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 »

Georgetown Suite Review: Park Hyatt DC Luxe, Budget Prices Right Now

Dec 29 2024

This is an aging property. It’s been kept up well, but it’s time to renovate. It’s no longer one of the top-end luxury hotels in the city. During non-peak periods, you’ll find the hotel under $300 a night though, which is a great price point for what you’re getting. They do consistently upgrade Globalist members when they can, though, at a minimum to a junior suite.

Continue Reading »

52 Years Ago Eastern Flight 401 Crashed in the Everglades. Did Cockpit Crew Haunt The Airline?

Dec 29 2024

Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 departed New York for Miami on December 29, 1972. The Lockheed L-1011 crashed into the Florida Everglades. Both pilots and the flight engineer died, along with 2 out of 10 flight attendants and 96 of the 163 passengers on board. There were 75 survivors.

According to lore, one flight was cancelled after the ghost of Captain Bob Loft appeared and disappeared in front a three members of the flight’s crew. Another flight’s captain reported seeing flight engineer Don Repo in his cockpit. Repo told him there would never be another crash of an L-1011.

Continue Reading »

Heartbreaking Week For Aviation Capped Off By 170+ Lives Lost In South Korea Boeing 737 Disaster

Dec 29 2024

This was a horrible week for aviation. In a devastating aviation disaster, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, registration HL8088, operating flight 7C-2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport in South Korea, crashed on Sunday morning, resulting in the loss of more than 170 lives. The incident marks the deadliest air disaster involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades.

Continue Reading »

Drunk Russian Passenger Attacks Aeroflot Crew, ‘Tears Apart Flexcuffs,’ And Tries To Smash Window

Dec 28 2024

He unleashed a barrage of verbal abuse directed at both airline staff and fellow travelers, screaming and then also kicking employees in a drunken frenzy.

Other passengers stepped in to restrain the man using seatbelts but he broke free, tearing apart flexcuffs that had been applied by crew. He then went to smash the window with his fist. That’s when they diverted.

Continue Reading »

‘You Don’t Know Who My Father Is!’ Drunken Passenger’s Racist Outburst On FlySafair Flight Sparks Political Backlash

Dec 28 2024

The passenger reportedly boarded the flight already appearing intoxicated. Once inflight, she demanded to be served more. A flight attendant refused, and she hurled a drink in one cabin crew member’s face and shoved another. She repeatedly used racial slurs and exclaimed, “You don’t know who my father is,” and “I’m an ANC b**ch,” while also claiming to be a “mystery shopper.”

Continue Reading »