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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Video: Flight Attendants Fight In Jeddah Departure Lounge Before Passengers Board Boeing 777—Both Suspended

Dec 29 2025

Two Pakistan International Airlines flight attendants assigned to PK840 (a Boeing 777 from Jeddah to Multan) got into a physical fight in the departure lounge before boarding. Video shows the two women locked up by the arms while a mustached airline official tries to separate them, with bystanders stepping in as they re-engage. The flight ultimately pushed back 2 hours and 19 minutes late, and both attendants were suspended.

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United Said It Would Push American Out Of Chicago—100 New Flights At O’Hare Say Otherwise

Dec 29 2025

Scott Kirby predicted United would push American out of Chicago O’Hare, but American is finally acting like a carrier with fight left—adding 100 peak daily departures and explicitly positioning the move as competition. The gate battle, a $30 million grab for two Spirit gates, and United’s immediate retaliation to new Chicago routes all point to the same thing: O’Hare is turning into a real schedule war.

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From $3 Economy Wine To $1,200 First Class Champagne—What Airlines Actually Pay Per Bottle

Dec 29 2025

Airlines don’t buy wine the way you do. They buy through tenders and through vendors that manage the unglamorous parts: forecasting, bonded supply, station-by-station distribution, substitutions, and even menu language and crew training. That’s why economy wine can land around $3 a bottle, while trophy First Class pours can run hundreds—and why both can still taste disappointing if they’re chosen (or served) without any thought to the inflight environment.

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Bilt Card 2.0: Investor Sketches The Playbook—Weeks Before January 14 Reveal

Dec 29 2025

A self-described Bilt investor is out with an unverified preview of what Bilt Card 2.0 could look like when the new Cardless-issued lineup is unveiled January 14, including rumors about how earning might change, whether benefits depend on Bilt status, and if the current five-transactions rule could be replaced by a minimum monthly spend requirement.

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Dirty Dr. Pepper And Pink Drink: Southwest Flight Attendant Shares Her Go-To Orders—“Put Me To Work” [Roundup]

Dec 28 2025

A Southwest flight attendant is going viral for turning the soda cart into “Dirty Dr Pepper” and “Pink Drink” combos—and then telling passengers on longer flights to “put me to work” and keep her entertained.

Also in today’s roundup: American’s current Summer 2026 A321XLR/787-9 premium route plan, a Sapphire Reserve dining-credit tracker (with gift-card reimbursement datapoints), and a Bilt 2.0 partner-coupon leak.

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United Airlines Regional Jet Had A Near Miss After Takeoff In Houston—Another Jet Turned Directly Into Its Path

united planes runway
Dec 28 2025

A United Airlines regional jet departing Houston got an automated collision warning seconds after takeoff when another aircraft on the parallel runway turned the wrong way into its departure path. The crews were still low and close enough that the United flight reported a TCAS resolution advisory, the last line of defense designed to prevent midair collisions.

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