Scared of Flying
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: uk
Scared of Flying
Hi
I'm travelling to NY in 10 days and I am not a happy bunny as I do not like flying. It was booked for me as a treat but I am terrified. I particularly don't like turbulence or take off. Think I have watched too many films
Any tips or reassurance greatly received.
Flying with BA...if the flight goes ahead!
I'm travelling to NY in 10 days and I am not a happy bunny as I do not like flying. It was booked for me as a treat but I am terrified. I particularly don't like turbulence or take off. Think I have watched too many films
Any tips or reassurance greatly received.Flying with BA...if the flight goes ahead!
Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Soon to be out of the EU.
Every night look on the flight radar before you go to bed. There's a virtual armada of hundreds of aircraft who make the trip accords the Atlantic each and every night. They do this every night of the year without many incidents whatsoever.
I'm fairly sure BA had the entertainment on throughout from gate to gate so just watch a movie, shut off what what's going on around you. I had a seat in the middle block and to be honest I forgot I was on a plane half of the time. I'm fairly sure they also had soothing/hypnosis things on the audio channel. As a backup why not download one and put it on your phone, listen to it for the first hour during taxi, takeoff and climb? Enjoy the food, binge on movies and TV shows and before you know it you'll be in the Big Apple. If you've never been before, get ready to be amazed, you'll love every second.
I'm fairly sure BA had the entertainment on throughout from gate to gate so just watch a movie, shut off what what's going on around you. I had a seat in the middle block and to be honest I forgot I was on a plane half of the time. I'm fairly sure they also had soothing/hypnosis things on the audio channel. As a backup why not download one and put it on your phone, listen to it for the first hour during taxi, takeoff and climb? Enjoy the food, binge on movies and TV shows and before you know it you'll be in the Big Apple. If you've never been before, get ready to be amazed, you'll love every second.
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 52
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From: Australia
Reducing discomfort may be helpful. Wear loose, comfortable clothes and shoes. Bring a chewy snack (muesli bar or dried fruit) for the ascend and descend phases to help with inner ear pressure. You won't be able to get anything from the flight attendants then as they will be seated and belted too. Keep your nasal passages clear if they are prone to blockage, eg have a jacket handy for day flights, a thick jacket or blanket for night flights.
Arrive early at the airport so that you do not get additional stress before the flight. Do not go through the checkpoints or go to the gate at the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time. If you are travelling alone or travelling with someone who is also unfamiliar with international air travel, it may be worth finding out what you need to do and how much time is required for each step from check-in to boarding.
Bring something to occupy your time on the plane. Books or puzzles are easy, but if you intend to watch a video or listen to audio, get over ear earphones to keep out the aircraft noise.
I personally prefer the rear of the plane because I enjoy looking at the control surfaces of the wing in action, especially during take-offs and landings, but most people prefer to sit nearer the front as it is quieter. So it you have a choice of seats, decide which you would prefer.
Keep your seat belt fastened loosely when the seat belt sign is off (and firmly when it is on) and you would not have to worry about turbulence. They are just potholes in the sky and the plane is designed to handle them just as a car can handle bumpy roads.
If all that is not enough, take a child on the flight. Keeping the child entertained (lots of preparation required before hand) should make you forget your nervousness
.
Arrive early at the airport so that you do not get additional stress before the flight. Do not go through the checkpoints or go to the gate at the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time. If you are travelling alone or travelling with someone who is also unfamiliar with international air travel, it may be worth finding out what you need to do and how much time is required for each step from check-in to boarding.
Bring something to occupy your time on the plane. Books or puzzles are easy, but if you intend to watch a video or listen to audio, get over ear earphones to keep out the aircraft noise.
I personally prefer the rear of the plane because I enjoy looking at the control surfaces of the wing in action, especially during take-offs and landings, but most people prefer to sit nearer the front as it is quieter. So it you have a choice of seats, decide which you would prefer.
Keep your seat belt fastened loosely when the seat belt sign is off (and firmly when it is on) and you would not have to worry about turbulence. They are just potholes in the sky and the plane is designed to handle them just as a car can handle bumpy roads.
If all that is not enough, take a child on the flight. Keeping the child entertained (lots of preparation required before hand) should make you forget your nervousness
.
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: world
I support what cee cee said but with only one exception: do not sit at or near the rear of the aeroplane as any turbulence is accentuated by elevator and rudder movements. Best place is nearer the center of the aeroplane.
