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 »

First Class Awards to Asia for the Whole Family Using Star Alliance Miles

by Gary Leff

people in airline seats first class
Feb 23 2018

Star Alliance member Asiana is great for award availability. I’ve always had good luck with space on the West Coast – Seoul flights in business class, and beyond to Southeast Asia and first class availability — on the limited routes where it’s offered — is generally good too.

Right now New York JFK – Seoul is served by a Boeing 777-200LR with no first class. However the Airbus A380 returns to New York at the end of March. The A380 is available Frankfurt – Seoul as well.

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Double Dip: Earn Hyatt Points and American Miles on Hyatt Place/Hyatt House Stays

by Gary Leff

japanese style room
Feb 23 2018

When hotels began their loyalty programs a lot more attention was paid to airline programs. Guests were regularly given the choice to each points with the hotel’s program or earn airline miles. Hilton made their name with the ‘double dip’ giving you both points and miles, you didn’t have to choose. Hotel programs have all grown up, and double dipping (earning styles) go away April 1.

Hyatt though is offering its own double dip with American AAdvantage through June 30.

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Good American Business Class Award Space to South America for 4, Book Now

by Gary Leff

book flight chart
Feb 23 2018

Through July 4 and then starting again August 7 and ending December 6 there’s great availability for four passengers in business class on American’s New York JFK – Rio de Janeiro flight.

Not quite as good but there’s availability for four passengers in business class New York JFK – Sao Paulo as well, and a bit better for two passengers.

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Chinese Travel Conglomerate Anbang Taken Over By Government, HNA Group Teetering

by Gary Leff

waldorf
Feb 23 2018

There’s little transparency in large Chinese conglomerates. They’re often layers of companies with unclear ownership and difficult to verify financials. Their leadership is often politically well-connected.

At the same time regulation of these entities is unclear as well. When the Chinese government decides to take an interest in the operation and systemic risks posed by these companies which rapidly expand through acquisitions both domestically and around the world, it’s not always clear whether it’s because of regulatory violations (or explicit as to which ones) or a signal of internal power struggles inside the government — whose faction is in and whose is out?

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American Airlines is Changing How Their Safety Video Ends

by Gary Leff

american airlines flight attendant
Feb 22 2018

Over time the American Airlines video will take on less importance on domestic flights. That’s because the new standard domestic configuration does not include seat back video or drop down screens in the cabin either.

However in the meantime the airline has made a minor tweak to the way the video plays on overhead screens, and in March the change will roll out to those aircraft with seat back monitors.

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