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 »

American Airlines Wants the Government to Give it an Extra Flight at Washington National Airport

by Gary Leff

Aug 17 2015

With Sun Country ending service at Lansing, that means the end of non-stop service from Michigan’s capital to Washington National airport and indeed the end of non-stop service to the DC area and even the Northeast.

National airport is slot controlled, but Sun Country had an ‘exemption’ from slots for their flights rather than having their own slots. American Airlines is petitioning the FAA for a slot exemption so it can serve this market in Sun Country’s place, arguing that it’s an important market to preserve service in.

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Loyalty Programs Are Complicated. A Good Consumer Advocate Helps Educate You on How to Win!

by Gary Leff

Aug 16 2015

Christopher Elliott argues in the Washington Post that rewards credit cards aren’t worth it because of the ‘headache’.

He doesn’t just think you should avoid loyalty programs and credit card benefits (his usual tact). He thinks the government ought to step in (“it’s time for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to say, “Enough is enough.”).

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Woman Dragged Shrieking Off United Express Plane… and All She’d Have Needed Was a Fake Doctor’s Note

by Gary Leff

Aug 16 2015

This video is mocking, but I think it’s really sad…a woman allegedly “wouldn’t put her growling dog in its carrier, got belligerent with the flight attendant” and so the United Express plane returned to the gate. Cops removed her from the flight, and she put up a flight. You can hear shrieks. The man traveling with her takes some time to decide whether to follow her off the plane.

Perhaps all she needed was a fake letter from a doctor claiming her dog was an emotional support animal.

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When a Pilot’s ‘Game’ Gets in the Way of Important Passenger Needs

by Gary Leff

Aug 15 2015

Last night I flew Washington National to Dallas and when it was time for one of the crew up front to use the lavatory, normal procedure was followed to block the aisle. Only our pilot didn’t take care of business. He spent 20 minutes flirting in the galley.

It wasn’t all that long after meal service. Small children sitting in the cabin needed to go to the bathroom. So did the woman across the aisle from me. You could see them squirming in their seats.

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Here’s What American’s New Meals are Really Like Inflight

by Gary Leff

Aug 15 2015

Last night was my first opportunity to try one of the new domestic first class dinner entrees that American rolled out August 1 (although I remain happy with the entree salads that rolled out May 1, up until yesterday I’ve only been on breakfast or lunch flights in August).

Here’s what the steak and lobster mac and cheese looked like in the test kitchen…

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