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 »

Singapore’s New Premium Economy, Plus A380 Business and Suites Class Refresh, Revealed

by Gary Leff

May 25 2015

I first shared Singapore Airlines’ plan to reconfigure Boeing 777s to include a premium economy cabin a year ago. Unfortunately, that reconfiguration means cutting the number of first class seats in half on those 777s. Their A380s getting premium economy go from 12 first class, 60 business, and 399 coach (or 86 business, 311 coach) to 36 premium economy and 333 coach in the low-density business configuration or 36 premium economy and 245 coach in the high-density business configuration. Premium economy is coming at the expense of fewer coach seats. Their 777-300ERs getting premium economy go from 8 first class, 42 business, and 228 coach to 4 first class, 48 business, 28 premium economy, and 184 coach. That’s 10% more business class, half the first class, and 20% fewer economy seats to make room for…

Continue Reading »

oneworld Member Malaysia Airlines Entered Receivership Today

by Gary Leff

May 25 2015

Malaysia Airlines was placed into receivership today. The idea is that they are going to move the ‘good’ assets to a new company, which will continue to operate the airline.

This bankruptcy proceeding and transfer of assets does not – itself – affect operations of the airline. It’s a part of the airline’s restructuring, though, while is eliminating routes and jobs as the carrier tries to shrink to profitability.

Malaysia Airlines was struggling even before MH370 went missing last year….

Continue Reading »

My Humble Thanks to Delta

by Gary Leff

May 24 2015

There were some downsides to serving as emcee for the Freddie Awards at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta. Two things that weren’t downsides, though, were getting to have dinner sitting down inside an L-1011, and the fantastic hospitality of Delta’s employees. They deserve my thanks. Plus it’s an example to gratuitously highlight the Delta Red Dress.

Continue Reading »

Street Vendor Fired for Selling Hot Dogs to Tourists for $30. I Blame the Tourists.

by Gary Leff

May 24 2015

A street vendor in New York was charging tourists as much as $30 for a hot dog. He’s been fired. He was apparently telling the cart’s owners he was getting only $2 and pocketing the difference. And yet it’s the cart owners who are facing fines for “being too close to a crosswalk, having items outside of his cart and failure to list prices” (this last in furtherance of overcharging tourists). I don’t have a problem with charging tourists $30 for a hot dog, per se. I do have a problem with tourists who would pay $30 for a hot dog. Nonetheless, contra Gawker, the guy isn’t a hero because his fraud in my view was perpetrated against his boss. That said, If Ahmed Mohammed had built a shitty “prix-fixe” dinner restaurant charging $60 for…

Continue Reading »

Review: Flying First Class (and Showering) Onboard Emirates A380 First Class, Dubai – Dallas

by Gary Leff

May 23 2015

Having flown Emirates first class onboard their Airbus A380, I can say it’s truly one of the best first class products in the world. The suite isn’t as spacious as Singapore’s or Etihad’s. But the service is good, the food is good, and despite the bling (there’s a *lot* going on, and a lot of *stuff* they give you) there’s substance to it too.

Most of all, they have the single greatest amenity ever introduced into an aircraft: two giant shower spas, with heated floors. Taking a shower in the sky prior to arrival can’t be beat!

Continue Reading »