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 »

No, the CIA Didn’t Blow Up Malaysia AIrlines Flight MH17. Why Do You Ask?

by Gary Leff

Apr 25 2016

There’s a new BBC documentary exploring alternate theories of what happened to the Malaysia Airlines MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that crashed on July 17, 2014 after being shot down. The Boeing 777-200ER was carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew. All were killed.

It’s fairly settled that the plane was shot down by a surface to air missile filed from within Ukraine, in an area controlled by pro-Russian forces (the “Donbass People’s Militia”). However, this new BBC documentary explores alternate — pro-Russian — theories of the event.

Continue Reading »

This Woman Lived at the Waldorf Astoria for Over 50 Years, Owed a Million Dollars in Back Rent

by Gary Leff

Apr 24 2016

Rosalind “Roz” Cole was an agent who represented several celebrities including Andy Warhol, Errol Flynn, and Olivia de Havilland. She owed $1 million to the Waldorf Astoria in New York when she died.

She stopped paying years ago and refused to leave. Her family doesn’t want her estate – worth more than $2 million – to pay because the property should have “resolved [this] while Cole was alive.”

Continue Reading »

Air India: Worst Negotiator in the World, Fails to Get Purchase Protection From Boeing

by Gary Leff

Apr 24 2016

The airline that can’t rid itself of rats on its planes can’t negotiate when purchasing planes, either.

They’ve had to ground their Boeing 787s multiple times, and incurred losses as a result, but “There is no provision for (financial) compensation with respect to technical problems in Dreamliner under the agreement signed with Boeing.” They have to accept Boeing 777 aircraft that they do not want, too.

Continue Reading »

Minnesotans Want to Rename Delta’s Minneapolis Terminal for Prince

by Gary Leff

Apr 24 2016

Terminal 1 of Minneapolis-St. Paul airport is named for Charles Lindbergh, who grew up in Minnesota. The 2.8 million square foot, 114 gate terminal houses Delta’s hub as well as operations for United, American, Frontier, Air Canada, Alaska, and Air France.

Now there’s a change.org petition to strip Lindbergh’s name off the terminal and redesignate it for Prince.

Continue Reading »

We Have a Winner for Creepiest Passenger Ever! Subway Manager Rubs Lotion All Over Sleeping Woman Inflight

by Gary Leff

Apr 23 2016

Vying to be the creepiest passenger ever faces stiff competition. There was the Japanese man watching porn and groping the woman seated next to him and the naked couple having sex in their seat while halfway covering up with their jackets.

But a 42 year old Pakistani from Staten Island who manages a Subway was convicted this week for being worse than any other passenger, ever.

Continue Reading »