For those of you afraid to fly

[The shadow knows]

why are you afraid to fly? now don't jump down my throat about 9-11...I'm serious. what is it that makes you terrified to fly? instead of keep asking how can I get on theplane why not admit what it is that terrifies you and then think of why, and then combat your fear. I am curious as to why people give into their fears.

[Brer-Rabbit]

I have no fear of flying, I will not let terrorists control my life. When my number is up its up and I am not going to hide in my house in fear. We as americans have to do our part to help get our country back on track.

[Cathy baby RN]

one word....SPLAT!







I am flying in November though. :eek:

[The shadow knows]

splat?
what happened on 9-11 was a freak incident. why would you let something of this nature stop you? if you had read of someone walking thru the woods and getting attacked by a bear would you never go near the woods again? if this had never happened before and it was a freak thing, why would you let it stop you? (maybe this wasn't the best scenerio to use but its all I can think of right now)

[LisaTx]

No problems here. I'm flying to DIS-con. :)

[The shadow knows]

what is DIS-con?????

[scanne]

My fear has to do with 1. NOT being in control. I can't see what's in front of me and I have a hard time comprehending how something so massive manages to get up in the air and maintain itself. 2. Fear of death and dying in a PAINFUL way. But I guess if the plane blows up, it's an instant thing. But if it's falling out of the sky, you have 3 minutes where you KNOW you're going to meet your maker.

Actually, before 9/11 I was doing really well at trying to understand and overcome my fear. I actually watch anything that has to do with how planes work and I always watch planes land. Philly International's landing pattern happens to be right over my house. In fact the other day I clearly could see a Continental Airbus jet landing. It was that low!

So I am slowly building up my ability to overcome my fears...but it hasn't been easy.

[flyingcircus]

The number one reason for fear of flying is LACK OF CONTROL. People do not feel like they have any control over the situation.

As a flight attendant, I obviously do not have a fear of flying or else I'd be on the ground somewhere :D But talking with pgrs. on board who are scared, that is their #1 fear. Many times I have them go talk to the pilots to help calm them down. Most people who DO have a fear of flying, have not had anything bad happen to them on an airplane before!!

It is interesting to note that I do have friends that have been in crashes before, and they are still flying. Even though odds are low in it happening, the reality is, yes,it can happen, and yes, it is sometimes survivable.

I for one, have always been for comfortable in a plane, and in light of what just happened, I still do. I'd much rather take a 2 1/2hour flight from Chicago to Orlando then drive 25 hours, and encounter thousands of unknown drivers!!!

[Beverly Lynn]

I have no fear and statistically you are more apt to get in a car wreck or a train wreck. its still safer to fly then drive. and what happened on 911 was a once in a lifetime thing that I doubt will happen again.

[LucyStorm]

I am a white knuckle flyer and have always been a white knuckle flyer, 9/11 has not changed that. For me, it is not so much the lack of control as my lifelong fear of heights. In most cases, I can manage that by avoiding those things that will put me in high situations. When flying, I can't. It is that simple for me.

[ducklite]

I am a frequent flier. I don't like to fly for two reasons:

1. I am claustrophobic.

2. I get annoyed with idiots who can't manage their luggage, block aisles, bumble around, get angry with gate agents because it's snowing out, the list goes on. There somehow seems to be more idiots flying than driving...maybe more people who just don't get it.

But given the alternatives, I fly.

Anne

[flyingcircus]

That makes sense!;)

I have a fear of heights too. I don't know why, but thankfully it doesn't affect me on the plane. Last year in Santa Ana I had to cross the PCH or some big highway like that on a overpass- 12 lanes of traffic underneath. Thought I was gonna die. When I got done at the mall, I had to call up the hotel van service to pick me up. So I hear where you're coming from!

[Cathy baby RN]

Scanne......your thoughts are mine exactly. My fear of flying has nothing to do with the events of 9-11. I had a fear of flying LONG before that. It's the fear of crashing. I know and understand that your much safer in an airplane than is a car.

