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 »

Northwest Elite Status for Asia Residents

by Gary Leff on March 19, 2006

Mar 19 2006

Northwest is again explicitly targeting Asia-Pacific frequent flyers with offers of an elite status match. Details are rather scarce on the website, certainly they’ll match up to Gold (mid-tier) but I wonder whether they’ll go to Platinum since they’re looking for any possible incremental revenue while in bankruptcy. Presumably matched status will last through the end of the year. No information is provided on what documentation is required of your existing status levels.In all likelihood this will operate in a similar manner as when they offered it in 2005, detailed discussion of which can be found at Flyertalk.com.

Travel items you can’t live without

by Gary Leff on March 19, 2006

Alex Tabarrok notes his favorite items for travel: an inexpensive noise-cancelling headset, a Paul Frederick non-iron dress shirt, and his Kodak DX7590 digital camera. Allow me to suggest a wireless pocket router. Too many hotels have wired high-speed internet. I don’t always want to sit at the desk to work (especially frustrating at resort properties with balconies overlooking the ocean!). Or sometimes my wife travels with me and we’d both like to be online. This is the one I’ve been using, about $40 + shipping after $10 rebate. Second, power converters. Magellan’s has a nice website that’ll figure out for you just want converters and adapters you need, wherever in the world you’re traveling (I was shocked to find them accurate for Rwanda!). And don’t forget that clicking on the link to Magellan’s at ebates.com…

Netflix Signup Bonus

by Gary Leff on March 18, 2006

Mar 18 2006

Via Free Frequent Flyer Miles (actually, I got the email myself several days ago and then promptly forgot), you can get 4000 United bonus miles for signing up for Netflix. (Registration required.)It’s 2000 miles after your first month (minimum cost $9.95) and 2000 more miles for paying with a United Visa (which you can get free the first year and 20,000 bonus miles).

200 Free Northwest Miles

by Gary Leff on March 17, 2006

Mar 17 2006

Check out the quick Northwest Worldperks 101 and take the quiz (you really can’t fail) and earn 100 miles plus you’ll be registered to earn 2,000 miles when flying within 90 days. At the end of the quiz you have the option to move on to Worldperks 102 for another 100 miles plus you’ll be registered for 1,000 miles when making 2 qualifying purchases within 60 days.The 200 miles for the quizzes post instantly.

Westin LAX: Not so bad?

by Gary Leff on March 16, 2006

InFlightHQ stays at the Westin ex-LAX and doesn’t come away thinking it’s bloody awful. I hope he didn’t pay more than $55 for it (a frequently available Priceline rate, though when Pricelining 4* at the LA airport one hopes for the Sheraton). This hotel is likely the very worst Westin. Ok, maybe InFlightHQ wasn’t actually happy with his room… my room smelled like french fries, kalamari, and onion rings. Personally, at LAX I’d even prefer the Four Points.

Diners Club BA Transfer Bonus is Back

by Gary Leff on March 15, 2006

Mar 15 2006

Looks like the 50% bonus on Diners Club transfers to British Airways is back, valid between May 1 and August 31, 2006. There’s no information online yet but it’s mentioned in the program insert that comes with March bills. Not as good as the old days where the bonus was 100% during the summer, but better than a hole in the head and a welcome relief considering recent cutbacks in the Diners Club Club Rewards program. I’ll be taking advantage of this one, topping off my BA account for some transatlantic premium class flying… especially since the alternate uses for Diners Club points have dwindled with the departure of United, USAirways, America West, Northwest, and Continental from the program. Update: Details are available on the British Airways website though not yet on the Diners Club…

Amtrak’s Brilliant New Business Idea

by Gary Leff on March 15, 2006

Since they can’t make running trains profitable, Amtrak is planning to build a hotel out of part of the Baltimore train station. The station is a terrible location for a hotel and the project has been unable to attract private financing or even a *brand* (like Sheraton, Marriott, etc) in the past. The best the piece can find an analyst to say about the project is that the hotel might get business if all the other hotels in Baltimore are full… … Though I suppose they could get business from Amtrak stranding passengers. Heh. (Hat tip to Hotel Chatter.)

Airlines and Customers Spending More Money on Seats

by Gary Leff on March 15, 2006

I’ve gotten a few emails asking me why I haven’t commented on Northwest’s plan to charge a $15 premium for their ‘best’ coach seats. While there’s the risk of holding back some elite seating and generating some marginal revenue, I more or less see it as a non-event because outside of the exit rows Northwest really doesn’t offer any decent seats in coach worth paying extra for. And the few times that there are actual seats somewhat (barely) better than others in coach, they aren’t necessarily the ones that Northwest will be charging more money for. As always, consult Seat Guru for your choice of seat and by all means don’t pay Northwest extra for their pitiful coach product. (At least United’s forward rows in coach offer additional legroom…) Meanwhile, United announced that it will…

Freddies Balloting About to End

by Gary Leff on March 14, 2006

Voting for the Freddie Awards closes tomorrow, March 15. So this is your last shot to cast your ballot for the best programs, awards, and bonuses of the year. I posted my own take on who deserves accolades back on February 1, in case you need any ideas about how to cast your own vote . . .

Which Sheraton or Marriott Near DCA???

by Gary Leff on March 14, 2006

Brad DeLong discovers that hotel names can be confusing even within the same brand. The Crystal Gateway Marriott is not the Crystal City Marriott. The Crystal City Marriott is not the Crystal Gateway Marriott. In the same neighborhood it’s also important to know that the Sheraton National is not the closest Sheraton to National Airport. Until recently there was a hotel called Sheraton Pentagon South — which was not the closest Sheraton to the Pentagon. (That honor belongs to the Sheraton National.) So if you’re looking for a Starwood property near National Airport you book the Sheraton Crystal City and if you want one near the Pentago you book the Sheraton National. And if you want a Sheraton in the Nation’s Capital you can’t, because there is no Sheraton in the District of Columbia (except…

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About Gary Leff