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 »

I’d Do Anything for Miles. But I Won’t Do That.

by Gary Leff

Sep 20 2015

You can earn miles for shipments of very bad wine. Now there’s a new offer with Spirit Airlines, the carrier that used to sell wine in a can. It matches them perfectly.

I did this once. Back in 2009 there was an offer of 4836 Northwest Worldperks miles for a single $41.94 order. I cancelled after the first shipment and did get the miles.

But the wine was so undrinkable that no matter how many promotions there have been over the past five years since that, I haven’t bitten.

Continue Reading »

Amazing Iberia Business Class Award Space to Europe Using British Airways or American Miles (Without Big Fuel Surcharges)

by Gary Leff

Sep 19 2015

Booking Europe awards with American miles can be tough. American releases very little space on its own flights, and their primary transatlantic partner is British Airways — and British Airways fuel surcharges can be truly choke-worthy.

Fortunately Iberia business class award space for two passengers is fantastic in July and August of next year.

Continue Reading »

American’s Website Has Been Updated, But Some Things Are… Missing

by Gary Leff

Sep 19 2015

Yesterday I wrote about a new feature on American’s website to track checked bags in real time.

A couple of things seem missing though. American lets you request your meal ahead of time (up to 24 hours prior to flight) if you’re confirmed in first class on a meal flight. However the option to do so does not appear on reservations at this time.

Perhaps it will appear closer to departure, but there’s no button for a same day flight change.

Continue Reading »

TSA Eliminated Free PreCheck to Make Room For… Free PreCheck!

by Gary Leff

Sep 18 2015

There have been a flurry of stories over the past couple of days about how TSA was no longer going to send random people into the PreCheck security lines.

In reality they’re ending the ‘Managed Inclusion II’ program and replacing it with… ‘Managed Inclusion III’. So they’re still going to be sending unexpecting passengers through PreCheck, just using dogs to pick people and not just people to pick people.

Continue Reading »