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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Hyatt’s Internal Owner Guide Shows Exactly What Your Loyalty Is Worth — And Why Elite Benefits Often Disappoint

Nov 24 2025

Hyatt’s internal owner documents reveal something surprising: Hyatt Place hotels rely heavily on World of Hyatt members—who generate roughly half of their total revenue—but franchise incentives still don’t fully align with elite-member interests. Hotels clearly see what your loyalty is worth, but short-term cost pressures and weak territory protections help explain why elite treatment can often fall short of what members expect.

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FAA Warns Flights Away From Venezuela — As Washington Pushes a Ukraine Deal That Favors Russia in Exchange for Maduro’s Exit

Nov 23 2025

The FAA has issued a warning for all operators to avoid Venezuelan airspace, even as international airlines cancel service. The timing aligns with reporting that Washington is pushing Ukraine toward a settlement tilted toward Russia in exchange for Moscow’s acquiescence on removing Nicolás Maduro.

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Sean Duffy and Gavin Newsom Are Now Sparring Over Pandemic Mask Rules and Airplane Dress Codes — A Fight That’s Really About 2028

Nov 23 2025

Sean Duffy and Gavin Newsom are suddenly relitigating pandemic mask mandates and arguing over how people should dress on airplanes — a bizarre clash years after the rules ended. The exchange isn’t really about masks or manners at all, but about positioning for 2028 and appealing to their respective bases.

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