Ok, don't laugh... I am afraid to fly....

[jrc-elpaso]

A cute story from one of my co-workers. Her nephew, who lives in CA, and his mom come to visit (El Paso) several times a year. This spring, now that he's 5, he was able to fly by himself. His grandmother asked him if he was a little scared at the idea of flying alone. His answer - No, I've been waiting to do this for years! Just pretend you're 5 and it's an adventure.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

My nephew is 2.5 and loves to fly...he has more mileage under his belt then a significant portion of adults. I know its probably bad to say, but I don't even notice turbulence unless its VIOLENTLY bad which is very rare (as in things falling inside of the plane bad).

I just flew back from MCO this past weekend and on take off the ceiling panel with the lights and controls broke free and fell (not just the air mask part for those needing clarification). There were a few people that freaked out on the plane, but honestly it was really a non-event. It was actually more funny to me because it really represented how poor quality this one carrier's planes are (not going to say the name, but its the reason I don't usually fly them).

 

[themousetrap]

Well, I'm definitely going to visit that site. I've driven to Disney every time I went (roughly 700 miles each way). I've even driven to places like Dallas, DC, New York, and Atlanta from MS. People who would travel no other way (flying) keep telling me that one in every zillion or so planes actually crash, so the day I'm online booking my plane ticket, I see something on the news about an airplane,

...then I start Googling gas station locations along Interstate 10.

 

[Sweety_tweety]

I don't like to fly either. I just try to think I have two choices--fly or miss DW and how many people fly everyday without any problems. I don't think I could handle the drive. I take the day off the day before we leave to pack and just relax.

I get a very low dose of Xanax from my doctor. I explain to him that I don't want to be knocked out or unable to respond if there is a problem. I take one pill about 1/2 hour before we fly. It just takes the edge off--I don't get drowsy or anything.

When you are on the plane try focusing on what you are going to do at DW. I am sure you will have a smooth flight!

 

[tink68]

I am scared of flying also. Not to the point to where I will not do it but I am miserable the whole time. But guess what I did? I married a pilot. My dad finds this very funny.

 

[albertperk]

So I've only flown once (back in 1999) to California on a 747 with my fellow marching bandmembers to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade...I was sort of nervous, and the flight back home was kind of rough. Since then occurrances such as 9/11, and multiple plane crashes have occured. Nervous? You bet I am. I was actually going to drive down in October for our honeymoon from PA and divide the drive into two days. But my Dad talked us into flying and even booked our Southwest Airlines flight. So I'm sort of nervous and excited at the same time. I just hope everything goes smoothly since I'm not in the air much...about once every 10 years so it seems. Thanks for everyone's tips on here, they really have helped. I also have watched a few videos on youtube with Southwest Airlines, and they have helped me relax as Southwest has a VERY relaxed atmosphere with their flight attendants and what not.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

So I've only flown once (back in 1999) to California on a 747 with my fellow marching bandmembers to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade...I was sort of nervous, and the flight back home was kind of rough. Since then occurrances such as 9/11, and multiple plane crashes have occured. Nervous? You bet I am. I was actually going to drive down in October for our honeymoon from PA and divide the drive into two days. But my Dad talked us into flying and even booked our Southwest Airlines flight. So I'm sort of nervous and excited at the same time. I just hope everything goes smoothly since I'm not in the air much...about once every 10 years so it seems. Thanks for everyone's tips on here, they really have helped. I also have watched a few videos on youtube with Southwest Airlines, and they have helped me relax as Southwest has a VERY relaxed atmosphere with their flight attendants and what not.

You can thank the media for the hype of all the disasters you reference...but the flip side is every day there are over 30,000 flights that take off and land in the United States (even more around the world) without incident. This is why when you look at the big scheme of things, air travel is about the safest form of travel, including driving.

 

[albertperk]

You can thank the media for the hype of all the disasters you reference...but the flip side is every day there are over 30,000 flights that take off and land in the United States (even more around the world) without incident. This is why when you look at the big scheme of things, air travel is about the safest form of travel, including driving.

Yup and you are absolutely right. The media locks in on a story and will saturate it for about a week. But it's statistics like this that help make things not as bad and actually relaxing when thinking about the full picture when you look at the flip side with the flights that land and take off without an incident. This also helps relax me and I'm sure other people too!

 

[themousetrap]

I am scared of flying also. Not to the point to where I will not do it but I am miserable the whole time. But guess what I did? I married a pilot.

LOL. Irony at its best.

 

[Grandplanner]

I grew up right outside of Logan airport. Close enough that I had to hold my ears as a little kid when the planes flew overhead. When classmates came back from thier vacations, they always told horror stories of heavy turbulance and near miss crashes (mostly made up but I didn't know at the time). My family never flew. All of our vacations were by car. We never went to Disney either.
When I became an adult, I was invited several times to go on vacations with friends that would involve flying. I never went. I discovered I had developed a fear of flying.
7 years ago we had a real bad year in our family. We had 2 deaths. I got spinal meningitis and was in the hospital/rehab for 3 months and my kids had to go live with Grandma for that time. We also were in the middle of adopting a cute little boy that had been put in our care for 2 years when all of a sudden his mother was given custody back. We decided to bring the kids on a special vacation that year because after everything they had been through they truely deserved one. They picked Disney.
I was all prepared to drive down. Hubby informed me it would take 2 days to drive down and 2 more to drive back. We only had a week. That would mean just 3 days at Disney. I took a big gulp and agreed, we would fly.
The wait at the airport to board was bad, but all my doing as I imagined everything that could go wrong. I was trying to not act worried because my kids were fine and I didn't want them to worry.
We boarded the plane and took off. It was no where near anything I imagined. The take off was so smooth that I started laughing to my husband. It was actually an enjoyable flight! Just like being on a bus. Landing was a little scary for me as I felt a falling sensation as the plane banked with the desent, but it was the same feeling I get with an elevator and really no big deal.
Hubby was all about pointing out palm trees. I just kept thinking I did it! I flew! I flew for the first time at 46 years old! All of the things I missed out on and places I didn't go to over the years because i didn't want to fly...and it was a piece of cake!
I've flown 3 times since then and am planning another Disney trip in october. I find it gets better and better each time I fly. I still get a little nervous, but it never lasts long. Keeping busy with a book, or magazines, or borrowing one of my kids ds helps keep my mind off worring needlessly. I just think of flying now as the first "ride" of a bunch I will be going on all week. The best one really cause it takes me to my favorite place.
My advice is to just go for it! It can never be as bad as you imagine it might be.

