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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I Got an Upgrade This Week I Didn’t Deserve

Mar 04 2017

I was in Las Vegas Thursday morning taping something for a television network. We wrapped earlier than expected and I headed to the airport with the show’s producer. And since I didn’t want to spend 3 hours in the Centurion lounge if I didn’t have to, I worked to get rebooked onto an earlier flight.

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Brace Yourselves: New Trump Travel Ban Expected to Come on Monday

Mar 04 2017

Five weeks ago the President signed an executive order banning travel to the U.S. by individuals from seven countries.

The order was enjoined by judges in a number of different lawsuits, for a variety of reasons such as that is covered green card holders and impermissibly sought to determine who could enter the U.S. on the basis of their religion. And other than mere assertions, the administration failed to provide any rational security-based justification for the order.

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GIVEAWAY: Top Tier Hyatt Status

Mar 03 2017

It’s harder to reach top tier elite status — no more qualifying on stays, no more credit towards top status via credit card spend, and 60 nights instead of 50 to qualify — for those who reach “Globalist” status it’s the most generous top tier in the industry among major programs.

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NOT THE ONION: TSA Announces Pat Downs Will Become More Intimate

tsa
Mar 03 2017

Back before PreCheck I used to opt out of the naked imaging scanners. I’d get a pat down.

The TSA employee called over to do it would offer me a private screening, but I’d turn that down. Then they’d explain what was going to come next, eventually noting they’d bring their hands up the inside of my leg “until they meet resistance.” Invariably they’d then ask if I have any sensitive areas? My reply was always, “only where you meet resistance.”

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