I’ve been reading on the MSNBC Website about an interesting piece of consumer protection called “Rule 240″ for airline customers in the US, and I have to say that I like the sound of it.

I recommend that you read the full article, but to summarise: if your flight is cancelled, you may have the right for the airline to fly you at their expense on another carrier’s plane.

Now we do have consumer protection laws for these things in Europe, indeed the EU standardised them a few years ago for air travel, but they are all very much based on compensation for delayed or overbooked flights. All very well and good, but what use is compensation if you can’t fly on holiday or end up with less time at your resort?

The idea that the airline has an obligation to fly you there with someone else’s flight sounds like a very good idea!

Did the report on that record-breaking swimming pool wet your appetite to find out more about Chile?

Find out more about this fascinating country in the Lonely Planet Guide to Chile:

It’s been named the”World’s largest swimming pool” – and at over a kilometre long it probably is. I first heard about it on the news last week on German TV, and how there are some pictures up on the Daily Mail website.

Which leaves me to ask the question: why?

One reason I read on-line was because although this is a large resort with beautiful sandy beaches, the sea still says cold in summer because of undercurrents from the Antarctic.

Looking at the photos, there are several hotels along the length of the pool, so rather than each one having their own, I guess they decided to go for this joint project instead.

The interview that I saw talked about the problems that they had creating the pool – such as filtration. But the benefits are clear: not only can you swim in the pool, you can paddle canoes and dinghies in it and still not be taken away by the tide.

It should certainly put Algarrobo on the map.

I guess you could also ask: why not?