[goofyandmore]

I too was afraid even before the tragedy. It's the take off and landing that got me nervous. Now, of course, my main fear is terroism. I realize that odds are I will not die from a terroist attack, but my fear really arises from the fact that I would be bringing 3 little kids with me and I am responsible for their safety. I think I will fly again, I just need time. I also wonder if maybe night flying would be safer as far a terroism goes since those crazy terroists seem to go for the daylight hours. I know I sound paranoid, but my sister who lives in NY city and witnessed the attack, also thought I was overly worried when I would voice my concerns to her before the attack. We must go on, but I just need more time. Carolyn

[CBRorBust]

Well it's that
1. I can't see what's going on except what my little window shows me.
2. I don't ever know where I am...I'm one of those "where are we" travelers
3. I don't like to sit still very long
4. Turbulence
5. Clostrophobic
6. I HATE taking off and landing!!!!! <-------MAIN REASON
7. What if something did happened??? Your helpless in the air! No where to go but down. And who knows if you will land in a good spot or not.

All of those reasons were prior to the attack. As a matter of fact this is my post the day of my last trip to WDW http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40785 (http://http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40785)

I think this will give you a little piece of what goes on in our minds hours before we even leave for the airport. Can you imagine what's going on in our minds while we are actually on the plane???:confused:

[Lilly]

My 16 year old son is supposed to go on a school sponsored trip to London in March. We have to make a decision about whether or not to let him go by November 1st in order to get any of our money back. He still wants to go and I think it would be a great experience for him but I am very afraid to let him fly. The group will be very well supervised with teachers and a couple of parents. I am also afraid that he could get stranded in England. [We were stranded in Orlando for 5 days during the recent tragedy. Any opinions? Thanks, Lilly

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Lilly
My 16 year old son is supposed to go on a school sponsored trip to London in March. We have to make a decision about whether or not to let him go by November 1st in order to get any of our money back. He still wants to go and I think it would be a great experience for him but I am very afraid to let him fly. The group will be very well supervised with teachers and a couple of parents. I am also afraid that he could get stranded in England. [We were stranded in Orlando for 5 days during the recent tragedy. Any opinions? Thanks, Lilly


This one is a tough call. Not the flying part, but the being in London part. The US State Dept has issued travel advisories for all travel outside the US. However, IMHO the UK and Canada, as much as they are considered terroristic targets as well are also top notch in terms of security. However, Ashcroft went on record saying that there is a clear and present danger of further terrorist attacks on US soil. So I think caution is the key operating word here.

If it is the flying you are worried about, don't be. Airline security is tighter than ever, and the UK has security as strict if not more so as we do.

If you are worried about him being stranded, I can ofer some suggestions and reassurance. The Britons are one of the most hospitable peoples in the world, and will bend over backwards to make sure anyone stranded on their soil is comfortable. You might want to have your credit card sompany issue a card in his name that he can carry and use in case of an emergency as well. Most will do this at no additional cost, and quickly if you explain the circumstances.

One other piece of advice I would offer to all North Americans when travelling right now, is to not "flaunt" your nationality.

Anne

[Beverly Lynn]

well said Anne.

[caitycaity]

I understand all the reasons listed here except for the out of control one. Does anyone really think they are in control of 99.9% of their life??? I almost get in a car accident 3-4 times/week, literally (have to communte on the beltway), but I still go to work.

I guess I just can't understand that one b/c I rarely feel in control of my destiny or my life. :) Bad things happen, it's a fact.

[flyingcircus]

Lilly,
March is pretty far off, and things could change for the better or for the worse. I am sure that any school sponsered event would be cancelled if it posed a risk to the students. If something did happen while he was in England, next to Canada, England would be the best place for a US citizen to be!

For those students or travelers that are abroad, it is never a good idea to advertise you are an American. They are many countries that do not agree with our way of life, and our politics.
When I travel abroad, I have a little Canadian flag on my backpack. One of my friends gave it to me, and I didn't get any flak. I am proud to be an American, but right now is NOT the best time to advertise it when overseas.

[Lilly]

Thanks for your advice on my son's trip to London. I think we will just wait; and watch and listen to happens in the next month. I wish the tour company that they are with was a little more lenient with cancellations. The entire $1500.00 must be paid by the end of December with very little refund if we were to cancel. I appreciate the advice about the Britons being so helpful and the credit card suggestion. I will also tell him not to advertise that he is an American, although we are proud to be American. I think this was true even back in the 1970's when I visited Europe as a student. Thanks for your help.Lilly

[Gretel]

First of all I was afraid to fly before the tragedy of the WTC. For those of you who are not afraid to fly you will never understand.............................everyone is afraid of something for me it is flying and I don't feel like I have to justify that fear.

For those who love to fly.................great......................... . fly all you want.

