• Listen to this segment

Anyone who flies regularly has likely had at least one terrible experience with the airline industry. For years passenger advocates have attempted to pass a “Passengers’ Bill of Rights” enshrining basic regulations that protect consumers while flying . In 1999, the Clinton administration proposed legislation which failed when the airline industry agreed to adopt voluntary measures to address growing complaints. Now, the “Air Service Improvement Act of 2008,” is a new proposition being considered by Congress. This new “Passengers’ Bill of Rights” was sparked by a 2007 incident where over a thousand passengers were stranded on JFK’s tarmac in New York during a snow storm, without food, water or functioning toilets. This new bill requires airlines to plan for how they will provide passengers with needed amenities when planes are grounded. The bill requires airlines to be subjected to fines if they fail, and will also establish an Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection. Two weeks ago we covered the links between quality of service to consumers and poor labor conditions for workers in the airline and airport industry. Today we take a look at this new Passengers’ Bill of Rights.

GUEST: Kate Hanni, Founder of the Coalition for Airline Passengers’ Rights. For more information, visit www.flyersrights.org, and to make a complaint call 1(877)FLYERS6. Sign the petition for a Passengers’ Bill of Rights here: http://www.petitiononline.com/airline/petition.html