Repo Cruise and Plane Paranoia

[inkkognito]

Okay, am I the only person with "plane paranoia" connected with flying over the Atlantic?! We are doing the repo from Barcelona to FL so that I only have to do it once and can then enjoy the rest of the trip. I have flown a LOT, but never transatlantic. This may sound silly, but it bothers me because I know that there will be a long stretch when we're out over the water, with no place to do an emergency landing. It's a weird sort of claustrophobia, I guess. I know it's silly because I'll be in the same situation on the ship for six days, but it's not as scary because in case of emergency I can swim, but I can't fly!

At this point, I am planning to dope myself into a state of unconsciousness with Xanax on the recommendation of my doc. He assures me I can put myself into a zombie state with three high-dose pills will no lasting effects, so that that is my plan. Anyone else stressing out about the flight?

(P.S. The really sad thing is that I am a doctor of psychology. I can get myself onto domestic flights via the use of cognitive techniques, but I can't think of any sort of logic/reality test that will overcome that lack of an escape route over the ocean.)

 

[ivanova]

Have you ever flown to Hawaii?

My recommendation would be NOT to have a window seat ... if you aren't looking at the water it'll be easier for you to "forget" about what you are flying over.

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

I think to some extent, everyone tries not to think about it. Bring a good book and a relaxing CD.

 

[mmouse37]

Chances are if a plane is going down it does not matter much if you are over land or water....I know there are exceptions...but I just don't think about what can happen....

I flew to Paris a few years ago and took 2 tylenol PM's....it was an overnight flight so that helped....woke up and the sun was shining through the window as we were about to land in Paris.

 

[pppiglet]

I'm just paranoid about flying to Orlando in May! 5 hours in a plane just seems so long and I just think the longer I am in the air the more chance of it going down for some reason. This will only be the 3rd time I have ever flown. I think I'd rather be over water if it's going to go down!

 

[dahuffy]

Xanax is a God send I couldn't fly without it! That and my cd player.

 

[pearlieq]

It freaks me out a little too. Intellectually I know it's still the safest mode of travel and that there are many safeguards, but I still find myself calculating how long I'd have to paddle, paddle, kick until I washed ashore somewhere in Portugal...

I think the Xanax plan sounds like a good one. Hopefully you've got an overnight flight out there and can stay unconscious the entire time!

 

[disneycutie84]

I'm just paranoid about flying to Orlando in May! 5 hours in a plane just seems so long and I just think the longer I am in the air the more chance of it going down for some reason. This will only be the 3rd time I have ever flown. I think I'd rather be over water if it's going to go down!

I'm flying to Orlando in May as well! I'm paranoid too because I've only flown 4 times in my life and I haven't flown for the past 10 years.
I'm just going to think Disney thoughts and hope everything is ok.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Nearly every year for the past eight yers My family has flown accross the big pond and no problem, The flight at first look, seems all sea, but the UK flights use the curvature of the earth, and therefore route close to land.

Often its London>Ireland>Greenland>newfoundland>down east coast USA, many airports close, manly for an medical emmergency rather than flight poblem.

hey can also go Canarys, Azores, or across by Burmuda, more sea but places to stop if required.

Flighs are safer than ay other form of transport, you are more likely to have a car crash on the way to the airport than any problem on a plane I say his as we never worry about driving. In the uk I read people dying from car crashes equal more than ten planes crashing each year.

 

[lbgraves]

Barb, be sure to pack that TC CD to listen to and have Disney dreams all the way over.

 

[cadcor]

Barb...why go through all that flying paranoia and stress. Instead of going on that repo cruise, for that amount of days, you could book 5, 3-day cruises on the Wonder without any plane paranoia/stress and you could cruise more months during the year and also increase your cruise numbers for 2007 and for far less money. Sounds like a much better plan based on how much you like 3-day cruises on the Wonder and getting to sail each month.

