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 »

Court Rules US Domestic Flight Delays Can Be Subject To EU Compensation

by Gary Leff

Apr 08 2022

ike many carriers, United Airlines and Lufthansa operate a ‘joint venture’ where they share revenue for their operations across the Atlantic. There’s not supposed to be any difference between traveling on a United flight or a Lufthansa flight. Both airlines put their flight codes on the other carrier’s flights. That means United sells Lufthansa flights as though they were United flights with a United flight number, and vice versa.

But if Lufthansa is going to sell United flights as though the fights were their own, then those flights become subject to European consumer protection rules.

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Amtrak Asks TSA To Check Passengers Against No Fly List

by Gary Leff

Apr 07 2022

For years, advocates of the security state dismissed civil rights concerns over intrusive TSA searches and requirements that air passengers show their papers by suggesting people have a choice – that this is all optional – they could take the train instead.

No more. The government’s rail corporation, Amtrak, has now asked the TSA to check passengers lists against the No Fly List.

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New: United Explorer Card 70,000 Bonus Miles

by Gary Leff

airline seat with teddy bear
Apr 07 2022

The United Explorer Card has an offer to earn up to 70,000 bonus miles: 60,000 after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months and an additional 10,000 after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months. That’s still just an average of $1000 a month, so easily doable for most readers.

This is a nice improvement over most of the elevated offers there have been for this card. And it comes with a $0 the first year then $95 annual fee so you aren’t even paying that first year fee in exchange for the additional miles.

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American Airlines Threatens To Fire Flight Attendants Who Leave Their Base While On Reserve

by Gary Leff

Apr 07 2022

American Airlines sent out a memo to cabin crew this week threatening to terminate them if they aren’t near the airport when called to work a flight while on reserve. The airline is correct on the contract language and requirements, but managed to offend many of their crew who felt blamed for the airline’s operational problems over the last several days.

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Another New Cardless Card, Things Are Really Heating Up Through Narrowcasting

by Gary Leff

Apr 07 2022

It also includes digital matchday programmes for every Premier League home match and access to a dedicated online Members’ Area for prize drawing and content; discounts on Anfield Stadium Tours and food from the Boot Room Sports Café as well as an LFC pen, pin badge, and keyring upon LFC International Membership initiation. Cardholders also receive LFCTV GO complimentary for the first year; and then with LFC International Membership, cardholders receive 50% off LFCTV GO each following year.

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American Airlines Flight Attendants Left Sleeping At The Airport And Sharing Rooms As Flights Cancelled

by Gary Leff

Apr 06 2022

This past weekend American’s operation melted down, along with other airlines including Southwest, Delta, and JetBlue. Once again the flight attendants union reports that crew had no hotels, and even worse that the airline – which was cancelling flights due to lack of crew – didn’t even keep track of where their flight attendants were to reassign them to trips to get customers home.

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