About this talk of 'manning up':

It's easy as frequent fliers to forget how terrifying it can be to fly for the first time ever or after a long period 'on the ground'. My girlfriend took her first flight at age 21 and was scared stiff. Same deal w/a 50-something friend who for various reasons had not flown in a decade.

They experienced hyperventilation and 'going limp' as boarding and takeoff approached. Once airborne, they both told me it seemed the most normal thing, i.e. the flight itself was the cure. I think it can really help to have an acquaintance at the gate with you the first time; after that first flight, this should be redundant.

Just my two cents.

Yonatan

Edited to add: When I was 18, I flew to Europe with my 15 year-old sister and we went around on a Eurail pass without staying regularly in touch with anyone (giving me the idea go and live there for a year and a half when I was 19/20). I'm all for parents not babying their kids. I also happen to know a couple of very mature adults for whom the first flight or first flight in a while was an ordeal and who benefited from having someone with them at the gate - I simply don't think that can be neatly classified as a case of babying.

[This message has been edited by yonatan (edited Nov 23, 2003).]