First time flying, reassurances needed

[BibbidyBobbidyBarb]

DH and I are taking a little get away to WDW in July. First time without the kids. DSI and DBI are going to. We all love Disney. We have always driven almost a 2 day drive! We are going to fly this time. This is a 2 1/2 hour flight for us. Now for the fear factor. I have never flown before and very nervous about it. Dh has never flown before but has always wanted to so he is very excited about it. DBI and DSI have flown before. Dr. has given me a prescripition for a pill to help calm me but I'm not so sure I want to take it. I am hoping all of you experienced fliers can help me out here. I have an isle seat by the wing. I am claustrophobic but like the idea of being there n only 2 1/2 hours. Thanks for the help.

 

[ShannonN]

We just got back Monday from a wonderful vacation at WDW. This was our second time flying and I wouldn't have it any other way!! Last year I was nervous but this year I was really looking foward to it. Just look at it this way, in a couple of hours you'll be in WDW and the trip back won't be near as bad because you'll be home in no time. My DS got a little air sick on our trip down because we left so early (plane left at 6:50am ) and he had not eaten breakfast yet. Don't worry "flying is the safest form of transportation" really it is! Have a wonderful magical vacation.
DH DS ME

 

[Philagoofy]

I'm always nervous at takeoff's & landings but once in the air, especially looking down & seeing how wonderful the land looks from way above it's exciting. Try to sit back, relax your mind & body, take some deep breaths & dream about where you'll be in just 2-1/2 short hours. Bring a good book to immerse yourself in & soon after takeoff, you'll hardly even know you're moving. Enjoy your vacation!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBarb]

Thanks for the encouraging words so far.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Take something to distract you. A good book or some good music on an Ipod. If you have a portable DVD player, a good movie could also help. It'll make the time go by so much faster. Good luck!

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

I second the vote for a DVD player or Ipod. Or sleep. I find I sleep really easily on planes (the aisle makes it harder though, I like the window to rest my head on). Wear comfortable clothes, bring a pillow (they have them on planes but I never know how many heads have been on them ). You'll be fine. My ex mother-in-law (we still get along) flew for the first time last year and loved it and if she can do it, you definitely can! Depending on what time you are arriving, I agree with maybe not taking the prescription (it may make you drowsy the whole day, but if you are getting in late, it wouldn't matter). But having it in your pocket as a back up plan might be a good idea, mentally more than anything else. Relax, sit back and enjoy, it will be okay......really!

 

[clownboy007]

My work requires me to fly all the time and I love it...although I stand 6 1/2 feet tall and non-stops from Orlando to Las Vegas or Los Angeles can be murder on the kneecaps!

Even though flying doesn't make me nervous, I'm never without something to keep me occupied...I never fly anywhere without my laptop (flights are a GREAT place for me to catch up on work, update lightng plots, cleaning up my hard drive, etc.), my Ipod, and a stack of magazines or a new book and sometimes a DVD player. The inflight magazine is usually an interesting read but won't last an entire flight. Just remember that you won't be able to use electronic devices during take-off and landing so a book or magazine would be your best choice.

I've got a colleague (a big, athletic kid, too) who can't fly unless he takes some medicine to help with the anxiety so don't hesitate to go with that if you need to. You're certainly in good company there!

The thing that makes my mom nervous about flying is some of the sounds you hear during take-off and landing...there can be some "bumps and thumps" during that time but knowing that they are perfectly normal may help. If not, you might consider investing in some "noise cancelling" headphones. An airplane can be fairly noisy anyway and noise can be stressful under any circumstances so something to make it a little quieter will certainly help.

Finally, here's the one I always have to remind Mom about when she travels with me: know that it's not uncommon at all to encounter a little turbulence if the aircraft is flying through clouds. It can be a little disconcerting for a first time flyer but it's perfectly normal...and once you're at your cruising altitude it's so smooth that you might actually forget that you're flying! Personally, I prefer a window seat because the view can often be the best part of the flight. I have some fantastic photos of the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountains taken through an airplane window!

You'll do fine! So relax and enjoy and welcome to Central Florida!

 

[dg39]

I was so afraid to fly that I haven't flown in 20+ yrs. Then for April my dh made plans to go to Fort Lauderdale BY plane. He and the rest of my family were upset to say the least, that our only vacations were only to places that we can drive to.

I was so upset about this trip, that all I did was think about it and get sick over it. I spoke to my dr. who gave me Zanax, but, I didn't want to take anything that would make me drowsy.

To make a looonng story short, we flew, I had my ipod, with the ear buds that cancel out any outside noise, so I wouldn't hear the engine or anything else,and I sat between my dh and my dd.

I also had afrin and ear planes with me, because I remember 20+yrs. ago when I flew I got a headache from landing, and I brought a good book to read. I didn't read, but, the Ipod was my savior.

Everything went perfect, we took off/landed w/no problems, the flight was smooth and now I consider myself a "flyer"...LOL...

We're going back again in July and we're flying. I'm still nervous about the flight, but, not nearly as bad as I was before.

Our flight also is 2 1/2 hrs. and believe me it went pretty quickly and wasn't bad at all. Now, this time, I'm actually looking foward to this trip instead of dreading it.

 

[Poly Pal]

It's not the flying that I am afraid of....it's the falling

Actually, I am more nervous about getting to the airport and through security on time. Once I am on board the aircraft, I relax. Take off and landings are the exciting part. Other than that flying is mostly kind of boring.