Having said that, and I'm sure you've heard it before, aircraft are built to handle turbulence. Think of it more as a fairground ride and enjoy it rather than worry about it. It's fine and the aeroplane will not break up. The likelyhood btw is that you will most likely have a turbulent free flight anyway. Pilots do their utmost to avoid any known areas of turbulence in the interest of passenger comfort.
Having said that, and I'm sure you've heard it before, aircraft are built to handle turbulence. Think of it more as a fairground ride and enjoy it rather than worry about it. It's fine and the aeroplane will not break up. The likelyhood btw is that you will most likely have a turbulent free flight anyway. Pilots do their utmost to avoid any known areas of turbulence in the interest of passenger comfort.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Yes, best to sit near the middle of the plane to reduce movement. When you see the wings bending - that's what they are supposed to do. Because they flex - they do not break. Just like a flower or tree in the wind. Sometimes, it can seem that they are moving a LOT (up and down) but they are always flown well within the tested limits. Really, the testing is long and arduous so that they know what will break it and then keep well clear of anything that would.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: uk
Thank you for all your kind and helpful comments. Just wish I could actually enjoy it as I love aviation, planes and everything to do with it in general, but the fear just gets me.
I am an avid plane spotter and have seen many take offs and landings but actually getting on it myself is another matter. I do try and tell myself that people work and do this every day as a living so it must be relatively safe but my stupid head still goes into panic mode.
Really ought to just be knocked out for the whole time and not have to worry!
I am an avid plane spotter and have seen many take offs and landings but actually getting on it myself is another matter. I do try and tell myself that people work and do this every day as a living so it must be relatively safe but my stupid head still goes into panic mode.
Really ought to just be knocked out for the whole time and not have to worry!
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From: Confoederatio Helvetica
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3
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From: Wor Yerm
Apparently there are close on 1,000,000 people in the air at any one time. There are on a variety of planes. Big ones, little ones, slow ones etc. All nicely bumbling along, most of them very smoothly but a few getting shaken by the air every now and again. Some will even get a bit jostled by one of my landings. Every few hours, another 1,000,000 people will be in the air. And you will shortly be one as well. Also, like all the others you will have a takeoff, climb, cruise, descent and landing. All be be OK. Try to enjoy it.
ps. Now heights really scare me. When I'm in a plane I'm OK but I nearly lose control of my bowels when I look down a stairwell or over a cliff edge.
ps. Now heights really scare me. When I'm in a plane I'm OK but I nearly lose control of my bowels when I look down a stairwell or over a cliff edge.
N4790P
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,557
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From: Asia
ps. Now heights really scare me. When I'm in a plane I'm OK but I nearly lose control of my bowels when I look down a stairwell or over a cliff edge.
Does seem to make sense.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 72
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From: Marston Moretaine, UK
Wing bending
If you want proof of exactly how much an aircraft's wings can bend, try this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai2HmvAXcU0
Someone once told me that if the wings were completely rigid, you would feel every tiny bump and turbulence would be much, much worse than it is now. This seems to make sense to me; the flexing of the wings must take a lot of the energy out of "irregularities" in the airflow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai2HmvAXcU0
Someone once told me that if the wings were completely rigid, you would feel every tiny bump and turbulence would be much, much worse than it is now. This seems to make sense to me; the flexing of the wings must take a lot of the energy out of "irregularities" in the airflow.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 199
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From: Glasgow
Same, same. No issues with flying, gliding or parachuting but ladders, looking out from tall buildings and the like petrify me. Recently was told not a fear of heights as such but a fear of ledges!
Also, although okay with escalators, I'm very wary of going down stairs (that's not downstairs!) - except, for some strange reason, stairs that I'm familiar with. There's nowt as strange as folk, including me.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
A friend of mine hated being above the third floor of a building - could not look out of the window and would not stay in a hotel room at a high level. He loved flying and found no problem with the takeoff or looking out the window!
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,266
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From: Berkshire, UK
Just remember that all the crew members fly because they enjoy it and they wouldn't if it was dangerous. Only time worry would be if the captain came out of the flight deck screaming!
Have a good trip - you'll love it.
Have a good trip - you'll love it.
Joined: Aug 2001
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
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From: se england
Some great advice for you on here, to add a couple of points, because my daughter (31) dislikes flying although she does a lot of it. She prefers a window seat so in daytime she can see the horizon which can help if a little queaziness is part of the problem.
Also as some have said turbulence is just the same as a bad road surface but my daughter disliked the sinking feeling that you sometimes get 5 minutes or so after take off and you will hear the engines reduce power. This is not the plane sinking but it is the plane stopping its climb to level off for a few minutes . If you are not by the window your body interprets stopping going up as going down but its an illusion so don't worry about that you will soon here the engines power up again as the pilot resumes his climb away from the airport.
