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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Signed Up Free for Club1 Hotels? Save Thousands of Dollars on Airfare

by Gary Leff

Nov 21 2016

I’ve written quite a bit about Club1 Hotels savings, they report $50 to $100 off per night on average. I’ve found the best deals at nicer properties. And they’ve been improving their website. They’re giving away a $50.00 Restaurant.com certificate with all reservations, and for every $1,500 spent they’re giving out a Priority Pass membership (both of these things can be gifted).

I’ve shown some of the better hotel deals offered but what’s been underreported is that they have airfare deals, too. This doesn’t get as much attention because you can’t search their airfare deals online, you have to request a quote. I’m told that their air partners don’t want to publicly reveel (and undercut their own online) pricing.

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Hyatt’s Program Next Year Gives You So Many Free Nights it’s Confusing

by Gary Leff

building overlooking water
Nov 21 2016

There’s been lots of controversy and confusion surrounding Hyatt’s program changes going into effect March 1. I’ve had plenty of thoughts about what the changes mean and there are things I really don’t like (and not just the new names for elite tiers).

I’ve formulated a hotel elite status plan for myself going forward, in light of these changes.

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McDonald’s Lawsuit Revisited: 15 Year Old Sues Virgin Australia After Being Burned By Coffee Inflight

by Gary Leff

ronald mcdonald
Nov 20 2016

You may be familiar with — and even outraged by — the famous lawsuit against McDonald’s by Stella Liebeck who was burned by hot coffee.

The jury’s $2.7 million award has long been a poster child for tort reform (the judge actually reduced her award to $480,000).

We now have a new McDoanld’s case from the skies. A 15 year old flying Los Angeles – Sydney is suing Virgin Australia after getting burned by hot coffee.

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GREAT DEAL: Free Elite Status for American Airlines Holiday and Winter Travel

by Gary Leff

Nov 20 2016

Just in time for the holidays, you can have free checked bags on American Airlines. You can have Priority Boarding, too, which means you’ll get on the plane early enough that there’s still overhead bin space available. And forget long check-in lines, if you have to check in with a person rather than online or at a kiosk you get to use Priority Check-in.

These are benefits of “oneworld ruby” status, the entry-level status of American’s oneworld partners.

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