CNN Business Traveller
Episode 54
Passenger Rights
Following a string of high profile delays in the northern hemisphere over the last few months, passenger rights are very much back on the agenda. Thousands of passengers faced lengthy waits in Britain over Christmas and Valentine's Day in the US was pretty much a write-off if you were planning to fly Jetblue.
Our programme this month comes from Washington DC, where the US Congress will be debating a bill to give air passenges mandatory rights when they take a flight in this country.Richard asks the co-author of the Bill, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif how his plan will work, as some airlines including Jetblue try to stave off Government regulation with their own versions of a Bill of Rights.
Our look at traveller's rights isn't just restricted to what goes on in the air though. We're looking at your rights on the ground this month too. Richard takes a cab ride with Matthew Daus, Commissioner of the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission and puts the tough questions to him about rights and responsibilities when you're in the back of a cab. In Europe Richard goes on he trail of your rights in hotels and when renting cars with the help of Britain's Consumer's Association.
Our programme this month also takes us to Houston, Texas to the home of America's fifth largest carrier, Continental Airlines. Busines Traveller is granted very rare access to the airline's operations control centre. It's a fascinating insight into how to run an airline. From real time management of flight and air traffic control delays, to individual handling of passengers vulnerable to missed connections. Richard also takes a tour of the former Cold War bunker that now houses Continental's backup contingency control centre. It's an eye opening experience.
No trip to the US and Washington would be complete without a tour of "Insider's Washington" and Richard joins his CNN colleague, longtime political commentator Bill Schneider, for a tour of the Capitol to see where the business really gets done and finally we visit one of Washington's newest and most popular attractions. THe International Spy Museum. If you've ever wanted to know about espionage, this is the month to watch CNN Business Traveller!
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