I fly over 100,000 miles a year for consulting work, and I've seen both sides of the regional jet vs. low-cost carrier debate. The accident rates per departure are nearly identical, but the margins are thinner at budget airlines when it comes to pilot rest and aircraft turnaround. Last summer I waited 14 hours in Madrid because a low-cost crew timed out, and that made me wonder if cost-cutting eventually crosses a safety threshold. Yet my own flight history with Ryanair and AirAsia has been flawless, and the safety record for budget carriers in developed markets is impeccable. Should passengers worry when ticket prices drop to $30, or are we just conditioned to distrust what's cheaper?