Leaving the U.S. no longer feels automatic. At more than 50 airports, passengers now face biometric exit controls—cameras scanning their faces before they’re cleared to board. And that’s about to grow.
Hotels have been embedding RFID chips in towels for years, but they’re taking the crackdown to another level. Guests caught slipping towels into their bags have faced jail time and fines soaring to $17,600. And it’s not just towels—travelers have tried to make off with everything from mattresses to fireplaces. How far will hotels go to stop guests from stealing?
American Airlines has quietly improved but lacks the narrative and strategic coherence needed to overtake Delta and United. Here’s the actionable blueprint that could turn hidden strengths into visible dominance—and finally make American the premium airline it aspires to be.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Delta is celebrating a 100th birthday it doesn’t actually have—because when the history is sorted out, United Airlines will officially take that title as America’s oldest carrier next year.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Amex prints “Member Since” on every card to celebrate loyalty—but when I hit 25 years, they had nothing to say. Here’s why that silence matters.
Two regional jets lined up for the same Greensboro runway ended up just 300 feet apart, triggering alarms and a desperate breakout maneuver. The close call raises serious questions about why controllers tried to push the airport like it was LaGuardia.
A furious passenger claimed they were shut out of boarding just “5 seconds late,” even as the bus to the plane sat waiting. But the real reason they missed their flight has nothing to do with the gate agent.
On an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Cancun, one passenger stood up in the aisle and delivered her own safety briefing—covering exits, oxygen masks, and flotation devices with perfect cadence. The cabin laughed, listened, and even called for her to be hired after her now-iconic line: “Mask gon’ fall down, kick your feet!”
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 »
