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 »

Major Indicator of Economic Downturn: FedEx Pilots Being Told To Leave For American Airlines

cockpit with pilot
Nov 03 2023

FedEx pilot crews have been told that – despite the national pilot shortage – they are overstaffed, because air cargo demand is down. Pilots are receiving minimum hours only, for the most part, and they expect that to remain “for the foreseeable future.” This is an industry-wide issue.

As a result, the shipping company is telling its pilots to go work for American Airlines through one of their regional airlines.

Continue Reading »

Exposed: The Backroom Deal That Just Crushed LA’s Homeless-Hotel Initiative And Handed A Union Power

Nov 03 2023

A Los Angeles ballot measure which would have required hotels to house the homeless was revealed to be a strategic ploy by the union representing hotel housekeepers to negotiate labor terms. Ultimately, a deal was struck to circumvent voters, imposing new regulations on hotel development rather than enforcing the homeless accommodation mandate.

Continue Reading »

Navigating the Turbulence: American Airlines’ 36-Hour Marathon and How to Dodge Flight Delays

Nov 03 2023

A traveler recounts the harrowing experience of a seemingly unending series of delays on American Airlines, culminating in an unexpected 36-hour journey. The post delves into strategic tips for passengers to mitigate the impact of such delays, including insights on frequent flyer programs, passenger rights, and proactive flight management.

Continue Reading »

From Midair Meltdown to Meme Queen: The Unstoppable Rise of ‘Crazy Plane Lady’

Nov 03 2023

The Dallas-based marketing executive who gained viral notoriety as the ‘Crazy Plane Lady’ after causing a scene on an American Airlines flight, warning passengers of impending doom, has since leveraged the incident into a personal brand, complete with social media following, giveaways, and hinting at a potential move to create premium content.

Continue Reading »

Insane Hotel Deal: Capital One $200 Off $200 (Really, No Minimum Spend, $200 Off)

Nov 02 2023

Several readers let me know that Capital One Travel has a special $200 off offer for hotel stays in their ‘Premier Collection’ for Venture X and Venture X Business cardmembers. There is no minimum spend for the night. Book a $201 all-in room, and the cost will come to $1 for the night.

The offer was available in my account as well. If it’s targeted, it is widely targeted. Just go to Capital One Travel in the rewards section of your account and at the top of the page you’ll see ‘Offers’ highlighted by a light blue ribbon.

Continue Reading »