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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Marriott Says No Elite Benefits On Third-Party Bookings—But I Got Them Anyway (Here’s How)

Feb 14 2026

Marriott explicitly says you don’t get elite perks or points when booking through third-party sites—but my recent stay proved reality isn’t always that simple. Without even pushing, I casually asked if they had my Platinum number, and suddenly I had full lounge access, elite benefits, and points on a deeply discounted Citi Travel booking. Here’s how easily the “no elite perks” rule broke down in practice.

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Passenger Demands Student Give Up Her $7,000 Business Seat for Daughter in Coach—Calls Her ‘Ungrateful’ As Flight Attendant Steps In

Feb 14 2026

A college student bought herself a $7,000 business-class ticket to Dubai as a graduation gift—but moments after settling into her seat, another passenger demanded she downgrade to coach so her daughter could have it, loudly calling her “ungrateful” when she refused until a flight attendant finally intervened.

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Southwest Flight Attendants Furious After Airline Moves Their Bags To Back Of Plane: “Passengers Will Steal Them!”

Feb 13 2026

Southwest Airlines flight attendants are furious after the airline decided to relocate their reserved overhead bin space from the front to the back of the aircraft—sparking fears their belongings could be stolen. The change, meant to solve chaotic boarding issues following the airline’s switch to assigned seating, has triggered immediate backlash from crew members concerned about security and convenience.

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