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 »

$100 Visa Infinite Companion Airfare Discount… But You Can No Longer Game It?

american plane
Nov 02 2016

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card offers a $100 discount on the cost of two passengers traveling roundtrip in domestic economy.

The discount allows between 2 and 5 passengers to travel on the same itinerary and the cardmember must be one of those passengers. However there may have been a change to the benefit that makes it less game-able.

Continue Reading »

New Premium Bath Soap C.O. Bigelow Being Introduced to… American Airlines Coach?!

Nov 01 2016

Some airlines use premium bath amenities in their lavatory as part of signaling their quality product. For instance when I flew Etihad earlier this year they were using Le Labo in first class and Acca Kappa in the Residence. I’ve had Ferragamo Tuscan Soul in Singapore Airlines first class.

Usually the best stuff is confined to amenity kits, though, and not the lavatories. And certainly not the lavatories in coach.

Continue Reading »

50% Discount on Purchase of Starwood Points, Buy Your Choice of Airline Miles for 1.4 Cents Apiece

Nov 01 2016

Starwood is offering a 50% discount on purchase of Starpoints. This is the biggest discount ever on Starwood Starpoints, which I believe is the most valuable currency (one point is worth more than one of any other point).

The ‘regular’ discount that Starwood runs occasionally is 25%, and the biggest previous discount was 35% over the summer.

Continue Reading »

12 Thoughts on Hyatt’s New Elite Program Launching in March

Oct 31 2016

Here are the full details of Hyatt’s new program which launches March 1. This is their biggest revamp since 2009.

Hyatt has improved their benefits for top tier elites, while making top tier tougher to earn. They remain uncompetitive at the mid-tier. And they’re diminished the importance of their credit card at a time the rest of the industry is swelling elite ranks through credit card partnerships.

Continue Reading »