"Great Life Lesson...... ?"
If you really want a "great life lesson" involving travel, how about this - 1951 aged 11 unaccompanied - London - Singapore return; with overnights in Cairo and Karachi and fuel stops in Rome, Bahrain and Calcutta. Aircraft - outbound Connie, return Argonaut.
THAT was a great life lesson as we all saw something of every place we stopped, not just the same interminable, identical terminals.
Sadly for the youngsters that's not possible now!