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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Passenger Stole $5 Exit Row Safety Clip And Grounded A United Jet—Police Found It In His Pocket And Pepper Sprayed Him

Sep 07 2025

A United Airlines flight sat stranded in Idaho Falls because a drunk passenger pocketed the wrong souvenir: a small metal clip that holds the emergency escape rope at an over-wing exit. That $5 carabiner not only grounded the jet, but also ended in pepper spray, felony charges, and probation stretching to 2031.

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