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 »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Federal Court Upholds No Fly List: You Have A Right To Travel, But Not To Fly [Roundup]

by Gary Leff

Apr 16 2026

News and notes from around the interweb: D.C. Circuit upholds TSA No Fly List the fundamental right to travel does not mean the travel to fly on an airplane. That’s such a strange argument, because forbidding the use of a plane fundamentally burdens the right to travel to the point it is almost meaningful for many journeys. They also ruled that DHS’s redress process is sufficient due process (even though there’s no opportunity to confront the evidence against you!). Is it weird that I did not know that “gloving” was a thing? Everyone on Frontier Airlines 3803 from Fort Myers to Denver found out, on or about March 22, 2026. I hope you enjoy the show We’re about to start service View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gloving With Doldo (@doldo_gloving) The…

Continue Reading »

Spirit Airlines Could Stop Flying This Week And Sell Off Its Assets

by Gary Leff

Apr 16 2026

Spirit Airlines could stop flying as soon as this week and begin selling off assets, according to a new report, a scenario that would turn a fragile bankruptcy into a full shutdown. Even if creditors are still talking, the mere prospect of liquidation makes the airline harder to save by scaring off new bookings, which are the one thing a struggling carrier cannot afford to lose.

Continue Reading »

Short Squeeze: Avis Stock Has Quadrupled In A Month — Two Owners Control 108% Of The Stock

by Gary Leff

Apr 15 2026

Avis stock has quadrupled in just a month, not because the car rental business suddenly got better, but because the stock itself became dangerously scarce. Two large holders now effectively control more than 100% of the company through stock and swaps, leaving short sellers trapped in a market where the few shares left to buy back can be priced almost however the dominant owners want.

Continue Reading »

United Just Cut Polaris Lounge Access For Most Star Alliance Business Class Passengers

by Gary Leff

Apr 15 2026

United Airlines has sharply narrowed who can use its Polaris lounges, cutting out most Star Alliance business class passengers while keeping access for its own premium customers and a small group of joint venture partners. The move makes sense if United is trying to control crowding ahead of more premium seats and new premium transcon access—but it’s a blow to Star Alliance business class customers.

Continue Reading »

Spirit Airlines Wants Out Of Bankruptcy Again — The U.S. Trustee Is Not Convinced

by Gary Leff

Apr 15 2026

Spirit Airlines wants to exit bankruptcy for a second time, but the U.S. bankruptcy trustee says the airline still has not explained why its first restructuring failed so quickly or why creditors should believe this plan is any better. In order to wipe out shareholders and unsecured creditors again, it has to prove that shrinking the airline is a more credible path than selling it or liquidating what is left.

Continue Reading »

American Airlines Turns 100 Today — And Finally Looks Like It Wants Customers Back

by Gary Leff

Apr 15 2026

American Airlines turns 100 today with a lot still broken, but for the first time in years the airline is making visible moves that suggest it understands what customers actually value. From lounges and premium seats to small touches like pilot trading cards, the real story is not the centennial nostalgia—it is whether these early signs of progress mean American is finally serious about becoming an airline people want to choose again.

Continue Reading »