Gary Leff, you’re f*%^#%@ awesome!

Gary Leff, you’re f*%^#%@ awesome!

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Gary Leff is one of my favorite people in the world. He’s smart brilliant, he’s hilarious, and he’s genuinely nice. Yes, I might have a bit of a man crush on him.

But his appearance on the Colbert Report, which aired last night, is quite possibly my favorite thing he has ever done:

Amazing job, Gary! You did us proud.

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  1. Shannon Guest

    Can anyone tell me why this video was removed?

  2. John Guest

    If you bought two seats because you are too wide or heavy, wouldn't you get the miles for both seats?

  3. Aptraveler Guest

    Thanks for the laughs Gary, you're hilarious. Well done!

  4. MT Member

    Indeed Gary is brilliant!

  5. RBRUE Guest

    @Elenor and @Peter: Delta did not have any problems with the man buying his cello a ticket and taking the cello into the main cabin. What Delta did have a problem with was that he opened a SkyMiles account in the name of "Mr. Cello" and accrued miles for the Cello as well. Delta's excuse to close the account for the cello was that, according to the T&C, enrollment for SkyMiles is open for "a person" only.

  6. David Balcon Guest

    DL really blew it with this move. Harrell is America's most renowned cellist after Yo Yo Ma and his cello is valued at more than the average family home! DL has alienated thousands of classical music devotees who have sworn never to fly the airline again, and these are people who buy full fare premium tickets! Cellos are low maintenance fliers who pay full fare for a premium cabin seat, demand no booze or food,...

    DL really blew it with this move. Harrell is America's most renowned cellist after Yo Yo Ma and his cello is valued at more than the average family home! DL has alienated thousands of classical music devotees who have sworn never to fly the airline again, and these are people who buy full fare premium tickets! Cellos are low maintenance fliers who pay full fare for a premium cabin seat, demand no booze or food, and are very well behaved. Imagine the positive PR DL could have received had it promoted itself as "the official carrier of Lynn Harrell's cello" and allowed both to keep their FF accounts, with the cello's miles used for tickets on behalf of various charities. Atlanta really blew it on this one! (No wonder the cello now flies UA...which learned its lesson from flying guitars!)

  7. TravelBloggerBuzz Guest

    If an expert lets miles expire, is he really an expert?

    Class discuss.

    Oh, I do not have a crush on Gary Leff by the way. And I also thought that piece was super hilarious too. Thumbs up for Cellos, thumbs down for Skypesos!

  8. Walter Guest

    @ Frequentflyergirl
    I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE!!!!

    WE REPEAT!!!

    Gary Leff is NOT AWESOME!!!!! N.O.T. AWESOME! A slightly misunderstood, mildly racially insensitive, self entitled, unfoundedly confident, banal prick maybe, but NOT awesome.

    The good news is even though there are pricks like Gary, there are also really genuinely good guys like Dariaus, Travis, Jeff and Ben (Lucky).

  9. Peter Guest

    I agree with Geri and frankly I should reconsider my relationship with Delta (we're both PM on DL).

  10. Linda T Guest

    Almost fell out of bed watching the Colbert Report last night and there was Gary! Absolutely hilarious and unexpected. Glad he didn't let us know it was coming beforehand and that I just happened to be watching when it came on! His facial expressions were great.

  11. Peter Guest

    Well said Elenor, and not to mention the cello in question is orobably worth considerably over $1 million.

  12. Peter Guest

    Cello A. Had a an account at one time with NW.

  13. FullMoon Guest

    +1 for the comment by eponymous coward

  14. Elenor Guest

    Let me speak up for the cello also! Stringed instruments are extremely delicate and sensitive wood! They don't do well in the cold, in humidity, with pressure changes. This instrument is that man's LIVELIHOOD -- and Delta wants to chuck it into the cargo hold?! EEK! How'd y'all feel if they wanted to put your laptop into a steamroom? Pretty bummed, yes?

    As long as he was buying one of the tix, he should have...

    Let me speak up for the cello also! Stringed instruments are extremely delicate and sensitive wood! They don't do well in the cold, in humidity, with pressure changes. This instrument is that man's LIVELIHOOD -- and Delta wants to chuck it into the cargo hold?! EEK! How'd y'all feel if they wanted to put your laptop into a steamroom? Pretty bummed, yes?

    As long as he was buying one of the tix, he should have been able to use miles to bring "Mr Cello" into the air-conditioned main cabin! And, no, I'm not a musician, but my sister is a professional violist... from whom w get:

    What's the difference between a violin and a viola?
    A viola BURNS longer!

  15. Lisa Guest

    EXPIRED, expired, expired... Hilarious. I especially liked lying down with the Delta manual.

  16. Ben Hughes Guest

    I guess this means I shouldn't try to get a frequent flyer account for my stuffed flightless bird travel companion (http://jettingpenguin.com).

  17. Frequentflyergirl Guest

    Sorry, but Gary Leff is not awesome. I've met him a couple of times at Do's, and read some of his blog posts; to be honest, IMHO he's a pompous, arrogant, strutting DYKWIA. YMMV, of course, in your reaction to him.

    Having said that, he did a good job in the video. Kept a straight face.

  18. Geri J. Guest

    OK. Gary is funny. But the main issue is that Harrell paid for the cello to have a seat (and they both fly a lot). It seems a bit mingy of Delta to take this approach -- and incredibly bad PR. It would have been bad enough to cancel Mr. Cello's account, but to strip Mr. Harrell of his EARNED miles in his account borders on theft.

    Frankly, makes me even less inclined to fly Delta than before.

  19. abby Guest

    funny.

    but... what was he staying in?!? a supper 8?! good lord, at least put him up in a hyatt... or even aloft! if i laid on that bedspread i'd have to burn my clothes and briefly set my skin on fire to be satisfied i was clean again...

  20. Mrs. Hobo13 Guest

    Laughing so hard I'm crying. Oh dear... so awesome!

  21. Whiskarina Guest

    Great job Gary! very funny!

  22. clayd333 Guest

    I was waiting for just one "SkyPeso" comment! Ironic it was for Delta too... haahaha

  23. eponymous coward Guest

    Gary loves his SkyMiles™? Not SkyPesos™?

    WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO GARY LEFF??!?!?

  24. wxguy Guest

    I was on UA881 ORD-NRT recently in F. Across the aisle was a Cellist and his Mr. Cello. Due to a UA error, Mr. Cello took an involuntary downgrade to C. Cellist was fine with it - and the Global Services agent assured Cellist that Mr. Cello would get a partial refund of his paid fare and all MP miles due for the F seat.

  25. Simon Guest

    Wow, that was freaking amazing! Great job, Gary! :)

  26. 1K Guest

    But I'm conflicted, because I've been a member of #teamOMAAT for so long. ;)

  27. 1K Guest

    Well, that was fucking awesome.

    #teamLeff

  28. Todd Diamond

    I don't know Gary, but it seems to me he was being relatively serious in the bit. The humorous parts were a result of editing and voice-over by the Colbert Report.

  29. as219 New Member

    Oh man, too good, too good!!!

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Shannon Guest

Can anyone tell me why this video was removed?

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My top 3 travel pet peeves - Road Warriorette Guest

[...] And if you have a minute, check out this clip that our very own Gary Leff did for the Colbert Report the other night. [...]

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John Guest

If you bought two seats because you are too wide or heavy, wouldn't you get the miles for both seats?

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