Enjoy NYC hope the weather is kind as its still a great view from
a) The Empire State building
b ) The Staten Island ferry-much cheaper than the tour boats and you still get to see the best skyline views . Better yet it has regular New Yorkers on it for a bit of fun evesdropping/people watching
Also as some have said turbulence is just the same as a bad road surface but my daughter disliked the sinking feeling that you sometimes get 5 minutes or so after take off and you will hear the engines reduce power. This is not the plane sinking but it is the plane stopping its climb to level off for a few minutes . If you are not by the window your body interprets stopping going up as going down but its an illusion so don't worry about that you will soon here the engines power up again as the pilot resumes his climb away from the airport.
Enjoy NYC hope the weather is kind as its still a great view from
a) The Empire State building
b ) The Staten Island ferry-much cheaper than the tour boats and you still get to see the best skyline views . Better yet it has regular New Yorkers on it for a bit of fun evesdropping/people watching
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: I wouldn't know.
Just remember that all the crew members fly because they enjoy it and they wouldn't if it was dangerous
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,279
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From: Chedburgh, Bury St.Edmunds
Cant stand heights!!!. Fine when flying. Ex PPl, gliders, some aeros etc. NO PROBLEM!. That's 'cos there is no perspective. I got vertigo on the London Eye!. My wife stood on the edge of Table Mountain. I couldn't go within 20 yards of the edge!!. Some super advice from everybody here. SO hope you enjoy your trip! It may become addictive, you never know........ Best wishes.
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,694
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From: Wellington,NZ
I dislike dental procedures. I especially dislike it when the drill whines its way through another bundle of nerves, the sucky thing does an excellent job at pinching a chunk of lip between itself and the tooth it's hooked over but fails to remove all the saliva and debris, and the throat is trying desperately not to swallow all the muck that forms at the gateway to the uvula, which results in a kind of gag reflex.
At such moments, now and then, I tend to try and force myself to relax (I've done a stress course, y'know) and become aware of how tightly my hands are clenching the armrests.
During all of this there is some soothing daytime soap or kids program on the led tv screen mounted on the ceiling.
Nitrous was the panacea. For the more involved procedures (ie likely to be prolonged and/or painful), it was my go-to.
When my dentist stopped supplying it, the alternative was tranquilizers. Temazepam, 15mg, makes the whole thing a relaxing experience. Takes the edge off very nicely, thank you. No gag reflex, (or if there is, it doesn't bother me), no white knuckles, and any pain that breaks through the lidocaine block is met with a sort of academic mental curiosity, rather than dread.
You could get your doctor to prescribe you some. Will also help with sleep on a long haul flight. Should not be mixed with alcohol. I find two glasses of wine after the meal seems to complement the action rather well, regarding a sleep aid.
(Or you could just try alcohol on its own. It can be a pretty good tranqulizer.)
I've also been prescribed diazepam (ok), and some nasty crap called hypnoval. (That's the one they give you before surgery, so that if you wake up, you're less likely to remember it.)
Hypnoval left me feeling like a chunk of my memory and brain function did a midnight creep. Took over two weeks to get back to normal.
At such moments, now and then, I tend to try and force myself to relax (I've done a stress course, y'know) and become aware of how tightly my hands are clenching the armrests.
During all of this there is some soothing daytime soap or kids program on the led tv screen mounted on the ceiling.
Nitrous was the panacea. For the more involved procedures (ie likely to be prolonged and/or painful), it was my go-to.
When my dentist stopped supplying it, the alternative was tranquilizers. Temazepam, 15mg, makes the whole thing a relaxing experience. Takes the edge off very nicely, thank you. No gag reflex, (or if there is, it doesn't bother me), no white knuckles, and any pain that breaks through the lidocaine block is met with a sort of academic mental curiosity, rather than dread.
You could get your doctor to prescribe you some. Will also help with sleep on a long haul flight. Should not be mixed with alcohol. I find two glasses of wine after the meal seems to complement the action rather well, regarding a sleep aid.
(Or you could just try alcohol on its own. It can be a pretty good tranqulizer.)
I've also been prescribed diazepam (ok), and some nasty crap called hypnoval. (That's the one they give you before surgery, so that if you wake up, you're less likely to remember it.)
Hypnoval left me feeling like a chunk of my memory and brain function did a midnight creep. Took over two weeks to get back to normal.
