I don't know about you, but when I saw the story about a regional airline losing track of two kids who were flying alone -- I remembered back when I did a solo trek... when flying was less like riding a Greyhound bus in the sky, and more about feeling adventurous.

Haven't seen the article?  Well, basically, Continental's regional partner, ExpressJet... put a couple of kids on the wrong flights... leaving the guardians in the dark as to where their children were for almost an hour before any of the airline employees figured out the mistakes.  The fall-out is that one Dad has hired an attorney, and Continental is officially aghast at the miscommunication.  I'm willing to bet they'll have to pay more to the legally savvy father than the $75 voucher first offered (Oh wow!  75 bucks!  Now I can pack that stroller I've always wanted to bring!!!)

I only flew without my parents once -- to visit my Godparents in Juneau, Alaska.  From the gate in Seattle, to the gate in AK, all I remember is feeling like The Little Princess (obscure Frances Hodgson Burnett reference... but if you read at all as a kid, you know what I'm talkin' about).  The flight attendants made me feel special, and tended to my every need.  I got the gold wings pin, as many peanut packets as my daily sodium allowance could take, and a primo seat right behind first class. 

But that was then, this is now.  I mean, these same flight attendants are busy mediating disputes about huge bags that people bring on to avoid baggage fees... and dealing with our general unrest.  Nobody's in a genial mood anymore on planes.  We've all paid massive fuel surcharges, been cavity-searched by the TSA, and told that our $9 airport water is going 'bye-bye.'

Add to all of this the extra stress for airline employees and harassed ticket agents on a smaller-budget regional carrier, and the chaos is likely multiplied.  Would you put your kid on a plane alone these days?