Recent trips we have taken and costs. Trips are listed with the most recent at the bottom.

The amount of money listed is how much we paid for our airline tickets. The cost is for the Federal fees ($5.60 per flight so round trip is $11.20 per person) All trips are round trip and the costs and points indicated are for all of the round trip tickets.

A side note: Each point used is worth about .015 cents. That means 100,000 points is worth $1,500. If you are able to get Free Companion you only need to use points to get one of the flights and the other is free (except Federal Fees). If you add all of the points we used for free companion listed below (From August 2016 through Hawaii in March 2024) we have used around 1,038,000 points. 1,038,000 x .015 = $15,570. Because we didn't have to pay for the free companion ticket for most of the trips we get to double that amount to $31,140. That means we have saved over $30,000 in travel expenses since we started this journey.

August 2016 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Vegas - 49K points - $22.40

March 2017 - Our family of 4 from Milwaukee to Atlanta - 50K points - $44.80

October 2017*- My wife and I from Milwaukee to Vegas - 48K points - $22.40. This trip was with another couple who started this credit card program in Jan of 2017. They booked their Vegas flight using points (about 48K points). They earn Free Companion just before we left for our Vegas trip. For Christmas in 2017 they gave their kids the gift of travel and are taking them on a trip to San Fran in 2018. They used points to purchase 3 of the tickets and then used Free Companion for the last ticket. Overall price for the 4 round trip tickets was $44.80.

October 2017 - We earned Free Companion until the end of 2018.

November 2017 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Vegas - Over Thanksgiving - 25K point - $22.40 (Used Free Companion so I only had to pay for my ticket with points). On this trip we visited Death Valley in California and the West Rim of the Grand Canyon where you can walk out on the glass floor horseshoe that hangs 4,000 feet over the Grand Canyon.

February 2018 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Vegas - 24K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Parking our vehicle at the airport was about $30. The Palace Station Hotel, which is where we normally stay is offering us a great discount.... free. So basically our out of pocket for the trip is $52.40. Granted food, transportation (Uber, Trams and Buses), gambling, shows and etc will still cost us money. It was hard to pass up the offer!

March 2018 - My wife and I from Midway to New Orleans - 30K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. During this trip we visited Mississippi and Alabama. We got to see the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in our lives.

June 2018 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Vegas - 22K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Went with another couple that also used their free companion pass.

July 2018 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Washington DC - 17K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion

August 2018 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Boston - 20K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We drove around the area for a few days. Our favorite was Portland, Maine. We drove through New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

September 2018 - We earned Free Companion again until the end of 2019.

October 2018 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Vegas - 40K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Our friends that we went to Vegas with in June surprised us by showing in Vegas. They used their Free Companion to pay for the flight.

January 2019 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Vegas - 22K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We landed, rented a vehicle, picked up my parents and then drove to South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Wonderful trip.

March 2019 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Houston Texas - 29K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We visited Dallas, San Antonio, Waco, Austin, Fort Worth and a Casino in Oklahoma named WinStar.

June 2019 - My family of 4 from Milwaukee to Vegas - 75K points - $44.80 - Used Free Companion for 1 ticket. We land in Vegas but drove to Utah for the first 2 days of the trip. We visited Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Snow Canyon Park. This was the first trip that was not a direct flight. It was originally a direct flight but because of the whole 737 Max issues the plane had to stop in Denver for a 1 hour layover.

July 2019 - My wife and I from Midway to Philadelphia - 20K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We drove to Delaware for Lunch, spent 1 night in Atlantic City NJ, drove to New York to see the Statue of Liberty and then spend a day and half touring Philly. We spent one evening a Botanical Garden name Longwood. If you get a chance you should stop in and spend a few hours there - awesome walking paths and fountains.

August 2019 - We earned Free Companion again until the end of 2020.

October 2019 - My wife and I from Midway to Albuquerque - 27K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We attended Balloon Fest and some Breaking Bad filming locations.

