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 »

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Customer Service Blunder: How Hyatt Charged An Elite Guest $137 For A ‘Free’ Gift

by Gary Leff

Oct 19 2023

A reader stayed at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay for his wife’s 50th birthday weekend. He’s a “Globalist,” a top elite with Hyatt for the past decade or more. And one of the benefits of this status is a dedicated ‘concierge’ who helps with reservations, upgrades, billing and points issues and other hotel matters.

Since his concierge knew that it was a special weekend, she contacted the hotel about delivering something to the room for the occasion. The hotel did. And they charged the guest for it, at full room service prices.

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[UPDATE: Now Live] Hyatt Launching Homesharing Platform Like Marriott Homes & Villas

by Gary Leff

Oct 19 2023

Marriott has an affiliate commission-earning business, and they rebate part of that commission in the form of points.

Hyatt is getting into the homeshare marketing business too with Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt. It will launch “in the coming weeks” with domestic markets “like Hawaii, Florida and Colorado,” and eventually expand to international markets as well.

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Flight Takes Off With Plane’s Door Still Open

by Gary Leff

Oct 19 2023

We’ve seen belligerent or drunk passengers try to open the door of a commercial aircraft while inflight. And unless the plane is at sufficiently low altitude, or a door’s seal fails, it will almost always be pressurized such that this is impossible.

What I don’t think I’ve seen before is an flight that takes off with a door that’s still open!

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United Flight Attendants Told: Pack Flashlight, Latex Gloves Due To Bed Bugs

by Gary Leff

Oct 19 2023

The United Airlines flight attendants union, AFA-CWA, is telling crewmembers to pack (1) a flashlight and (2) latex gloves, so they can search for bedbugs during their trips. The union also reports cabin crew at Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Hawaiian, Spirit and others including American Airlines wholly-owned regional carriers Envoy Airlines, Piedmont, and PSA. Members are being told to be vigilant about bedbugs, not only at international carriers flying to Paris, where infestations have gotten the most attention lately. Check the mattress for bed bug remains That means looking at the corner of the mattress, seams, and labels Crew are advised that while the headboard is a place they can be found, not to actually remove the headboard because they could be liable for damage. Flight attendants are also advised to use hard sided luggage rather…

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Amex Refreshes Premium Hilton Card, And The Changes Are… Ok?

by Gary Leff

condado plaza hilton
Oct 19 2023

Hilton’s premium co-brand is interesting because it straight up comes with Honors Diamond status, though I view Hilton Diamond as worth less than similar status at Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG (no guaranteed late check-out from Hilton or IHG, even, but at least IHG offers confirmed suites).

The premium card is also the only one where Hilton spend is more rewarding that putting it on an alternative card.

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6 Things I Learned On The American Airlines Earnings Call Today

by Gary Leff

Oct 19 2023

They’re in a bit of a pickle because they don’t have the financial strength and performance to absorb higher labor costs, and may be tempted to squeeze elsewhere. But this constrains revenue growth potential, and makes for an even bigger problem. As a high cost airline they also need to be a high revenue airline, which means offering a better product not just a reliable domestic schedule.

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