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 »

Please Don’t Waste Your Bilt Points With New Transfer Partner Marriott

Nov 08 2023

Marriott may be offended by this. Bilt probably won’t like it either. But I’m laying down truth here, and it’s simple math. Marriott points transfers are simply a low value use of Bilt points. You can transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan, United or American, Turkish and more. Anyone paying a little bit of attention can do better than a transfer to Marriott.

Continue Reading »

American Airlines Reminds Flight Attendants Not To Provide Better Service To Coach Passengers

airline cabin
Nov 07 2023

American Airlines has sent a reminder to flight attendants not to go above and beyond for passengers in economy. The airline told cabin crew that they shouldn’t give economy passengers blankets, pillows, or treats from business class. American framed this as consistency, which is to say making sure that there are no occasional surprise and delight moments in the coach cabin.

Continue Reading »

Lawsuit: American Airlines ‘Misplaced’ Two Kids In A ‘Jail Cell’ Without Food Or Water

Nov 07 2023

A mother is suing American Airlines for negligence after her two children, flying as unaccompanied minors, were stranded overnight in Charlotte without proper care, being placed in a cold, bare room without food or water. The lawsuit claims the airline failed to provide the promised amenities for the children, and although the airline refunded the unaccompanied minor fees, she is seeking damages for their alleged recklessness and failure to adhere to their own procedures.

Continue Reading »

United Airlines Passenger Checked A Bottle Of Tequila. Someone Took A Shot Before It Hit Baggage Claim.

Nov 07 2023

A United Airlines passenger’s checked luggage, containing a sealed bottle of tequila, was returned with the seal broken and the contents partially consumed, raising concerns about the security and integrity of airline baggage handling. The incident echoes previous cases, including one with a bottle of whiskey, prompting United to offer compensation and highlighting the challenges of ensuring personal items remain untouched during transit.

Continue Reading »

Robert DeNiro Claims His Assistant Stole 5 Million Delta Miles, Which He Values At 4.3 Cents Apiece

Nov 06 2023

Robert DeNiro says his assistant stole 5 million Delta SkyMiles from his account. A lawsuit previously claimed it was 7 million miles, valued at 4.3 cents apiece.

He says his former assistant-turned-Vice President of Production and Finance, who is suing him, misappropriated company funds including using the corporate Amex for personal trips. She says that as his $300,000 a year personal assistant he had unreasonable expectations (like ordering UberEats for him at 11 p.m.) and creepy ones (like scratching his back).

Continue Reading »