Commentary

Category Archives for Commentary.

Your Chance To Say What Airline And Hotel Loyalty Program Is Really Best

by Gary Leff on February 24, 2020

Feb 24 2020

There are awards where a panel of experts gets together to give out an award based on their own opinion. There are awards where companies pay sponsorship fees and keep winning their sponsored award. And then there’s the oldest and largest consumer-driven awards in airline, hotel and credit card loyalty: the Freddie Awards.

Voting in the Freddie Awards is now open and runs through March 31st. The Freddie Awards are the voice of the frequent traveler. Each year millions cast their ballots for the very best in loyalty, and the industry comes together at the awards ceremony.

5 Reasons The Trump Administration’s Ban On Global Entry For New Yorkers Is Bad Policy

by Gary Leff on February 6, 2020

Feb 06 2020

In December New York State law began allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses and stopped sharing applicant information with immigration enforcement agencies.

Wednesday evening the Trump administration announced that because New York passed this law, “New York residents are no longer eligible to enroll in these Trusted Traveler Programs” including Global Entry.

Why Do Foreign Carriers Re-check Your Boarding Pass When You Enter the Aircraft?

by Gary Leff on January 22, 2020

Jan 22 2020

US airlines check your boarding pass before you enter the jet bridge, and that’s it — while many international airlines have flight attendants standing at the door of the aircraft who will look at your boarding pass again.

Flight attendants on most airlines around the world will see you’re on the right plane, direct you to the correct class of service, and tell you which side of the plane to proceed down in the case of a widebody. Although it’s common on single aisle aircraft as well.

Two Award Booking Requests Where I Failed to Deliver and One Where I Refused to Help

by Gary Leff on January 21, 2020

Jan 21 2020

We’ve had thousands of successfully booked awards. Things aren’t as easy as when I started. I once helped a family of 7 fly together non-stop roundtrip in Lufthansa first class. Getting started booking awards during the Great Recession with airline premium cabins empty and award space plentiful made it seem like this would always be easy.

Now it’s harder work, and there are more tradeoffs. Sometimes all we can offer are connections and a passenger will only fly non-stop. My job is to explain the tradeoffs and help a client make an informed decision. And my job is also to know when I can’t (or am not comfortable) helping someone and be straight with them about it up front.

President Considers New Travel Ban

by Gary Leff on January 10, 2020

Jan 10 2020

Three years ago, shortly after President Trump entered office, he issued an executive order that, among other things, banned visas for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — even for those who have been living in the U.S. in valid employment or student status but who need new visas for re-entry.

Now the Trump administration is considering an expanded travel ban that targets additional countries.

Does This New Law Review Article Sound Like It’s Describing Your Life?

by Gary Leff on December 27, 2019

Dec 27 2019

This new paper forthcoming in Vanderbilt Law Review sure sounds familiar to me.

Argentina Expected To Impose 20% Tourist Dollars Tax

by Gary Leff on December 16, 2019

Dec 16 2019

This is part of an “economic recovery package” that will somehow “reactivate the local tourism industry.” I do not think this is how it works.

Up to 15% of People are Financing Their Package Vacations Every Month

by Gary Leff on November 29, 2019

Nov 29 2019

Last week I learned that each month between 10% and 15% of United Vacations sales are made on credit. Since the same credit provider services AA Vacations I assume the results there are similar, though I don’t know their numbers specifically. I found this disconcerting, but not surprising.

Let Me Thank You

by Gary Leff on November 28, 2019

Nov 28 2019

Similar to last year I thought I’d take the Thanksgiving opportunity to express my thankfulness for each of you that reads my blog and interacts with me throughout the year. I’ve said this many times before but I really do consider myself one of the luckiest people, and certainly much more fortunate than I could have ever imagined.

Elite Status: Where I’ll End 2019

by Gary Leff on November 14, 2019

Nov 14 2019

I just booked what I hope will be my last flights of 2019, and my last hotel stays as well. Looking back on the year I realize I traveled less – fewer days than I’ve spent on the road in recent times since the birth of my daughter last fall.

Less time in the air and in chain hotels for me will still seem like a lot of time away to many readers. In 2016 I was gone half the year. That hasn’t been close to true this year. Still, I’m on track to renew several of my status levels.