I used to be so scared of flying. Here are some things that have helped me.
http://www.fearofflying.com/
This is a great site. Also, it always makes me feel better to know someone is tracking my flight, so before you go, make sure you find someone who'll promise to track your flight, even if it is us on the DIS or people from the site I listed there. It helps.
Pay close attention to children on your flight. There is something very comforting about watching little kids on planes. They rarely act scared and that really helps too.
Xanax works pretty well but check with your doctor. It can make you very sleepy. Does not mix well with liquor so if you are planning on having a few drinks to relax, keep that in mind.
Drinking a glass or two of wine right before you board can help a little bit, but one thing to keep in mind, that the more you drink, the more you will have to visit the planes restroom. Sounds in the restroom can be louder than in other parts of the plane and many people consider the restroom to be the scariest part.
Try to avoid sitting right by the wing. Seeing the way the flaps move can be kind of freaky, even though deep down we know it's supposed to work that way.
YOU DO have control, over certain things. I am a control freak myself, and I hate not being in control of "driving". But remember, you make a lot of choices when you fly. You choose a GOOD airline, you meet the pilots/flight crew before you go on (usually, at least last time I flew I did). You see the other passengers. You can choose to get off the plane before it takes off if anyone of these people ; crew or passengers strikes you as very sketchy. I always scan over the other passengers and tell myself, if someone really worries me that much, that I can always book another flight instead. I never get off the plane but knowing I can helps.
Ask to watch your checked luggage be scanned (depending on what airport you are at. I know at Logan and Orlando you can watch). Watching the baggage screeners made me feel better because I saw a lot of other luggage being screened and saw what a thorough job they do.
Read the fear of flying SOAR site. It explains a lot of what the noises are, and how the plane works. Some things I took from the site that stuck in my mind :
Planes were designed to fly. Pilots were trained to fly. Passenger jets usually do not require much in the way of fancy flying but if for some reason the pilot had to, planes can be manuevered in many ways, very gracefully.
If one part of the plane breaks (like a gage or an engine) there are backups. The odds of all of the backups breaking down are slim to none.
Remember for every "down" bump you feel during turbulence, there is also an "up" bump bringing you back to where you were. It's just like the plane is a car driving over a bumpy road. You just don't feel the up bumps.
Security is a lot tighter now than it was on 9/11. ALOT tighter.
And most of all, let a flight attendant know you are nervous about flying. They are usually great about just making sure you are okay and you get all the attention you need.
Bring things to keep you occupied. I have found that the best thing is to bring a travel book, of my destination.
Have a great trip!!!
~Sheri
