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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Wide Open Business Class Awards For 4+ Passengers Next Year, Use For Europe/Asia/Mideast/Africa

Jun 25 2020

Turkish Airlines has 4 or more business class award seats available most dates next year, January – May 2021, from a variety of U.S. gateways. You can claim these seats using miles from a variety of different Star Alliance carriers, and connect onward to Eastern Europe, Mideast, Southeast Asia or Africa.

United is also offering wide open business class award space on several transatlantic routes.

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American Pledges Up To 1 Million Business Extra Points For Minority-Owned Businesses, Non-Profits

british tail plane
Jun 25 2020

American Airlines has a small business program, Business Extra, that gives points to businesses when their employees travel on the airline. This is separate from, and in addition to, the AAdvantage miles that travelers earn themselves.

The airline announced today that they are giving up to 1 million Business Extra points to minority-owned small businesses and also non-profits.

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Over 30% Of Pilots Have Fake Licenses At The Worst Airline In The World

pakitstan international airlines
Jun 25 2020

In the aftermath of the May 22 crash of a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore to Karachi a preliminary investigation attributed the cause to pilot error and lack of professionalism. Cockpit crew talked throughout the journey about COVID-19 and its affect on their families, while ignoring standard operating procedures. 97 of the 99 passengers and crew on board were killed.

The investigation further revealed that more than 30% of pilots at the airlines have fake licenses and aren’t qualified to fly.

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Hawaii Re-Opens August 1 – With Pre-Arrival COVID Testing (Sadly Impossible For Many)

hawaii
Jun 25 2020

Hawaii has imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine on arrival since late March. That order currently extends through July 31, but will be extended.

What’s new is that Hawaii will offer an option to avoid quarantine. Arriving passengers with a negative test for COVID-19 from the previous 72 hours, will be exempted. The state will also be implementing temperature screening at airports.

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It’s Not Really Turbulence Until You Lose Your Wine

Jun 24 2020

They say the only true drinking problem is someone who never buys. That isn’t quite right, because when you lose your wine that’s a problem too.

You should always wear your seat belt, even when the seat belt sign is off, because turbulence can be a surprise. But there’s no known wine seat belt. And on one flight the plane shook so badly a bottle of wine was apparently sent shooting off into the ceiling of the aircraft.

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The Most Creative Argument Yet For A Second Airline Bailout

Jun 24 2020

And the Allied Pilots Association, which represents pilots at American Airlines, has a creative suggestion. They want the federal government to buy up all the middle seats or more specifically “purchase enough seats on each flight to eliminate the need for any passenger to sit next to a stranger.”

The union says it “has begun discussing the SEATS concept with key lawmakers” to get it included in a CARES Act followup or passed as a standalone. Watch your wallets.

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