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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United is Now Selling Basic Economy. How They’re Describing It Makes My Blood Boil.

Feb 21 2017

Basic Economy fares take the lowest fare being offered by an airline, and work to give customers less. Delta started by restricting changes and seat assignments. United and American doubled down by saying that whereas you can even pay for a carry on bag flying Spirit Airlines, they won’t let you bring one on at all.

On the same day that American Airlines went live selling Basic Economy fares on ten routes, United has also announced the sale of Basic Economy between Minneapolis St. Paul and United hubs.

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New York JFK TSA Lets Passengers Go Into Terminal Without Screening, Tries to Cover It Up. Hijinks Ensue.

Feb 21 2017

Airport security — along with customers and border patrol — at New York JFK is something in a special league of its own. Whether it’s a plane full of passengers from Mexico being allowed to skip immigration or a plane full of passengers from Mexico being allowed to skip immigration, New York JFK is home to the gang that couldn’t shoot straight. And the (TSA) gang who ran through the terminal screaming maniacally about a bomb and a shooting victim (neither of which were real).

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