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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Delta Bans The Navy SEAL Who Killed bin Laden And Refuses To Wear A Mask

Aug 20 2020

Nine years, seven months, and 20 days after the September 11th attacks that took 2977 American lives, United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (“Seal Team Six”) executed Operation Neptune Spear, along with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the CIA’s Special Activities Division, raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

During that raid, bin Laden was killed. Now, nearly a decade later, the member of the SEAL team on that raid who says he’s the one that pulled the trigger refuses to wear a mask on a Delta flight, posts to social media about it, and gets banned.

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How American Airlines Is Threatening 15 Small Towns In A Craven Play For A $6 Billion Government Bailout

man speaking on microphone
Aug 20 2020

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker’s whole career is built on government subsidies. His airline is the most vulnerable to bankruptcy. So when the chips are down they’re playing the game that’s worked out best for him: threatening small cities where American Airlines has a virtual monopoly on air service, and announcing cuts to 15 cities that impose pain on 28 different Senators.

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Delta Says They’ll Keep Blocking Middle Seats Through January 6, But It Isn’t True

Aug 20 2020

To avoid assigning any middle seats on a narrowbody aircraft with six seats across, that means blocking one-third of the seats in coach (67% load factor). Delta has been capping sales at 60% of the seats in coach. Starting October 1 they are going to be selling more seats, up to 75% of the seats in coach on each plane. That means filling each cabin 25% more than before.

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Coronavirus Is Forcing Dubai To Loosen Restrictions On Alcohol Sales, Because We All Need A Drink

Aug 20 2020

Dubai is relaxing access to alcohol for foreigners, who are able to purchase it now without a permit just by showing a passport. The move comes as the sheikhdom tries to bolster its tourism sector in the face of c a coronavirus-led depression.

Traditionally economic growth has been expected to lead to greater social liberalism. That hasn’t happened in China, of course. Here it’s economic contraction that’s doing the work.

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Russian Opposition Politician Removed From Flight Unconscious After Second Poisoning

Aug 20 2020

An S7 airlines flight Tomsk to Moscow diverted Thursday morning to Omsk in Siberia after a passenger on board – opposition politician Alexei Navalny – fell ill. He became unconscious after an apparent poisoning, the second time he’s been poisoned. It’s believed that poison was placed into tea that he drank at the airport prior to departure.

Opposition to Vladimir Putin inside of Russia is dangerous, indeed.

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