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 »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Airport VIP Meet and Greet, Priority Immigration Just Got a Lot Cheaper

airport bridge
Sep 04 2018

There are premium airport departure, connection and arrival services that you can buy all over the world. Some are offered by airlines, others by airports, and some by third party services. In fact it isn’t even always clear which is which.

I’m a fan of these offerings, but I like to see them affordable. I think that a meet and greet buggy service at under $50 for 2 people in Bangkok, including assistance from plane through immigration and with baggage claim (with handover to your transportation into the city) is a real value that more travelers would take advantage of if they were aware of the service.

At first world prices though it’s strategically useful to be aware of the option but not something most readers will take advantage of. Still it’s nice to see this option at a lower price than many vendors offer in Europe, and for less than the airlines are offering in the U.S. as well.

Continue Reading »

Hyatt Under Fire for Hosting “Anti-Muslim Hate Group” But Are Boycotts Warranted?

meeting set up in hyatt
Sep 04 2018

At the end of the week Think Progress put out a piece critical of Hyatt for hosting the ACT for America conference at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. A petition with 100,000 signatures was delivered to Hyatt demanding they back out of providing a venue to the event this coming week.

I’m unfamiliar with the group, but they (along with half of America) are described by the Southern Poverty Law Center “as an anti-Muslim extremist and hate group.”

Continue Reading »

Flights to Africa With Amazing Business Class Award Pricing

world map
Sep 03 2018

Royal Air Maroc is launching Miami – Casablanca service in April of next year. The flight will be operated 3 times a week with a Boeing 787. I believe this will be Miami’s only non-stop flight to Africa.

Here’s why you care. Business class awards are really easy to get, and really cheap, using miles you probably already have. And their business class seats are fully flat.

Continue Reading »

Amazing $63 Fare From the US to Europe With Cheap Deals from New York/DC/Boston

primera air
Sep 03 2018

Like Norwegian and Wow Air , Primera offers super cheap fares across the Atlantic, they’re helping to drive down prices overall, and there are add-on fees for anything you may want on board whether it’s advance seat assignments or beverages.

For the passenger just looking to get on a plane, unconcerned with seat assignment, Primera can be even cheaper than the bigger transatlantic discounters. Right now they have flights from the U.S. to Europe from an absurdly low $63.

Continue Reading »

This Worst Thing a Passenger Can Do Keeps Happening and We’re All at Risk

lavatory
Sep 02 2018

While passengers urinating on seat opponents doesn’t happen frequently compared to the number of flights and number of passengers each year, it happens frequently enough to make me wonder whether an airline would attract business by requiring passengers to certify that they’re potty trained, and to blow into a breathalyzer at the boarding gate. And it makes me wonder if airlines not doing this suggests they’d rather have the ticket revenue than discourage the behavior.

For fee-happy airlines like Spirit, Allegiant and United another approach could be onboard sale of Depends.

Continue Reading »

How – and Why – You Can Almost Always Get Four First Class Award Seats to Europe

airline cabin first class
Sep 02 2018

I absolutely hate fuel surcharges. They’re a scam which is basically just a tax on frequent flyers’ loyalty. On some itineraries they can amount to $1000 roundtrip. Although bear in mind that you may pay lower fuel surcharges when you book two one way awards than a roundtrip.

When I’m in an absolute pinch I can talk myself into paying fuel surcharges for a first class award. I think of it as a discount coach ticket which doesn’t earn points but where I’m spending miles for a confirmed triple upgrade.

Continue Reading »

Great Award Availability If You Want to Shower in the Sky: Emirates First Class, Many Cities

emirates airline cabin
Sep 02 2018

Emirates has one of the world’s best first class products. Their business class wouldn’t come close to ranking, and their new first class is only on a limited number of planes. But their decade-old first class, while a bit tight on space for its fully enclosed suites with doors, is still a marvel with great amenities, good alcohol and catering, and generally good service.

It’s very very available using miles. Perhaps that’s because there are so many first class seats on so many flights and very few people know how to redeem for these seats at a reasonable price.

Continue Reading »