Im freaking out...Have a flight on 9/11

[Minnesota!]

I have a fear of flying, too. Not so much the flying part...but the take off part, and the turbulence part.

One thing that someone on here told me and it has really worked for me is - watch the flight attendants. As long as they are calm and going about their normal business...then you have no reason to be nervous.

I keep my eyes on them as much as possible during take off and turbulence...it really calms me to see them acting normal when I think the noises/movement are freaky!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I was fine flying until we had a very turbulent flight home from WDW once. We were all together (my family) so all I could think was that I'd never see my parents again, they'd never see my kids, etc.

I found this website:
http://www.takingflight.us/forums/

It used to have a Southwest pilot that could answer questions, etc. He also authored a book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/09...ils?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1315871017&sr=1-2&seller=
Captain Stark is one of the Amazon sellers.

I think now another pilot is on takingflight forum but it's a great place to start. Since then I've had many smooth flights.

I also have anxiety in the car after working 10 yrs at a trauma center/hospital. Really, flying is safer.

Now, I'm fine when flying. I'd fly to PHL if I could just to avoid the crazy drivers on I-95.

Back on 9/10/01, I found great fares to MCO, $112 RT pp, for the time between TG and Christmas. Back then, you could put your seats on a free 3-day hold (USAirways) so I did, waiting to see if I could get the days off from work. The 1st chance I got to speak to dh on phone right after the 9/11 attacks, he insisted it's our patriotic duty to book those flights and continue to fly. Don't give those dogs the satisfaction that we altered our way of life due to fear of them.
Long story short, I cried on the runway, DSs were 4 & 1.5, but security was super tight. We ended up having a great vacation.
I hope you did too!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Oh, and as others said, don't watch the 9/11 documentaries before flying. That would be like watching the Titanic before cruising.

 

[Alesia]

Oh, and as others said, don't watch the 9/11 documentaries before flying. That would be like watching the Titanic before cruising.

When I was 7 years old I watched Coma the night before I had my tonsils taken out. Also not a great idea.

 

[BillyBuff]

See it's September 12 around 11:40 PM and nothing happened.

 

[strmtroopr96]

My husband used to live right around the corner from where that plane crashed; friends of his used to live in that house. The current owner of his house told us that so many people in that neighborhood had friends and family on that flight. So sad.

In a sad coincidence, the wife of a 9/11 victim was on that plane that crashed in Buffalo. She was on her way to visit with his family who were going to have a celebration of his life.

 

[Wadecool]

I guess its safe to say the OP is still in one piece.

 

[HersheyKisses]

Yes I am in one piece.I want to tell you about my experience. Flying to MCO was uneventful I was nervous but I was not in fear mode at all because I was more excited to get to our destination.Nothing makes me happier than getting off the plane in Florida and seeing the Palm Trees knowing im in for fun!

Ok the flight back was NOT fun at all. I was in total panic mode. At some points during the flight I was seriously about to hyperventilate. I was not worried about terrorist attacks at all I was worried about a freak accident . Like what if an engine fails or something just goes horrifically wrong and we find out and those seconds of panic until we crash FREAKS...ME...OUT . I dont know about you but if something did go horrifically wrong I would NOT want to find out while were 30,000 feet in the air..because those moments of panic would give me a heart attack . I'd rather just think everything was fine ,crash than to have it announced that something is terribly wrong and than suffer until the crash. The plane was jerky a tiny bit throughout the flight but the FA's were totally calm . At one point the plain jerked so much that everyone started looking around and that FREAKED.ME.OUT. I was on the verge of tears. We landed safely but the fear I had inside of me said NEVER fly again . It's just not worth it . It just scares the crap out of me .

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I suggest that you seek professional help to deal with your anxieties. You don't have to live this way.

 

[HersheyKisses]

I suggest that you seek professional help to deal with your anxieties. You don't have to live this way.

I dont think any type of therapy will help me get over my fear of flying. Im just so afraid of a freak accident. Yesterday I googled commercial airplane crashes and a commercial flight I believe 587 had a freak accident and crashed in Queens NY . That's my fear . Im really upset because I have alot of true blue points and cash credits so my next flights would be relatively cheap but I think they will expire before I book another trip.

 

[pr surfer]

I think that would be the safest day to travel.

I couldn't agree more. The biggest change between 9/11/01 and now is the change of attitude in passengers. If someone tries to take down a plane, they'll likely be beaten to death by the passengers before they get a chance to even make it to the cockpit.

I dont think any type of therapy will help me get over my fear of flying. Im just so afraid of a freak accident. Yesterday I googled commercial airplane crashes and a commercial flight I believe 587 had a freak accident and crashed in Queens NY . That's my fear . Im really upset because I have alot of true blue points and cash credits so my next flights would be relatively cheap but I think they will expire before I book another trip.

The reason airplane accidents make the news, especially when they're in developed countries, is because they're so scarce, and this sadly means more viewers and more media sales.

Air France flight 447 was in the news for months, and is still in the news since they found the wreckage. It sells ads, thus "warrants further coverage."

The Russian plane that crashed a few weeks back, hardly a mention in the press anymore.

You have every right to be scared. But it's your own fault- you aren't doing yourself any favors by looking up what can go wrong. You think everything is going to go wrong, without realizing that the odds of those are slim.

I fly over 100k in-seat miles each year due to my work. I've done this for several years now.

The worst thing to have ever happened to me is we had an engine flame out and we had to divert to another airport. That was it. A loud noise, nasty smell and we landed safely 30 minutes later.

