bucket‑list trip for their whole family, made possible with points. Seeing their kids take in that view for the first time was one of those “this is why we do this” moments.
💡 A Travel Hack She Swears By
Katie is a huge believer in the Southwest Companion Pass — and honestly, same.
“When you have a big family, getting any members free (even using points) is the ultimate hack!”
They earn it as often as possible, and it’s been a game‑changer for keeping flight costs low for their family of six.
⚠️ A Mistake She Made Early On
Katie laughs about this now, but it’s a great lesson for beginners.
Before she knew about points:
She opened a Sapphire card with an 80K bonus just to pay for a tablet.
“Oy!”
After she started travel hacking:
When she and her husband were working toward the Southwest Companion Pass, they hit the minimum spend too early, causing their points to post before January 1 — which meant they didn’t qualify for the full two‑year pass.
They had to open another card and pay another annual fee, but ended up with even more points.
“It all worked out fine!”
A classic beginner mistake — and one so many people in our community can relate to.
🌍 Her Next Trip
This fall, Katie and her husband are heading to Madeira, Portugal for an all‑inclusive stay, plus two nights in Madrid — all booked with points, of course.
It will be their second European trip together, and they’re beyond excited.
💕 Why I Love Following Katie
Personally, I love following Katie on her socials — she makes traveling on points look fun and totally doable. Her strategies are simple, beginner‑friendly, and full of real‑life examples. And she is genuinely one of the nicest people in the travel hacking space.
You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and her blog. She also runs a Facebook group that I highly recommend — I joined too.
🎉 Final Thoughts
Katie’s story is exactly why I created No Point Left Behind. She’s proof that:
You don’t need to be an expert to start
One card can change everything
Big families can travel affordably
Mistakes are part of the journey
And points can take you farther than you ever imagined
I’m so excited to feature her as our Travel Hacker of the Month for June.
About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches families and retirees how to travel smarter using points, perks, and practical strategies that actually work. She’s known for her beginner‑friendly “Stack & Save” method and real‑life examples that make travel hacking feel simple — not overwhelming.
You don’t have to do this alone. Join her free community of moms, families, and beginners learning to travel better together inside the Travel Hacking Moms Group.
