Strollerderby

Separate Planes: Sensible Idea or Touch of the Crazies?

Posted by Madeline Holler

Back before I had kids, a friend told me how her parents, who traveled frequently overseas, always booked separate flights. If one of the planes went down, they reasoned, their children wouldn't be orphans.

I thought their gloomy scenarios were a little over the top -- did they also always take separate cars? Then I became a parent.

Suddenly, their precaution seemed entirely reasonable. Though I've never intentionally booked separate flights for my husband and me, leaving my kids without either of their parents was what I thought about the few times we've flown without our kids -- how could I have been so careless and cruel ...

Am I right or am I crazy? And before you answer, know that this year's favorite actress Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes not only think it's NOT crazy, but they go the extra frequent flier mile and refuse to get on a plane together -- ever. They've got some 9/11 and threatened hijacking near misses to fuel their insecurities.

Has this ever crossed your mind? Do you and your partner fly separately? Come on, Kate, Sam, my friend's parents' and I can't be the only ones, right?

Photo:  telegraph.co.uk

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Posted Jan 28 2009, 02:25 PM
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Comments

 

Laure68 said:

Seriously, this is one of the most ridiculous things ever. There are very few places safer than an airplane. 40,000 people die each year in car accidents. You would have to never get in a car together either.

Also, statistically, it is more likely you will die in your bathroom. Do they make sure they are never in the bathroom together?

This is yet another one of those Culture of Fear scenarios. Spending time worrying about things like this takes away from thinking about things that actually have some chance of affecting your family.

January 28, 2009 3:00 PM
 

pqbon said:

Laura68 well said...

There are sooooo many more dangerous things then flying - like driving or walking or being on a movie set...

Lets remember the last airplane crash in this country resulted in 0 casualties. Zero --- none... Anyone remember the last plane crash in this country before that? Has their been a fatal commercial air accident since 9/11 in the US?

By that same thinking each parent should live on the opposite side of the country but not on the actual coast so that a natural disaster can't take them both out. Which is more likely then dieing in a plane crash.

January 28, 2009 4:34 PM
 

diera said:

I third the "touch of the crazies" vote.

January 28, 2009 5:33 PM
 

dreambeliever200 said:

Personally, I do not think that I will do this as I hate travelling alone. lol However, if it makes you feel better, then I say go for it.

January 29, 2009 9:17 AM
 

india said:

My parents always traveled on separate planes unless the whole family was traveling together. Irrational? Maybe. But if it helped them to feel better, I'm glad they did it.

January 29, 2009 11:47 AM
 

kristin said:

I read this story on news site, and there is a little bit more which makes them sound less crazy.  Apparently the husband was supposed to be on one of the flights that hit the towers on 9/11, and I guess both of them were on a plane where someone went crazy and was trying to hijack the plane.  So, at least they have some basis in their 'craziness'

January 29, 2009 3:24 PM

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