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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US Rules Kuwait Airways Must Fly Israeli Citizens

Oct 01 2015

Back in September I wrote about Kuwait Airways denying boarding to an Israeli passport holder. They weren’t flying to Kuwait. They were flying New York – London.

Kuwait’s policy has been challenged, though. Eldad Gatt, a citizen and resident of Israel…filed a DOT complaint under 49 U.S.C. § 40127, which prohibits discrimination “on
the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry” — but the DOT refused to take action arguing that Kuwait Airways was acting legally. The DOT has reconsidered.

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New Twist on Best Offer to Pay Bills With Credit Card, Earn Miles, Meet Minimum Spend

Oct 01 2015

I’ve written about the different offers from Plastiq to pay bills with your credit card (they chrage your card, mail a check to your payee). My favorite offer is 1.5% fees, which they make possible when you pay via MasterCard.

The last offer — any new payee paid via MasterCard for a 1.5% fee — is over. However, through Tuesday October 13 you can make payment of $500 or more to any vendor (new or existing in your Plastiq account) with a MasterCard for a 1.5% fee.

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United, Smisek, and New Jersey: It’s Not the Crime, It’s the Coverup?

Sep 30 2015

Most readers are familiar with the Newark – Columbia, South Carolina flight that United operated at the behest of the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey (which oversees United’s hub at Newark). It was a money-loser that Governor Christie’s appointee David Samson, intimately tied to ‘Bridgegate’, asked for so he could more conveniently commute to and from his weekend home — and that United killed days after Samson’s resignation.

It now looks like there was a cover up in play…

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Hilton Adjusts Points Prices of Several Hotels Effective October 14 (78% are Increases)

Sep 30 2015

After Hilton’s dramatic award chart gutting of nearly two years ago, there weren’t huge changes again this year.

Hilton decided to change the way they made changes to how they re-assign hotels to award categories. Instead of an annual change to tons of hotels (a schedule they really weren’t wedded to in the past anyway) they decided they would make rolling changes throughout the year. And instead of informing all members proactively of these changes, they would just post them on a web page in the name of ‘transparency’.

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American Airlines $99 Companion Ticket Deadline — and a Free Terrace Suite Stay in New York

Sep 30 2015

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.

US Airways companion tickets get a reprieve – a few extra days to use yours. United’s new safety video. Boeing 747s for sale on the cheap. A hotel program eliminates expiring points and goes revenue-based. And more…

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