December 2019 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Las Vegas - 24K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. First time in December/Christmas in Vegas. Our Friends joined us on the this trip. We saw Carrot Top, Met Brian Christopher (BCslots.com), saw Shania Twain in concert and did a day trip to Valley of Fire.

January 2020 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Las Vegas - 28K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We don't have a lot planned for this trip. We are going to Hell's Kitchen for lunch, my Dad and Step-Mom's place for pizza on my Dad's Birthday and checking out some casinos that we never visited before.

February 2020 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to San Antonio - 32K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We first visited Texas in March of 2019. We enjoyed our time in San Antonio and wanted to go back to see more of the city... and visit our favorite restaurant Michelino's on the River Walk for some Bruschetta.

Well, the Corona Virus threw a wrench in our plans. We had to cancel some trips because of travel restrictions by our State and/or Work. Some of the trips were cancelled because Southwest changed our flight times and the trips just wouldn't work out.

Corona cancelled - April 2020 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Charleston, South Carolina - 28K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Our first time in the Carolinas. Most of our time will be in the Myrtle Beach area.

May 2020 - We earned Free Companion again until the end of 2021.

Corona Cancelled - June 2020 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Salt Lake City (Not a direct flight) - 9K points - $22.40. Driving through Idaho and into Yellowstone for a few days. Driving South from Yellowstone to the Grand Tetons and then back to the Salt Lake City airport to fly direct to Las Vegas for 2 nights (2.5K points - $22.40) and then a late flight from Vegas back home - 12K points - $22.40.

Corona Cancelled - July 2020 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Kansas City, MO - 21K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Our first time in this region. The plan is to add 3 new states to our list.

Corona Cancelled - August 2020 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Denver - 21K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Our first time in Colorado. 1/2 of the time in Colorado Springs and the other half in the Denver area.

Corona Cancelled - November 2020 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Las Vegas (yeah - again!) - 38K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Just visiting our favorite city.... again. Our kids might join us on this vacation.

Well, 2020 was a depressing year. We were supposed to visit 9 states that we have never been to - instead we got zero of them. We have some trips planned in 2021 but we don't have high hopes of them happening. We have decided not to try for Free Companion this year. We are still going to earn as many points as we can but trying to reach the 125K needed would be hard to do this year. Way too many questions on if trips will really happen this year. We are going to stock pile points and save as much money as we can and try to earn free companion in 2022.

Corona Cancelled - January 2021 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Las Vegas - 19K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Hoping to see my Step-Mom and Dad on his birthday.

Corona Cancelled - March 2021 - This is the trip we were supposed to take in April of 2020 - rebooked with hopes of making it there this time. My wife and I from Milwaukee to Charleston, South Carolina - 27K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Our first time in the Carolinas. Most of our time will be in the Myrtle Beach area.

March 2021 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Las Vegas - 20K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. We are booked at the Luxor because they offered us a deal of 4 nights for $140 total. Car rental prices seem to be really high for some reason. I think normally we paid around $200 and this time it's around $350. We will keep an eye on the prices and maybe a better deal will come along. We did change hotels, we did 3 nights at Palace Station (for free) and 1 night at Bellagio - Fountain View. They turned off the ability to hear the fountain music from the room's TV. They said it was a some type of legal issue. I think they got cheap. We did pay $50 to Southwest to get early bird for our flights out ($25/ticket). We didn't want to wake up early on Saturday morning to check in for our flights.

June 2021 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Las Vegas - 26K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. When we got back from our March trip we had another free room offer from Palace Station so we booked to go back. We are planning on a Lake Mead Dinner Cruise. Car rental was still on the expensive side at $305. I think it use be closer to $180.

July 2021 - My wife and I from Milwaukee to Kansas City - 17K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. This was the trip we were supposed to do in July of 2020... which was cancelled. Hopefully this time will work out. We ended up cancelling this flight and decided to drive to KC instead. We did get our points and $22.40 refunded.

July 2021 - We earned Free Companion again until the end of 2022.

