Monthly Archives

Monthly Archives for December 2023.

“Militant Forces” Brought In To Control Passengers After United Cancels Flight For Second Day

by Gary Leff on December 30, 2023

Dec 30 2023

After an hours-long mechanical delay, United Airlines cancelled flight 997 from Accra, Ghana to Washington Dulles on Thursday. Customer baggage was offloaded and returned. Passengers were told to return the next day, but were not provided with hotels for the night.

Friday night, another mechanical delay for this flight. And another eventual cancellation. Military was called in. The airline announced that no hotel rooms would be provided, and this time luggage wasn’t returned.

Research Shows One Simple Change Makes Serious Coffee Taste Better [Roundup]

by Gary Leff on December 30, 2023

Dec 30 2023

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

7 New Years Day Miles And Points Errands To Accomplish On My Couch

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

New Years Day the clock resets on a number of benefits, and the calendar forces me to make a number of moves. I’ll be sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee early in the morning doing a number of rewards errands, before heading to the airport for a new year of travel.

Here’s my checklist for 7 tasks I’ll accomplish on New Years Day.

American Airlines Lays Out Their Strategy On Its Employee Podcast

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

Vasu Raja, American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, appeared on the airline’s podcast for employees and laid out what he sees as their strengths and plans they’ll be pushing forward on.

American Airlines Previews Four Major Changes To AAdvantage For 2024

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja was the last guest of the season for the American Airlines internal podcast for employees. At the end of his interview, asked what’s coming in 2024, he noted that he was being interviewed solo and “there’s nobody here to tell me what I can’t say, so I’ll reveal a bit more.”

Flood, Fire, and Fury: Sheraton Sydney Evacuated After Guest Floods Entire Floor, Attacks Hotel Staff

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

My cousin David, staying at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, was evacuated from his room Friday morning after a guest flooded an entire floor of the hotel, set off a fire alarm, attacked hotel staff and was throwing things out the window.

Hyatt’s Michelin-Starred Scandal In France: Celebrity Chef Fired Over Naked Hazing Incident

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

Michelin-starred celebrity chef Aurélien Largeau, of La Table d’Aurélien Largeau at Hyatt’s Hôtel du Palais Biarritz in southwest France, has been fired after video spread online of hazing in his kitchen. A junior member of the kitchen staff (commis) was “tied to a chair naked for hours with an apple in his mouth and a carrot in his anus with all the chefs – known as the kitchen brigade – looking on, including Largeau.”

Man Calls In Bomb Threat To Get His Wallet Back From Airline

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

A passenger in India was arrested for making a bomb threat against a flight in order to get his lost wallet back. He’d flown Spicejet from Delhi to Bangalore on Tuesday and realized he left his wallet on the plane after he landed and was about to leave the airport. Still standing by the airline’s ticket counter, he was easy to arrest.

Time Travel for New Year’s: 5 Flights That Turn Back Time And Let You Celebrate Twice

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

The international date line is a great trick that makes it possible to have two New Years Eve celebrations the same year, and five flights allow you to do this – spending New Years Eve in one city, flying to another city and doing New Years Eve again – because you don’t fly out until January 1, and arrive back on December 31. Time travel!

The Mix-Up That Shocked The World: How Spirit Airlines Put Child On Wrong Flight [Roundup]

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2023

Dec 29 2023

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.

Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »