Gary Leff, Author at View from the Wing

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 »

$94 Vacation to Hawaii

by Gary Leff on January 19, 2006

Jan 19 2006

Northwest Vacations is offering airfare and two nights in Hawaii from $94. Choose one person. I’ve found travel between March 1 and March 31. You’re using promo code WVRQ400 and for the cheapest prices will want to pick Monday through Thursday travel. Cities other than Los Angeles for departures are slightly higher. And yes this deal earns Northwest miles. Thanks to Flyertalk. Update Jan 20: The cheapest deals are now gone and the promotion has been revised. No more $94 vacations. Here’s the new promotion in case anyone finds it useful.

QuickBook Improves Best Rate Guarantee

by Gary Leff on January 18, 2006

From Meg Mueller’s hotel blog, QuickBook has extended its best rate guarantee to allow you to find a better price within 72 hours of booking rather than the industry standard 24 hours. Internet booking site Quikbook just upped the ante in the stakes of “why book here” on the Web. The company has extended its “best-rate guarantee” to 72 hours after booking. Most hotel sites and online booking agents (Orbitz, Hotels.com, etc..) offer a refund or matching price if you find a lower rate on the same room at the same hotel, but that offer generally expires after just 24 hours. Quikbook also has one of the better cancellation policies on the Web, charging nothing if it’s a “pay when you get there” hotel. For pre-paid reservations, cancellation fees run just $10 for changes made…

Crazy New York Hotel Prices, Part 763212487

by Gary Leff on January 17, 2006

Joe Sharkey’s column today is on mid-market hotels and the absurd prices they go for in Manhattan. This subject is simply a gold mine that keeps on giving to journalists. Most of the country is shocked at what a hotel night goes for in New York, after all. But what to do? People from out of town sometimes ask me in tones of desperation where they can find a hotel for less than $150 a night. “You could try the Jersey side of the Holland Tunnel,” I joke. Please don’t actually follow this advice, because the cheap motels on that bank of the river are not particularly known for restful activities such as sleep. I dropped Joe a note about the Jersey City Hyatt which frequently goes for $179 at Hyatt.com and can be had…

The Growing Influence of a Small Number of Travel Blogs

by Gary Leff on January 17, 2006

Christopher Elliott mentions View from the Wing and several other travel blogs — inclusing some that are new to me — in a column in today’s New York Times. If there is such a thing as an established business travel blog, it probably belongs to Gary Leff, the chief financial officer of a university research center in the Washington, D.C. area. Mr. Leff’s “View from the Wing” (blogs.flyertalk.com/viewwing/) focuses on award-related news interspersed with his personal observation about travel. He rips into the Westin Sydney in Australia, for example, for adding a $1.30 fee to his bill as “a donation” to a United Nations charity, and says he is little mollified by the fact it removed the charge after he complained. But unlike political bloggers, who tend to approach their Web journals with a strong…

Continental Increases Pricing for Unrestricted Awards

by Gary Leff on January 16, 2006

Jan 16 2006

Continental posted several changes to their frequent flyer program today: You can now receive your BusinessFirst upgrade rewards until 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure. Previously, 72 hours were required. Effective February 1, 2006, you may redeem reward travel within the 48 contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada on round-trip flights of 1,500 miles or less for only 20,000 miles. Effective April 1, 2006, some Easy Pass BusinessFirst reward mileage requirements will change: Routes between: Miles requiredbefore 4/1/06 Miles required4/1/06 and after N. America and Asia 240,000 250,000 N. America and Europe 200,000 250,000 N.Amer & India/Africa/Mideast 240,000 250,000 N. America and Tel Aviv 200,000 250,000 Hawaii and Europe 220,000 270,000 Hawaii and Tel Aviv 220,000 270,000 Asia or Europe & S. Amer. 240,000 280,000 The introduction of 20,000 miles for flights under 1500…

Double United Miles for Tax Payments

by Gary Leff on January 16, 2006

Jan 16 2006

On Thursday I mentioned that the Starwood American Express is offering double points for tax payments. According to Free Frequent Flyer Miles the United Visa is offering double points on tax payments as well.

Marriott’s MegaBonus Returns in February

by Gary Leff on January 15, 2006

Jan 15 2006

Marriott’s ‘MegaBonus’ returns from February 15 through May 15. You must register to find out which bonus you’re targeted for. The possibilities: MGS61 – Earn 2,500 points/stay, beginning with 2nd stay, up to 10,000 MGS62 – Earn 5,000 points every 3rd stay, up to 25,000 pts MGS63 – Earn 10,000 points every 3rd stay, up to 30,000 pts MGS64 – Earn 25,000 points for staying 15 nights or more MGS65 – Earn 35,000 points for staying 20 nights or more (Hat tip to Flyertalk.) Since I’m not a Marriott regular I’ve been assigned 2500 bonus points per stay beginning with the second stay.

Earn Points for Donating Blood

by Gary Leff on January 15, 2006

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a blood bank with a loyalty program, but this is always one of the best stories because it seems like such a caricature. The Stewart Regional Blood Center in Tyler, Texas is launching a loyalty program to encourage frequent repeat visits by donors. Club Red allows donors to earn points for each donation that can be redeemed for rewards such as sweatshirts, briefcases, duffel bags, captain’s chairs, desks and radios. Members must promise to make at least three donations per year. The first two donations are worth 50 points each, donations 3 through 7 are worth 100 points each up to 250 points. Throughout the year, Stewart will have promotions offering double or triple points for donating. Donors who donate on Apheresis machines or ALYX will be…

Virgin Increases Award Pricing

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2006

Jan 14 2006

Virgin Atlantic is ‘refreshing’ its program earning and redemption. The upshot is that some awards are getting more expensive, for example Upper Class awards from the U.K. to the U.S. are currently 80,000 points and will be going up to 90,000 points (Boston/New York/Washington DC) or 100,000 points (Miami/Orlando/Vegas/Los Angeles/San Francisco). The old award chart is here.

Check the expiration dates of your buy-on-board meals!

by Gary Leff on January 13, 2006

Jan 13 2006

Some Flyertalkers are reporting that United’s buy-on-board snack boxes are frequently expired. Bought a minimeal yesterday DEN-BWI and noticed the salami (or whatever it is) was dated use by 1/4 – 4 days past due. I ate it anyway Its 24 hours later and so far so good So I looked on the box itself and faintly impressed on the bottom is a date which said 12/16! …which I presume is the packing date… Im not one to complain so I didn’t but you may want to check those dates before you pop it open. Surprising for coming out of a hub… they must have quite a backlog of those meals! A flight attendant suggests exchanging expired meat for fresh meat: We’ve had quite a few snackboxes with outdated items lately. We are happy to…

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	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (See rates and fees)
	Citi® / AAdvantage Business^TM World Elite Mastercard® Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. AAdvantage miles are the currency I've redeemed most.[See rates and fees]

About Gary Leff

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About Gary Leff