About Gary Leff

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 »

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United Flight Attendants Ratify Contract — Top Pay Will Exceed $100/Hour, $740M Lump Sum Payout

May 12 2026

United flight attendants have finally ratified a new contract after 5.5 years without a raise, with 82% voting yes. The deal brings major wage increases, a $740 million lump-sum payout, boarding pay, and top hourly rates scheduled to exceed $100 — but Delta may still set the real compensation benchmark if profits keep flowing.

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Passengers Are Now Buying Airline Seats For Humanoid Robots — And No One Knows What Rules Apply

May 12 2026

Humanoid robots are now getting their own airline seats, and the rules are not ready. Southwest crews delayed one flight over a passenger’s 75-pound robot. On another crew had to figure out whether it was a passenger, baggage, or a lithium-battery problem. Robots are starting to enter ordinary travel faster than airline rules can keep up.

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Dulles Airport Could Finally Kill Its Mobile Lounges — But The Rebuild Plan Now Costs $22 Billion

May 11 2026

Washington Dulles may finally get the rebuild travelers have wanted for decades: real rail-connected concourses, the end of its “temporary” C/D complex, and a move away from mobile lounges. The catch is the price tag has climbed to $22 billion — enough to push airport costs above $90 per passenger unless taxpayers or some privatization scheme pick up much of the bill.

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Air France KLM Just Put A Real Points Expert In Charge Of Flying Blue

May 11 2026

Most loyalty programs are run by people who understand spreadsheets better than members. Flying Blue just went the other way, tapping someone who has spent years on the member side of loyalty: helping travelers understand points, search awards, and navigate the programs from the outside. That is rare — and very good news for a program that is already one of the strongest worldwide.

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