As far as terrorist concerns go, the beginning of my post answers it. I'll snap the terrorist's neck before I allow them to take the plane down.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

You should stick to driving. Why bother dealing with your issues when you can cripple your family's ability to travel about the world in speed and comfort instead?

Driving is so much safer... and, because you're at the wheel you're totally in control!

I dont think any type of therapy will help me get over my fear of flying. Im just so afraid of a freak accident. Yesterday I googled commercial airplane crashes and a commercial flight I believe 587 had a freak accident and crashed in Queens NY . That's my fear . Im really upset because I have alot of true blue points and cash credits so my next flights would be relatively cheap but I think they will expire before I book another trip.

 

[dudspizza]

You should stick to driving. Why bother dealing with your issues when you can cripple your family's ability to travel about the world in speed and comfort instead?

Driving is so much safer... and, because you're at the wheel you're totally in control!

HA! I was once Googling a certain aircraft as I was curious about my flight the next day. First link was to that model and video of it crashing....... I must have watched that 10 times that night....... I slept like a baby that night and had a very stress free flight the next day......

WHY?

Because I know air travel is one of the safest forms of travel, period. I know that any plane crash is studied and airlines make sure that mistake doesn't happen again?

How many car crashes happen over and over again because people are making the same mistake? I'll take flying, thank you!

Duds

 

[disney_bob]

You should stick to driving. Why bother dealing with your issues when you can cripple your family's ability to travel about the world in speed and comfort instead?

Driving is so much safer... and, because you're at the wheel you're totally in control!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

HA! I was once Googling a certain aircraft as I was curious about my flight the next day. First link was to that model and video of it crashing....... I must have watched that 10 times that night....... I slept like a baby that night and had a very stress free flight the next day......

WHY?

Because I know air travel is one of the safest forms of travel, period. I know that any plane crash is studied and airlines make sure that mistake doesn't happen again?

How many car crashes happen over and over again because people are making the same mistake? I'll take flying, thank you!

Duds

Do you guys not detect the sarcasm?

Yes I am in one piece.I want to tell you about my experience. Flying to MCO was uneventful I was nervous but I was not in fear mode at all because I was more excited to get to our destination.Nothing makes me happier than getting off the plane in Florida and seeing the Palm Trees knowing im in for fun!

Ok the flight back was NOT fun at all. I was in total panic mode. At some points during the flight I was seriously about to hyperventilate. I was not worried about terrorist attacks at all I was worried about a freak accident . Like what if an engine fails or something just goes horrifically wrong and we find out and those seconds of panic until we crash FREAKS...ME...OUT . I dont know about you but if something did go horrifically wrong I would NOT want to find out while were 30,000 feet in the air..because those moments of panic would give me a heart attack . I'd rather just think everything was fine ,crash than to have it announced that something is terribly wrong and than suffer until the crash. The plane was jerky a tiny bit throughout the flight but the FA's were totally calm . At one point the plain jerked so much that everyone started looking around and that FREAKED.ME.OUT. I was on the verge of tears. We landed safely but the fear I had inside of me said NEVER fly again . It's just not worth it . It just scares the crap out of me .

Tell me, was the jerk enough to spill your drink? The plane's movement of mere inches is enough to make passengers feel it; after all you're traveling at 500mph! This is turbulence. Freaking out over it is like being a passenger in a car and freaking out that you hit a pothole. (Which will spill your drink!)
Please get your head out of the sand and read some books. The one I recommended in a previous post will educate you so that you will feel safe.


Info from the book I mentioned before:
The odds of dying in a plane crash are 1 in 3 million. You'd have to fly once per day every day for over 8200 years to reach 3 million flights.
More people die on American highways in a 3 month period than ALL those who've died in the last 60 years of American commercial flights.

Better yet, get a job (or volunteer) at your local trauma center for about 1 month. You'll be running to the airport! .

Or just limit yourself for the rest of your life to vacations destinations you can drive to but know that your odds of dying in a crash are much higher.

 

[sharadoc]

Do you guys not detect the sarcasm?




Tell me, was the jerk enough to spill your drink? The plane's movement of mere inches is enough to make passengers feel it; after all you're traveling at 500mph! This is turbulence. Freaking out over it is like being a passenger in a car and freaking out that you hit a pothole. (Which will spill your drink!)
Please get your head out of the sand and read some books. The one I recommended in a previous post will educate you so that you will feel safe.


Info from the book I mentioned before:
The odds of dying in a plane crash are 1 in 3 million. You'd have to fly once per day every day for over 8200 years to reach 3 million flights.
More people die on American highways in a 3 month period than ALL those who've died in the last 60 years of American commercial flights.

Better yet, get a job (or volunteer) at your local trauma center for about 1 month. You'll be running to the airport! .

Or just limit yourself for the rest of your life to vacations destinations you can drive to but know that your odds of dying in a crash are much higher.

Don't be so condescending and judgmental. People are entitled to their own feelings and should feel safe coming here to share them. How dare you say act so darn superior. I'm speechless reading your cruelty.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Don't be so condescending and judgmental. People are entitled to their own feelings and should feel safe coming here to share them. How dare you say act so darn superior. I'm speechless reading your cruelty.

I'm not trying to be. She came on here asking for advice yet didn't take ANY of it and then basically left saying she'll never fly again. Sometimes I wish I could be speechless.

 

[Wadecool]

I'm not trying to be. She came on here asking for advice yet didn't take ANY of it and then basically left saying she'll never fly again. Sometimes I wish I could be speechless.

Reading this thread, I'm imagining the scene in Rain Man when Tom Cruise tries to take Dustin Hoffman onto the aircraft and Hoffman completely flips out.