Tips for petrified flyer please?

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The Tank

I find commercial flying very boring and mostly sleep on board. This is because nothing exciting really happens, except occasionally we may be served an edible meal or the in flight film is something we haven't seen before.

This is exactly how it should be and is exactly how it is on 99.9999% of commercial flights. I realise that quoting statistics doesn't really help you, but it's true. Flying is safe. If it wasn't then the man in the driving seat wouldn't take the job.

You are being watched from the ground by air traffic control, the aeroplane will be equipped with all manner of woundrous devices so that it doesn't get lost or bump into another aeroplane. They work very well too. All four engined aircraft are able to fly on one engine if they have to (but they go slower).

If you can, ask for one of the pilots to come and have a chat with you for a few minutes during the flight.
If you want to then take a tranquiliser.

DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL BEFORE FLYING or allow your friends or relatives to pursuade you to have any, however well-meaning they may be (usually they say it's to calm your nerves). It will be detected on your breath and may affect your behaviour, especially if you're already nervous (even very small amounts can be noticed by some staff) and they possibly will not allow to board the plane.
If that happens you will no redress because the law prohibits people 'under the influence' from flying. Very expensive to re-book.

Sven B

Take some Xanax and if thsat doesn't help then take another. If that fails, ask the flight attendant for a rum and coke and try to sleep. Really..... what are you so afraid of? Flying is so much fun:)

Lacey B

You may want to ask your doctor for something to calm you, but you dont want to be a zombie. I would bring a book, and some music. A ten hour flight is pretty long, so maybe dont sleep much the night before the flight, and you my be more inclined to sleep for much of the flight. Good luck, and try to enjoy it as best you can. :)

cherub

British Midland have brought out a DVD onto the market for those who are scared of flying. Not sure if its readily available. Try contacting them on their website and ask if its on sale yet and where.

frogg135

ask your doctor for something to calm you just for the flights

visualising what it will be like when you get there will help

tell the flight crew you are nervous and they will help

make an attempt to enjoy all that is on offer, food, entertainment, no alcohol as it is dehydrating, take plenty of 'light' reading and some soothing cd's

take some 'pampering' things with you, treat yourself and take the time to enjoy these things

noise cancelling headphones may be worth considering - not cheap for a good pair - if you email me i will tell you the ones i have

pretend you are on a coach or train

remember that flying is by far the safest method of travelling

you didn't say what you are recovering from but congratulate yourself - what an achievement! now you have survived that experience, flying will be a piece of cake

ENJOY!

i envy you your trip but i would love to hear all about it when you are home again

Toby J

Unfortunately there is no easy answer. I know safety facts and figures will not help. I don't fear flying but if I did, I would starve myself of sleep before going, and then take half a sleeping pill after take off. That would hopefully knock me out the entire flight. I'm not saying you should do this, its just what I would do.

TAWNY S

take some gravel (for nausea) it may help you relax and possibly sleep most of the way there . I take it to fly not because i am sick but because i dont like enclosed spaces and it helps me to sleep .

Wantstohelpu

Hiya

My advice would be to go see a hypnotist as soon as possible. where there is some deep seated anxiety that is exaggerated beyond the norm, it sometimes needs a professional to give you some coping techniques.

What a Hypnotist can do is make suggestions to you subliminally that will help you cope with the real situation.

Best wishes and good luck

Wombat

I completely sympathise with you, I'm not overly keen on flying myself. The thing that gets me through is knowing that the pilot, co-pilot and all the stewards/stewardesses all value their life, and if they thought there was going to be any danger then they certainly wouldn't get on the plane. They do it day in, day out without any worry at all. Most of them have families and I am sure they wouldn't put themselves in danger and risk not seeing their families again.

You could always tell yourself that this is the last time you're ever going to fly - knowing that you don't ever have to do it again might also help you get through it. Good luck!

go to ur closest major airport and park ur car near by.
park there all day and watch the planes take off and land.
once u see how many flights land and take off safely it should make u feel reassured.
i used to be scared until i started working for an airline.
u only hear of tragedies w airplanes cuz its rare.
it may be horrific, but rare. very rare.
can u recall 10 commerical plane crashes in the past 20yrs?
how many car crashes can u think of?
thousands of flights land and take off just fine everyday.
u probably have a fear of not being in control.
itll be ok.
trust me

Mark T

Eventhough I am a Christian, and I don't recommend it, I say get drunk. Since you are flying first class the booze is free and they start serving it immediately as you are being seated. I had a school master in Peru at my British school in Lima and he hated to fly the 17 hour trip back to the UK. He would get plastered in the lounge at the airport and before the flight and he would then sleep the whole way.

traceylill

Don't worry. The flight is about 8 hours. Ask your GP to give you a tranquiliser for the trip there and back but please don't worry as this will make it worse. I also hate flying but for me it is partly that I vomit also. Take ginger ale and biscuits for this if it is possible and Boots sell Travelcalm tablets for nausea which is very good. Enjoy your holiday. By the way bring a walkman with you with loads of radio plays taped on it so that you can listen to this. Or buy some audio discs sucha s Agatha Christie that will definitely help

Year of the Monkey

As much as you may hate to hear it, fear of flying is irrational. Statistically, flying is many many times safer than driving, pilots and airplane mechanics and flight controllers are extremely well trained consummate professionals, and it's absolutely the most convenient way to get anywhere wore than a few hundred miles.

People react to this by saying that "flying is unnatural, and therefore unsafe..." but when you think about it, riding a horse or bicycle is unnatural. Anything other than walking is really against all instinct. Try thinking about the amazing miracle tha mankind has achieved, and that we fly above the clouds where never lark nor eagle flew!

And have a few cocktails-especially if you're flying first class. Tell the flight attendant you are afraid of flying. They will help you deal with it.

Whistler R

YOU ARE SURELY HALF WAY THERE!
You really do know you want to take up this holiday - then make it happen. You can apply to the various Airports for advice,- and some may arrange a special training course for you.
Also seek the advice of your Doctor.

Snowbunny

Take your ipod with fav relaxing music and have a couple of glasses of wine before you go on, and when you first get on the plane to help you relax. Think of the number of flights a day and the number of crashes - these are usually from the obscure airlines - so don't worry it will be fine. Have a great cruise.

aflumpire

IF U ARE PETRIFIED< THEN WHY FLY IN THE 1ST PLACE??????

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