August 2021 - Was supposed to be a trip to San Diego but it didn't work out. Replaced it with a driving trip to Paisley Park (Prince's Home/Recording Studio), Fargo ND to see a wood chipper and stopped in South Dakota for about 1 hour.

November 2021 - Milwaukee to Vegas - 36K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Once again this trip is costing more points than normal. Car rental is on the high side... again. At the time of writing this, we have not booked our hotel but based on some searching the hotel costs might be higher than normal as well. We ended up staying at Luxor for the first time - mixed feelings about that place.

February 2022 - Milwaukee to Las Vegas - 36K points - $22.40 - Used Free Companion. Saw Shania Twain in Concert at the Zappo Theater - great show (again).

March 2022 - Milwaukee to Jacksonville - 20K points - $11.20 - rented an very expensive one way car rental - Fly home from Myrtle Beach to Milwaukee - 25K - $11.20 - Used free companion - Fun trip - Got to see St. Augustine, Savannah, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Calabash North Carolina.

June 2022 - Milwaukee to Salt Lake City - 14K points - $11.20 - rent a car, spend a few days in Yellowstone and drive back to Salt Lake City, Fly to Vegas - 9K points - $11.20. A few days in Vegas and fly back to Milwaukee - 14K points - $11.20. Used free companion for all 3 flights.

July 2022 - Road Trip - heading South to Branson, Memphis, Nashville and Louisville. Car rentals are out of control so we couldn't justify the car cost. It was cheaper to just drive our own car.

August 2022 - We earned Free Companion again until the end of 2023.

October 2022 - Cancelled due to Family Issues - Milwaukee to Albuquerque - 49K points - $22.40 - Used free companion. Balloon Fest 50th Anniversary

December 2022 - Milwaukee to Vegas - 45K points - $22.40 - Used free companion and used points for 2 other ticket.

March 2023 - Midway to Miami - 34K points - $22.40 - Used free companion. Flying with friends who also used free companion. Cruise to Bahamas

March 2023 - Milwaukee to Vegas - 33K points - $22.40 - Used free companion. Joshua Tree National Park for the first few days. Then some Vegas time.

July 2023 - Milwaukee to Seattle - flying back from Portland, OR - 23K + 33K = 56K points - $22.40 - Used free companion. Lots of driving around Washington and Oregon. Going to the area that they filmed Goonies.

August 2023 - Milwaukee to Denver - 30K points - $22.40 - Used free companion. Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek and Denver area.

August 2023 - Earned Free Companion again until the end of 2024.

November 2023 - Milwaukee to Vegas - 34K points - $22.40 - Used free companion. We fly into Vegas for 3 nights. With flights, parking at the airport in MKE, car rental and 3 nights at the hotel - our total cost for the trip is $248 (Free Hotel Stay). Saw "Postcard from Earth" at the Sphere.

March 2024 - 3 Islands in Hawaii - 85K points and $44.80 in federal fees. The plan is to fly to Honolulu for 3 nights, fly to Kauai for 2 nights, fly to Maui for 3 nights and fly home from there.

June 2024 - Royal Caribbean Cruise out of Miami to Haiti - 29K points - $22.40 - Used free companion and we had offers from Royal so the cruise was 1/3 the normal price. During this cruise we are going to try to book an Alaskan Cruise for June, July or August of 2025.

August 2024 - Vegas with our Daughter and Granddaughter -30K points - $22.40 (Daughter and Granddaughter are using fligh credits for their tickets) Our 26th visit, Daughter's 14th and Granddaughters first.

September 2024 - 991,000 points used so far with free companion. Each point is worth about .015 cents. That is $14,865 to purchase the flights for one person. We got 2 for 1 so double that amount is $29,730 in flight savings spead over 2017 thru 2024 - 8 years - about $3,716 in savings per year.

December 2024 - Back to Vegas - our 27th visit with plans of seeing Shania Twain for the 3rd time in Vegas.