For those who are afraid don't let anyone tell you your fears are stupid. To those of us who have panic attacks, etc. the fear is very real and no matter how we try to overcome it our brain tells us otherwise. WE wish we didn't have the fear but we do.....................

[LindaBabe]

trips to Walt Disney World in the last four years in an effort to get over my fear. I had gotten to the point where I didn't need a tranquilizer, although I have never been happy in the air. I arrived home from the last trip on 9/8. We're scheduled to go again in December. My brain says "if the planes are going - I'M going". My nerves are saying something else. I'll fly, but it will take every ounce of courage I have to set foot on that plane.

[flyingcircus]

gretel,

I don't think anyone has said that you need to justify your fear. I think a lot of people right now have to justify that they are not scared to fly. Whenever something traumatic happens, people react either positively or negatively. People who were not scared to fly, now are, and it is difficult for them to get over this fear- you know, as you have had this fear!

I do believe that you are correct in saying that those who love to fly, don't understand. I have always thought how difficult it must be for those people to try to overcome their fear of flying, to set foot on a plane.

Right now in the airline industry, there are thousands of people going through counseling, employee assistance programs, out on sick list, all because now they too have a new fear. Believe me, I DO NOT belittle anyone who has a fear of flying. However, right now there are people who have this fear as a result of the WTC crashes, and are trying to get over it. For them, they may just need a little reassurance that they are not alone. For others, they may never be able to fly. Please don't feel you have to justify your fear. I for one, don't think you do! :)

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad says.............................................. ................I do not like to fly, but I do. I am afraid of heights, because when I am at the top of the Space Needle I can feel it moving. I am afraid of the take off and landing. I am afraid of take off, because 11 years ago we were on a flight out of Sacramento to San Diego, and we are flying down the runway just a few seconds from takeoff, and all of a sudden it's hard brakes and we come to a stop. The pilot says one of our engines isn't working!! All thru this I am fine and we wait for hours and are finally ready to go. When we do takeoff, I'm suddenly white knuckles!! I'm more opaque knuckles now, not quite so bad. The landing problem is not so much landing as it is banking the plane to turn into the landing. In 1978 or 1979 While I was in the Air Force I was stationed at Mather in Sacramento, where I live today. We had some kind of a fire drill or something, because we were all out side. Next we see a large plane, could have been a bomber, or probably a large transport plane take off. We see it take off above the trees and up it goes, and suddenly it starts to bank to the right. In a matter of seconds it just fell to the ground and exploded. Every time our plane banks toward our landing I think of that plane. I hope this next trip will be different. I want to fly! I hope I now have that steely resolve, that I have everywhere else in my mind, to include flying.

[Snow Shoe]

For many years I was REALLY NERVOUS about flying, but I did it anyway. I have tought my students the basic flight principle, Brunillie Principle of Flight, so I fully understood how and why a wing is capable of lift. I kept telling myself that it was the best way for our family to get to Disney and enjoy as much time there, but I still didn't like it that much. I managed "OK" with this attitude for many years. Well this past summer we went to Disneyland Paris. The flight was 9 hrs long direct from DFW to CDG. The flight was GREAT! We flew at 32-35,000 feet, some small turblance now and then. I have made several U.S. flights since returning, and I feel that I have lost that sense of "fear" that once really told me that this was not a good idea. I'm not saying for everyone to take such a long plane ride, but it obviously help me.

Now there's NO WAY you'll ever get me on a roller coaster!! But that's a different story.

[caitycaity]

gretel-

i do not like to fly, i was just saying that i didn't understand the lack of control thing b/c i don't feel safe in an automobile either. i think that's due to the fact that i was in a near fatal car-accident and we were driving perfectly safely. It really shook me up and I realised that none of us are in control of our lives, and since there's nothing we can do about itt, we might as well just go on with life. That's all I meant.

I'm sorry if I offended you.

[genetic jackhammer]

I haven't been on a plane since 1993 and have only flown about 5 times my whole life so the events of 9-11 have nothing to do with my fear. My fear is fear of heights...I don't like tall buildings or amusement rides that go up high (I'm scared to death of Ferris Wheels). Once I get on the plane and it takes off and at cruising altitude I really enjoy the flight. It's coming down and being able to see the ground getting closer that flips me out. And don't say look away or keep your eyes shut...I can't do it...I need to see what's going on, so I must have a window seat. Some day I guess I'll get some therapy.