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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Internet Divided: Parents Leave 10-Year-Old Alone on Flight—Empowering or Neglectful?

Sep 16 2024

A passenger shared their experience traveling with their 10 year old, and the internet is furious. These parents have their son sit alone on flights – even when they’re all flying together. The parents sit together, and the child gets placed in a middle seat, often people two other people traveling together. Let those people watch their kid.

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American Airlines’ $31 Million Phone System Blunder—Here’s How They Fixed the Hassle Fast

Sep 16 2024

American Airlines rolled out a new automated phone system this summer. There was an AI-sounding voice that forced you to listen to a minute-long greeting about how, for instance, you can add a pet to your reservation online before you’re allowed to do anything else. The system no longer recognized “agent” or similar requests until it had finished burning a minute of your life you’d never get back.

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Hyatt Place’s Ongoing Breakfast Test: Will $14 Charges Replace Free Morning Meals?

hotel breakfast food
Sep 15 2024

Hyatt ended free, full breakfast at Hyatt Place properties as a brand standard guarantee during the pandemic.

They dropped the requirement that you book direct to get breakfast, but also started charging non-elite guests for breakfast at some properties as a test. I hadn’t realized until recently that – four years later – this test continues, with the future of free Hyatt Place breakfast still uncertain.

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