Flying help!

[Maistre Gracey]

My wife used to be afraid to fly. At one point we only flew Song and Jet Blue because the TV's really helped her relax. Song no longer exists, but you may want to try Jet Blue. It really worked for my wife.

MG

 

[AquamarineSteph]

My other half doesn't like to fly to the point where he needs a prescription to calm him down for the flight, so I can totally sympathize.

Having said that, a direct flight IS your best friend here. You may have to go directly to the Southwest website to see what's available through them. Frontier is great, and I'd pick them over American in many cases.

You may want to check with your doctor about something to calm you for the flight, but you might also find some other tricks handy. Look at the flight in how long it takes. You go up. They bring the drink cart. You have a soda or water or juice. They take your trash. The plane lands. (Okay, overly simplified, but maybe you get the idea. Break it into manageable segments.)

There are also meditation apps you can load onto your phone. You can travel with your favorite music or book at hand. Give yourself a treat once you arrive at the airport or board the plane. Your favorite, overpriced bottle of water or a candy bar once you're through security. Positive reinforcement. It can really help.

And just know that other people have feared flying, and now love doing it. You CAN do this!!!

 

[k8Davies]

Unfortunately no...I was hit by a transit bus several years ago as a pedestrian and had a traumatic brain injury...I was very lucky but have residual vision issues that don't allow me to drive for longer than an hour. That accident also contributes to my anxiety of flying ironically!

gosh poor you and going through something like that no wonder you have anxiety about transport.

I would say just do what you feel comfortable with and don't feel pressure that even if you've booked the flights you have to fly; as I think that will make it worse.

I'm sure your family will be a great support so I wish you the best of luck and if you fly great or if you feel in the end you can't that still okay too. The mouse will still be there if you have to leave it a couple of days to drive in the end

 

[goofy4tink]

I used to hate to fly, but, like you, didn't want to pass that fear on to my dd. So I hid it..died a thousand times in every flight!
But, I now fly pretty frequently, many times by myself.

Here's what I told my young dd to do when she got overly nervous while flying. Bring some magazines...they're shorter than books and hold your attention. Familiarize yourself with the sounds you'll hear while taking off and in the air (Google is your friend), get to the airport early...nothing is more stressful than being short on time, going through security!
While in the air, watch your flight attendants. If they're going about their business, you have nothing to fear.

If you hit any kind of turbulence...and just a small bump feels huge to an already nervous flier...keep in mind that airplanes are built for turbulence. It takes a lot to bring a plane down!! Not to mention, the pilots tend to welcome a little turbulence...it is much less boring for them! So, now they're really alert and having fun.

You really are safe in the air. I'm always tempted to make the drive from Mass to WDW, but drivers out there are whacky!!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Take a direct flight, if possible. Combine packing to reduce luggage and fees.

Thank you all so much for the replies... We haven't booked yet but will only book a direct flight and it looks like our choices are Frontier (most likely because of timing) and American. I didn't see southwest as an option which I was surprised by.

And believe me I'm not planning on getting Xanax and crossing my fingers...I will probably have several conversations with my dr. I certainly don't want to pass this fear onto my kiddos! And I don't want to feel to drugged t all, just relaxed so by the time we land I'm like hey that was easy let's fly everywhere!!

You really want a NONSTOP flight. A direct flight makes a stop (or multiple stops) allowing some passengers to get off and others to get on.

"A nonstop flight does as its name suggests: flies from one airport to another without stopping. A direct flight, on the other hand, makes stops along the way. Often, passengers traveling on direct flights make a stop at a midpoint airport and remain seated on the plane while some passengers exit and others board."

 

[85glht]

I used to hate to fly, but, like you, didn't want to pass that fear on to my dd. So I hid it..died a thousand times in every flight!
But, I now fly pretty frequently, many times by myself.

Here's what I told my young dd to do when she got overly nervous while flying. Bring some magazines...they're shorter than books and hold your attention. Familiarize yourself with the sounds you'll hear while taking off and in the air (Google is your friend), get to the airport early...nothing is more stressful than being short on time, going through security!
While in the air, watch your flight attendants. If they're going about their business, you have nothing to fear.

If you hit any kind of turbulence...and just a small bump feels huge to an already nervous flier...keep in mind that airplanes are built for turbulence. It takes a lot to bring a plane down!! Not to mention, the pilots tend to welcome a little turbulence...it is much less boring for them! So, now they're really alert and having fun.

You really are safe in the air. I'm always tempted to make the drive from Mass to WDW, but drivers out there are whacky!!!

This is exactly what I told my wife ....... If the flight attendants are "cool", then all is normal. We flew into Miami one year. I can remember the plane was being tossed around like a rag doll on our approach to the airport. We were seated close to the attendants and they were just strapped in their seats not paying any attention to anything, so then I knew, this must be normal flying into this airport.