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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New Restrictions On Domestic Travelers: Florida Enforcing Quarantine On Arriving New Yorkers

Mar 23 2020

According to the Governor of Florida since the “federal government had not put any domestic travel restrictions into place, Florida would take the initiative.”

His order applies to air travel from New Jersey as well. It does not, apparently, apply to passengers arriving from the New York area on connecting flights. It also does not apply to flights from Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle.

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Should You Come Home To The Virus-Embattled U.S. Now, Stay Abroad – Or Even Leave?

Mar 23 2020

My award booking partner Steve Belkin was traveling abroad for a month. He and his wife were in Mozambique. Do they come home to the virus outbreak or stay put? Risk infection but access medical care? Lots of Americans abroad faced similar questions, and they came up with a unique solution. Still others are encouraging older Americans to flee. What to do?

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Vietnam’s Bikini Airline Offers Health Insurance Against Coronavirus If You Fly

vietjet calendar cover
Mar 23 2020

Is using coronavirus to market airline seats brilliant – good for society, even – or utterly irresponsible? Vietnam has been more aggressive at containment than many countries, more money into the health care system is helpful, and a rebate in the form of health insurance is probably more responsible than a discount on an airline ticket. It’s utterly brilliant.

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Hong Kong Bans Foreigners From Even Transiting The AIrport – And Even Bans Alcohol In Bars, Because Sex

Mar 23 2020

Hong Kong has joined Singapore in not only banning foreign arrivals but banning transit passenger arrivals, too, after several foreigners arriving there tested positive for COVID-19. A doctor screening inbound passengers at the airport has tested positive as well there.

To crack down on intimacy as a source of spread, alcohol is being banned from bars though people can still get meals in restaurants.

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First They Will, Then They Won’t: Emirates Zig Zags After UAE Bans Passenger Flights

Mar 23 2020

On Sunday Emirates announced a suspension of all passenger flights on Tuesday, March 25. Then later in the day they walked that back announcing that they would continue to fly to 13 countries.

However they will not, in fact, do that because by the end of the day the government of the United Arab Emirates ordered a suspension of passenger flights starting Wednesday.

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Airlines Are Breaking The Law By Refusing Refunds For Cancelled Flights

jetblue plane
Mar 22 2020

Airlines that aren’t providing transportation that was purchased are trying to keep customers’ money, even as they seek more of their customers’ money in the form of government bailouts. While the international airline trade group is trying to get governments to legalize this theft, some carriers are doing it on their own regardless of the law.

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