Paula, I can't help you with the Delta flights, but I am terrified of flying, so can sympathise with you there.
I did a Fear of Flying course a couple of years ago and it was excellent. The one I attended is run by Captain Peter Hughes, a BA Captain of over 30 years experience. In addition many other BA pilots and crew are involved on the day (about 20 of them from memory) which includes a flight. The courses run out of Heathrow and Manchester once every two to three months. The morning session is run by Captain Hughes and the pilot team and covers topics such as turbulence, how the aircraft flies, air traffic control and much more. They are all on hand to answer questions during coffee and lunch breaks. During the afternoon session, a Harley Street pschologist describes the various reasons for fears associated with flying and helps with coping skills. You then take your flight, although no-one is coerced. Of 100+ attendees the day I was there, only 15 had never flown before and only 5 didn't take the flight. The flight itself is teeming with BA pilots and cabin crew, you are encouraged to walk around the plane and visit the cockpit (I was there pre-flight whilst the 2 co-pilots were calculating the take-off speed - something they must do independantly of one-another), and there is a running commentary during the entire flight which is very reassuring especially when the plane is taking-off, banking, deploying speed brakes, landing, etc. The flight lasts about an hour flying out over the south coast of England over Brighton, all around the south east coast and back into London - it's the only flight I can honestly say I've enjoyed!
There is an option for a partner to join you on the flight without taking the course. I did book up for a refresher last November, but the course was cancelled due to lack of interest post September 11 - people were even too nervous to do the course! Dh was going to do both the course and the flight with me. He did neither the first time because it didn't occur to us, but there were quite a few couples doing it and I'm sure he would be able to support me better on flights if he knew what I had learned on the course.
Virgin Atlantic also run a course which doesn't include a flight, but is much more intimate (about 20 attendees I think).
Aviatours (BA) ~ 01252 793250
Virgin Flying Without Fear ~ 01293 448440 (twice a month until August, and then once a month).
Our trip this October will be my 8th to the States and for the past four I have been prescribed Diazepam by my GP. Psychologists will tell you that medication is not the way to go, but I find it really helps. At first my GP prescribed 2mg doses which didn't help much at all, so I asked him to increase it and now I have 5 mg. I am supposed to take one tablet 24 hours before the flight, one 12 hours before and one just before, but through trial and error I have found it better to take one just before the flight and one half way through. For me, they work pretty quickly and I soon start to feel relaxed, but the effect seems to wear off about half-way through the flight. The effect is similar to alcohol, but it's more controllable and it doesn't give you a hangover! Having said that I do have a couple of drinks on the plane (with my Doctor's blessing) and it just helps to enhance the effect.
Feel free to e-mail me if you want to know more about the course.
