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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‘This Is The Smoking Section!’: United First Class Passenger Defecated On Drink Cart, Blamed Portugal’s President

Dec 14 2024

Upon landing, Finneran was arrested and charged with assaulting and intimidating flight attendants and interfering with the crew. His legal defense was that he suffered from severe traveler’s diarrhea and had been prevented from using the first class lavatory by the Portuguese President’s security detail.

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Southwest Airlines Credit Cards Have An Interesting Offer: Real Money For New Cardmembers

Dec 14 2024

Southwest cards are a long-time favorite of mine because their initial bonus offers and ongoing spend counts towards the airline’s companion pass, which is probably the most valuable perk in travel with published details for qualifying. That’s the reason I’d probably prefer bigger point bonuses rather than statement credits. But outside of that narrow purpose, many customers will prefer being offered real money as a bonus.

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From Casinos To Aircraft Cabins: Marriott And MGM Make Gambling With Miles — Even Inflight — Possible

Dec 14 2024

A decade ago, I spoke with some folks who were trying to enable gambling with frequent flyer miles. And back then what I told them was that no one would touch it because of reputational concerns. That was true at the time. Things have changed so dramatically!

Since it’s now possible to earn Marriott points gambling, the Overton window has shifted sufficiently that more programs may be open to the revenue possibilities of gambling using frequent flyer miles.

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No Upgrades, Thin Walls, And $400 Rates: Marriott’s The Alexandrian Epitomizes Bonvoy’s Biggest Failures

Dec 14 2024

Somehow rates here run from the mid-$200s to mid-$400s. There’s actually another Autograph Collection property just a few blocks away. You’d probably like the Morrison House much better.

Marriott CEO Jim Capuano once said, “When I die, they’ll put the net-rooms growth number on my tombstone.” Marriott will seemingly take a fee from any hotel, of any quality, diluting their brands in the process.

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Exclusive: Alaska Airlines’ New Premium Card Global Companion Award And Fee Waiver Details Revealed

airplane cabin
Dec 13 2024

Alaska Airlines announced this week that the move to a single loyalty program with Hawaiian Airlines will come this summer, and that they’ll also launch a premium credit card at that time.

Brett Catlin, Alaska’s Vice President of Loyalty, Alliances and Sales, shared some additional details about the card’s companion award certificate with me.

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