 

[toledo13]

seriously - I am.
I flew in high school but I don't remember much about it, just that I was terrified then too!

So, since I am seriously considering working on this phobia so I can get to WDW more than once a year and in a couple of hours instead of a couple of days - can anyone give me hints on how to get over it?

And, I don't even know where to start as far as booking/packing/terminals, etc., I am researching that now...

(Now I know this is an opportunity to make fun of me, if you want to go ahead, but I am serious in trying to over come this... I get dizzy stepping off a curb so this is huge.)

Thanks for any suggestions.

I too used to be scared to fly. Here's what has helped me:

1- My DH would take me to the airport and we would sit and watch planes take off and land. Now, we just go for fun!!!

2- I take BONINE. It's like Dramamine, but it's less drowsy for me. 1 pill lasts 24 hours. I take it before I fly and every day of my trip. NO dizzy or sick for me! It's WONDERFUL. Just don't drink alcohol with it or you'll fall right asleep!

3- I listened to a self help CD about overcoming anxiety. It was a BIG help. I had a panic attack on my first plane ride, and after listening to that cd, I know how to calm myself down now. It was GREAT!!! The CD I use is: Relieve Anxiety with Medical Hypnosis

4- Before I get on a plane, in the airport, I get a hot tea from starbucks. Decaf ONLY, preferably green tea. It helps relax me. I even take it on the plane with me.

5- About 15 min before I know we're going to board, I go to the bathroom . I think that's part of the reason I had a panic attack the first time I flew.

6- Bring some magazines or a book with you, along with some sort of ipod. Before your tirp, put your favorite songs, a book on 'tape', the hypnosis stuff, etc on there. Or if you like crosswords, sudoku, etc. bring that! I personally like to stock up on magazines!!

7- Bring your own snacks from home. Whatever your used to having at home. Me, for example- I don't eat a whole lot of processed food, non organic stuff, etc... so I bring my own snacks. I avoid the pre-packaged peanuts, etc because I'm not used to eating it and don't want to throw myself out of my routine.

8- Once you get through security, grab a bottle of water. I don't like airplane water

9- I can't believe I almost forgot!!! I bring lysol wipes in little baggies and as soon as I get on the plane I wipe down anything we're going to touch (arm rests, tray tables (for DH), seat belt latches, etc.) Then I use purell.

10- Before I get on the plane, I use a saline nasal spray. Moist nasal passages= no recycled air illnesses. If it's a really long flight (6 hours or more) I use it again about halfway through the flight.

OK I think that's it! This is what I do... hope it helps! I can now fly with the best of them!!

 

[dis_guy]

In a previous life, I was involved in the airline biz and we thought we were pretty darn safe in the 80s and early 90s. Today, you're 6 TIMES safer than it was back then. How does highway travel in your own car compare? Worse, I'll bet, just because of the increased numbers of cars now.

After thousands of hours in the cockpit and almost as many as a passenger the only "incident" I've ever had was last April when coming home, the plane was landing on a slushy runway and we slid off the end. No damage, no injury, just a delay.

I'm more nervous on the Disney buses!

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

My husband doesn't like to fly (and he was in the Airforce!) He insisted on the window seat on the flight to Orlando. On the way back, he sat in the aisle and our daughter had the window, with me in the middle. He said sitting on the aisle actually relieved his anxiety about flying. Go figure.

 

[dis_guy]

My husband doesn't like to fly (and he was in the Airforce!) He insisted on the window seat on the flight to Orlando. On the way back, he sat in the aisle and our daughter had the window, with me in the middle. He said sitting on the aisle actually relieved his anxiety about flying. Go figure.

This makes sense. By being on the aisle he's closer to the roll axis of the plane and won't feel as pronounced a "drop or lift" during a turn, more of a "tilt". I can't tell the difference but some folks are very sensitive to motion. Of course it might be a matter of not seeing out the window and getting a disorienting view of the earth, looking straight down, etc. Many say sitting near the front of the cabin helps as they don't get the confined "tunnel effect". Sitting in the tail section also gives you more yaw (side to side motion) but today's autopilot systems limit that.

 

[DJT]

I just absolutely HATE the turbulence. I know a plane doesn't drop out of the sky due to turbulence but still, it just does something to me. Turbulence was so bad on one flight, we were told by the pilot that the ATC said it was really rough and he said when ATC tells them that, they take it very seriously and asked the flight attendants to sit down and buckle up. That made it even worse because I usually watch them and think to myself that they are walking around and doing their jobs and they seem fine. We're going to DW in October and even though it's a 14 hour drive we might drive it rather than fly for two reasons: cost and I'm such a wimp!

Donna