Gary Leff, Author at View from the Wing

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 »

Why Are We So Afraid of Premium Economy?

by Gary Leff on December 10, 2015

Dec 10 2015

I’m actually reasonably excited about yesterday’s American Airlines announcement that they’ll be adding a premium economy product to their international widebody fleet (other than their Boeing 767s which are slated for retirement).

The only meaningful downside, it seems to me, is the potentially bad news surrounding the unanswered question of how upgrades will work — whether the introduction of premium economy means that upgrading from economy will mean a premium economy seat, rather than a business class seat. But it doesn’t have to mean that at all.

Starwood Just Added a New Star Alliance Transfer Partner With Fantastic Business/First Class Award Pricing

by Gary Leff on December 10, 2015

Dec 10 2015

Starwood’s Starpoints are already the most valuable loyalty program currency.

They have the most airline transfer partners where points transfer 1:1 and of course when you move Starwood points into 20,000 miles you get 5000 bonus miles. That gets you effectively a 1:1.25 transfer ratio with most airline partners.

Now they have a new transfer partner that may just offer the single best Star Alliance award chart. Here’s why.

Executive Assistant to Delta Senior Vice Presidents Stole $280,000 With Delta American Express Card

by Gary Leff on December 10, 2015

Dec 10 2015

A former executive assistant to two Delta Senior Vice President made $280,000 in personal charges on her company American Express card between 2007 and 2014.

Apparently she “used another person’s credentials to log onto Delta’s online expense-approval system and approve the expenses..”

500 Free Points and What First Class Was Like in 1958

by Gary Leff on December 10, 2015

Dec 10 2015

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

United’s New International Business Class Seat is Coming Next Year

by Gary Leff on December 10, 2015

Dec 10 2015

We’ll start to see United’s new business class product in Boeing 777-300ERs that they’ll start to receive at the end of 2016.

United started previewing the seat in early September. A reader shared an invitation to a United event where it was being unveiled privately. They’ve worked hard to keep it under wraps, and United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson refused to confirm details offering only, “It may be… Or may not be.”