Realize that in addition to engine noise you may hear other mechanical sounds and thumps. Not to worry - these are all normal. Also, you may encounter "rough air" and the ride may get bumpy. Again normal, just stay seated with your seatbelt fastened. You might notice the ride goes from smooth to rough as you descend through clouds. Finally, if you can see the wings, be prepared to see them flex. They are designed to do so!

One thing that has happened to me twice in over 25 years of flying alot that I found scary was "static discharge" There was a bright flash in the cabin and a loud "CRACK!" I did not know what it was until the pilot calmly made an announcement several minutes later (why couldn't he have said something sooner? ) You will most likely never experience anything like this, but what I have learned to do to calm myself is to look at the flight attendants to see their reaction. If they continue to do what they were doing and do not seem phased by it, then they know best.

I bet you are going to be a great flyer

Have a fun trip!

 

[dburg30]

Now I've only flown once, but as far as the noises folks are talking about you would probably hear more on take off and landing. Things like flaps on the wings going up and down, landing gear of course, things like that. I'm sure there are other noises also while flying, but I bet that you normally would hear them when in takeoff and landing mode.

I will admit when I did fly the one time, I was near one of the wings. My dad worked on jet fighters for 30 years, so I knew about them, but if I didnt it would have probably shocked m a little bit. It was the flaps that they put down for landing. It literally looked like the back of the wing was falling off. Sooooo If you happen to get close to a wing where you can actually see it, dont freak out It's all good.

Takeoff IMO is the coolest thing as you get the sense of speed and such on takeoff, which I'm a speed freak anyway

 

[Panlow]

I have an isle seat by the wing. I am claustrophobic but like the idea of being there n only 2 1/2 hours. Thanks for the help.

I'm a bit claustrophobic myself and have been flying for business a lot. I'm not a big fan of flying so I can relate to your apprehension. I'm typically near the wing, and I do try to get an aisle seat. Being tall like clownboy, it's nice to be able to stretch your legs into the aisle mid-flight. It also gives you a feeling of more space. I tend to close my eyes and try to relax on take off and landing. You'll be fine, enjoy the quick flight

 

[CleveRocks]

I love the idea of flying, and I have no fear about danger or anything like that. What I hate is the feeling of being cooped up in my seat for hours at a time. It's not the smallness of the airplane that gets me, it's that I have only a tiny little bit of personal space called my seat, in which I can hardly move.

So my biggest thing is getting an aisle seat. That way, I have a little bit more room to stretch out. Even if it's only a couple of extra inches, it helps me to feel and more importantly to just know that I'm not surrounded on all sides, that I have some airspace to one side of me. And for me, whether that airspace is 18 inches (my guess at the width of the aisle) or 18 feet really makes no difference.

The best thing about an aisle seat, to me, is that I can occasionally get up and walk. About once an hour or so, I'll get up and walk to the bathroom, even if I don't have to use the bathroom. If I don't have to "go," I won't even enter the bathroom, I'll just hang there for a minute. For me, just the knowledge that I can get up whenever I want is enough to keep me calm ... enough so that I don't need to get up that often (I don't think once an hour is too obnoxious!).

I must be the world's "worst" claustrophobe, because I have no problem with things like elevators or airplanes in general or Mission:Space. My anxiety comes from having my mobility restrained, from the feeling that I can't move my limbs and head and torso whenever I feel like it. So flying itself doesn't scare me one bit ... I'd be just as bad if I was crammed into the back seat of a small car for a long drive. Actually, the car would be worse ... no aisle to walk down!

 

[S'sMom]

I second the vote for a DVD player or Ipod. Or sleep. I find I sleep really easily on planes (the aisle makes it harder though, I like the window to rest my head on). Wear comfortable clothes, bring a pillow (they have them on planes but I never know how many heads have been on them ). You'll be fine. My ex mother-in-law (we still get along) flew for the first time last year and loved it and if she can do it, you definitely can! Depending on what time you are arriving, I agree with maybe not taking the prescription (it may make you drowsy the whole day, but if you are getting in late, it wouldn't matter). But having it in your pocket as a back up plan might be a good idea, mentally more than anything else. Relax, sit back and enjoy, it will be okay......really!

Yes, I find that an iPod bought for yourself at XMAS is a great distracter.
I am like you, but It a necessary evil (so to speak). My dd (age 4) thinks its a blast (she has flwon 2wice a year since she was 9 months old) so I have to stay calm in front of her. DH and DD both sleep, but not me.

I normally sit in the aisle, and sh has the window and dd is in the middle. Most of our flights have the 3 seats. I like the aisle, not as crampy feeling for me.

You will be fine, just sit back and enjoy. The take offs are worse for me but the landing is ok. Prbably because I know that it is finsined. Also my ears POP alot. Enjoy and sit back!!

 

[fla4fun]

There's a great website, fromthecockpit, that a woman pilot has, with loads of info, including a section for fearful flyers. I hadn't flown anywhere for over 25 years, and I was nervous about taking a trans-Atlantic flight. It was so helpful to find out what all the different noises and sensations meant, so when I heard or felt something unusual, I could remind myself what it was and not be concerned. I was still a little nervous on the takeoff/landing, but even with some turbulence, I was fine during the flight.