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 »

Times Are Tough For Hotels: They’re Now Charging Extra For Your Room’s Electricity

by Gary Leff

las vegas
May 22 2021

Hotel chains advertise prices that don’t include mandatory fees. The headline rate is what consumers compare when they’re searching. It’s only when they go to book that they see the price is higher than what was presented to them. That makes comparing prices difficult. And it puts hotels that are transparent, advertising the full cost of a stay, at a disadvantage.

At some point we have to ask, though, what does the room rate even cover if it doesn’t come with electricity?

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Delta Air Lines Is Offering Diversity Training To Elite Frequent Flyers

by Gary Leff

May 22 2021

Big business used to be viewed as the enemy of the left, but now aren’t they its vanguard? Or does that just mean the ideas have been co-opted and are no longer cool? And now that Delta Air Lines offers diversity training as a benefit to elite frequent flyers, doesn’t that mean by definition that it’s all become passé?

A Delta Diamond Medallion shares event Delta is holding for elite frequent flyers next week where airline CEO Ed Bastian will host a discussion on the importance of and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion

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A Surprising Snag Travel May Run Into With Vaccine Passports This Winter

by Gary Leff

May 22 2021

Covid-19 vaccines are phenomenal. And they’re about to open up a lot of travel possibilities: so-called ‘vaccine passports’, only we don’t know how long those passports will be valid as a result of virus variants and uncertainty over how long they provide protection.

Much of the world is ordering not just first injections but also booster doses, in case these passports need to be extended. The U.S. hasn’t done this yet.

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Another Defect In That United Flight Attendant Lawsuit Against Marriott

by Gary Leff

May 21 2021

The fired United Airlines flight attendant who is suing Marriott under a variety of theories stemming from a positive Covid-19 test, quarantine at the Courtyard Wilmington Downtown, and the hotel sharing his behavior with the airline including that he was allegedly maskless in the lobby among other guests despite his Covid-19 diagnosis is getting quite a bit of coverage.

Much of the detail in the suit is a total distraction. I detailed several problems with it yesterday. A law professor shares another.

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Man Set Fire To His Hotel Room Prior To Check-out, Left For The Airport

by Gary Leff

May 21 2021

Hyatt’s The Driskill hotel in Austin is old Texas. It first opened in 1886, owned by cattle baron Jesse Driskill. The next year the hotel in the state’s capitol hosted the inaugural ball for Governor Sul Ross, and subsequent governors’ balls have been held there since.

This week a 77 year old guest on the property, who had stayed for 16 days, set fire to his room before checkout. He then went to the airport, and caught his flight to Houston.

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Leak: New Hilton Elite Food And Beverage Details, Including Benefit Amounts

by Gary Leff

May 21 2021

Hilton announced a new food and beverage benefit that replaces breakfast at U.S. hotels starting in July and running through the end of 2021. They will offer a food and beverage credit for use any time at the hotel, including in-restaurant, for grab and go, or for room service.

That sounds great in theory – you can take your meal as it’s most convenient to you. However the devil is in the detail of how much that credit is for.

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