Yes I am sometimes very afraid on flights.
I was genuinely scared and some people looked annoyed by my being scared. I wasnt screaming, or yelling I just looked afraid and when the plane took off I squeezed my arm rest and whimpered. People looked mad at me...
What people? If people could hear you whimpering while taking off, you weren't quiet, so people were probably just curious. It's hard to have a kind and sweet expression on your face while turning all the way around in your seat. I'm just really curious about how you saw people looking at you, and why you felt like they were mad, when they were likely just wondering what was going on.
That said, DS sometimes says things like "is the plane going down now" when he means "is it landing", and I try to remind him of the right wording, because I don't want to make people nervous. I'm a little bit superstitious so I like it when we all use the right words, not words like "going down" instead of "landing".
I'm an only child. When I was little and my parents would 'leave' me behind to go to anywhere on a plane, they always took different flights. Never on the same plane.
We definitely feel more comfy when trips work out so we're not all on the same plane. Which is a switch from pre-kid, when we didn't want to fly apart lest something happen to just one of us.
A plane is designed to be in the air...basically, it wants to fly.
Of course, it's hard to remain calm and collected if you have any kind of issue with flying, once they close those doors. BUT...it is going to be very annoying to others if someone sits there and cries or whimpers.
You would have thought there were flames spewing from the wings and the plane was plummeting down to earth by my dd's reaction. She was sitting there, sobbing and praying. Really? Seriously? Nothing I said made any difference. And I'm pretty sure her behaviour was really upsetting to those around us.
This is what I tell those who are nervous about flying...
Watch the flight attendants. If they are busily going about their business, the plane is fine! The FAs seldom hand out drinks while the plane is crashing, or in serious danger!!!
I'm not a huge proponant of taking anything to get you through the flight. Especially if you have little ones. If one of them needs you and you are groggy, then why bother??
As far as flying with kids....those kids will pick up on your fears. Try to remain calm and relaxed. Otherwise, you are going to turn the kiddos into blithering idiots..they won't want to fly again due to their fears. Set a good example for them. Focus on them and you'll be fine.
Believe me.....the plane wants to be in the air. Nothing you can do about terrorists..if they manage to get through and have serious intents, then there's not much you're going to do.
I agree with all of that, except the Jet Blue part (not my fave!).

And yes, if whimpering can be heard by others, it's definitely loud (planes are loud!).
I feel so bad for your DD to have been so scared, and very bad for you and those around you. I've been on flights with turbulence that I did NOT like, and I've tried to be as quiet as possible so I don't disturb others, because I know it's not rational.
Are you sure about the 95% chance of survival? That seems extremely high for a plane crash.
That is my problem with flying, I know it is safer than driving, but if we are the 1 in 35 million to go down, I think the chances are slim that we would survive.
You're only defining a plane crash as being the most dramatic crash. When if you're looking at statistics you have to include everything, like landing/taking off problems etc.
I really like Rescue Remedy. Seems like magic, as it's basically homeopathic, but it's worked on everyone in my family, including our now-late cat (for July 4th...which is actually how we found out about it, when the PetSmart lady suggested it for her) and our son.