And so began the note from United Airlines as it joined US Airways in the bankruptcy process that many businesses have faced in the travel drought following 9/11. In the months since, there have been dark clouds over Delta and a chapter 11 filing at ATA, with more to come, no doubt. 

What should family travelers expect from all this? Probably not much in the short term. According to the trade paper, Travel Weekly, "For some travel agents, another airline bankruptcy is something of a ho-hum affair" as they reassure clients that already purchased tickets will be honored. Several travel insurance providers are also adding policy riders guaranteeing customers the option of using airline tickets on other carriers.

Future travel should be booked carefully, though, because these airlines (and many others) will be cutting unprofitable routes, limiting schedules and consolidating operations through 2006 to reduce their debt.

Tim Winship, the mileage award guru at FrequentFlier.com, adds,"There is no built-in protection for frequent flyer miles or award tickets. So if the airline which operates your frequent flyer program ceases operations, your miles and unused award tickets are at risk, and possibly -- but not necessarily -- doomed to oblivion." Winship further cautions, "There's only one sure way to protect the full value of your miles: use them now, while the airline which hosts your program is still flying."

Check on FrequentFlier.com for other creative ways to use your miles if air travel is not in your family's immediate future.