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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American Airlines Converted Flight Credits Into Trip Credits: What You Need To Know

by Gary Leff

airline ticket
Sep 12 2021

Over the summer I wrote a guide to the mind-numbingly complicated differences between an American Airlines trip credit, travel voucher, flight credit and gift card, including a helpful internal grid that the carrier’s employees use.

American has been replacing paper vouchers with ‘trip credits’ which allow payment towards an adult passenger fare on American and American Airlines codeshares only. These can be used as partial payment towards a ticket (topped off with a credit card) or partially used towards full payment of a ticket, with residual amounts emailed to the passenger. Trip credits can also be used to book yourself an extra seat.

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Marriott Wants You To Pay For Rooms, Even If You Don’t Reserve Them

by Gary Leff

outside marriott hotel
Sep 11 2021

Marriott CEO Tony Capuano lays out a plan to make sure that hotels get their share of taxpayer loot the way airlines did in the next crisis. He is working with the heads of other hotel chains to make future requests for cash about the employees. He also explains how they’ll become more transparent with customers as they work to keep pandemic cuts in place into the future.

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Alitalia Will Keep Flying After October 14, After All

by Gary Leff

alitalia plane
Sep 10 2021

There have been plenty of stories about the end of the Alitalia brand over the past few weeks. But not so fast! Replacement Italian state airline ITA is going to be allowed to buy the Alitalia brand before it launches next month. They still won’t, however, be able to acquire the frequent flyer program so loyalty program members get the short end of the stick.

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How To Spot Hidden Cameras In Your Hotel Room Or Airbnb

by Gary Leff

do not disturb sign on hotel room door
Sep 10 2021

No one is going to intentionally stick a camera in a hotel room to catch me in the shower, but the video camera might be there anyway, and it’s really creepy.

Cameras are often concealed inside of devices you’d expect to find in a room like a clock radio, a smoke detector, or inside an air conditioning vent. A viral TikTok video shows how to find any hidden cameras in your hotel room or Airbnb.

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Alaska Senator Can’t Vote On Legislation Because She’s Been Banned From Flying Over Masks

by Gary Leff

Sep 10 2021

In April, anti-mask Alaska state senator Lora Reinbold – who had been fined for reusing to properly wear a mask in the state capitol – was banned from Alaska Airlines after she refused to keep her mask above her nose and employees claimed to feel threated by her in the altercation that ensued.

Now, with Alaska Airlines her only option for getting to and from her state’s capitol, she’s asked to be excused from voting through the end of the legislative session. Over the summer she’s flown Delta between Anchorage and Juneau – via Seattle! – but that service is only seasonal.

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