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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Why Dr. Fauci Is Wrong On A Domestic Air Travel Vaccine Mandate

by Gary Leff

Dec 27 2021

Dr. Anthony Fauci has been making the rounds on public affairs programs for several days talking up vaccination requirements for domestic travel. He emphasizes in each case that it makes sense for international travel to keep virus cases out of the country (but unvaccinated Americans are allowed to return, and the virus is already spreading here rapidly).

Fauci then goes on to suggest that a domestic vaccine travel requirement would make sense, not to ‘keep the virus out’, but to serve as an incentive to get vaccinated. In addition to being legally questionable, it may wind up having the opposite effect Fauci hopes.

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Nationalist Writer Goes After United Airlines For Offering… Too Much Comfort

by Gary Leff

Dec 27 2021

British writer Raheem Kassam is the kind of conservative who hates business and free markets, preferring to ‘own the libs’ and take control of government to enforce the values he prefers. He’s hosted a podcast with Steve Bannon, ran Breitbart News London and when he ran for leader of pro-Brexit UK party UKIP he supported lifting their ban on white nationalist parties. He’s also anti-vaccine.

And now he’s going after United Airlines for offering more comfortable seats. Has 2021 finally lost it?

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American Airlines Could Offer A Great International First Class Product. Here’s How.

by Gary Leff

Dec 27 2021

As the only U.S. carrier offering international first class and on a limited number of aircraft, there’s potential to make it work. There’s even less competition among foreign carriers for the market. American just hasn’t made the investment to do so.

American has the potential to offer a really competitive product. Already they have several of the pieces.

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In Big Change, Qantas Will Bring Back Iconic Airbus A380 In Just Two Weeks

by Gary Leff

plane water salute
Dec 27 2021

The pandemic kept kept much of Qantas grounded. Their Airbus A380 wasn’t supposed to return until June 2023 “at the earliest.” But the Australian government allowing its citizens to again leave the country, and residents to return, led to a re-start of the airline’s international route network and a planned return of the world’s largest passenger jet on the Los Angeles – Sydney route in July 2022. And then moved the re-introduction date up to March.

Now, because of increased coronavirus precautions rather than re-opening, the airline will again move up the A380 jumbo jet’s return to just two weeks from now on January 11.

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“Sit Down Karen, You’re Going To Jail” Passenger Taken Into Custody After Delta Flight From Florida

by Gary Leff

Dec 25 2021

On a Tampa to Atlanta flight on Thursday a Delta Air Lines passenger was “acting belligerent with an older flight attendant” according to a passenger on board. That’s when another passenger “intervened and things escalated really quickly.”

The incident with the flight attendant had been calming down, it seems, but the man’s intervention created a whole new drama between the two passengers. That’s when “the two of them started going at it and …the woman started screaming and then she yelled in the grinch [redacted] and got in the guy’s face.”

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Video: Fight Erupts Mid-Cabin As Loud Talker Wouldn’t Keep His Mask On

by Gary Leff

Dec 25 2021

A brawl broke out on Delta flight 1136 from LAX to Memphis as a man – whom an eyewitness said “appeared to be drinking” upset other passengers by being loud and “not keeping his mask on.”

This prompted another passenger to get snarky with the man, and this escalated into a fight. Which escalated into a bigger fight. And soon several people were involved ostensibly to break up the fight by fighting themselves.

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Here’s Which Marriott Choice Benefits You Should Select

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Dec 24 2021

I’m going to ignore the math here and just say I don’t need the free night and I’ll enjoy the possible upgrade more if it comes through. In other words I’m going to waste money, perhaps frivolously, on something I’ll enjoy.

Why is it a waste? Because I’m probably better off taking the free night, saving $240 in cash I’d otherwise spend on a room, and using that cash for a better room on another stay or indeed on something other than a Marriott upgrade I’ll enjoy more. I’m going to do the thing that’s irrational because I’m rational enough to know that I’ll enjoy the irrationality.

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