 

[daipp]

Just think of what we will be facing next year - over 13 hours of flying London to LA for the eastern repo cruise.
Im not scared of flying, I just find it extreme hard work.

There's a serious school of thought that says you should NEVER take sleeping or relaxant medication for flying as you will not be as responsive as you should be in the case of an emergency.

Like Andrew however, we have flown the the Atlantic MANY times without any incident whatsoever.............apat from severe turbulence.........but that's another post.

David

 

[RCBA]

This may sound silly, but it bothers me because I know that there will be a long stretch when we're out over the water, with no place to do an emergency landing.

Don't worry about that, at all! Key functions of aircraft have 3 systems, if one fails you have 2 still working. Your flight plan will always have you within a safe distance to an air strip capable of handling the type of plane you are flying on.

 

[justmestace]

And that's exactly why I'm not going on one of the Med cruises. Turned down a suite because I can't fly that far.
I don't think there's any amount of drugs that would do the trick for me....
Any flight more than 2 hours causes extreme panic attacks. I have enough trouble getting from AZ to FL.

Another reason why I'm delighted to have the Magic in California!!

 

[inkkognito]

We've actually switched from 3-day Wonder cruises to 4 days now. But I just can't resist the temptation of an Atlantic crossing. My grandparents all came over, and I know their experience was MUCH different than mine will be...it makes me chuckle a bit at the irony to think of them doing it out of necessity, as a means of transportation to come to a new life, whereas I will be doing it purely for fun.

I know this may sound strange, but I'd rather be unconscious in case of emergency. It's not dying in a plane crash that scares me so much, but rather the knowledge of what is going to happen as it goes down. I have read the transcripts of the Valujet crash (back in the days when the cockpit door was still open), and it utterly terrifies me to know how those people were reacting, knowing the plane was on fire and that they were trapped and on their way to doom. If it gets to that point, the chances of survival are pretty bad anyway. Therefore, I'd just as soon sleep through the whole thing.

 

[DeloreanGirl]

I'm flying to Orlando in May as well! I'm paranoid too because I've only flown 4 times in my life and I haven't flown for the past 10 years.
I'm just going to think Disney thoughts and hope everything is ok.

Looks like all of us Californian's are in the same boat! (no pun intended). I hate flying to begin with, and Orlando is quite a stretch for us! I purposly booked an itinerary of us stopping at DFW at the halfway point. That way, it's only 2.5 hours, then a break, then another 2.5 hours. It seems to have calmed me down so far. As much as I fear flying, the fact that we're going on our first Disney cruise is enough to make me get in that plane and want to get there ASAP!

 

[DeloreanGirl]

Flighs are safer than ay other form of transport, you are more likely to have a car crash on the way to the airport than any problem on a plane I say his as we never worry about driving. In the uk I read people dying from car crashes equal more than ten planes crashing each year.

He's right. According to my "Flying Without Fear" book, you only have a one in 1.9 million chance of an plane accident vs. 1 in 14,000 in a car accident.

Plus, did anyone see Castaway? See, even Tom Hanks survived a water landing!

 

[slindamood]

We're on the REPO with you - I too have always wanted to sail across the Atlantic, and the Magic certainly is not steerage.

About flying over the Atlantic - there's nothing you can do about any problems that could come up, so might as well be zonked out and let the pilot take control. And as Andrew Derek said, there really is very little time that the plane is over water - and by then you will be asleep.

We fly across the Atlantic RT most every year - and the great thing about those flights - it is at night. I usually sleep the whole way over, not because of pills, but exhaustion after finishing everything up at work, packing, getting to the airport, etc. Too tired to worry. I get on the plane and tune out.

Look forward to seeing you in Barcelona!

suzanne

 

[MousseauMob]

I can swim, but I can't fly!

I have this, but it's for ALL flights! What cognitive techniques can you use for domestic flights? Why isn't it the same? Even domestic you still can't fly?

 

[justmestace]

Looks like all of us Californian's are in the same boat! (no pun intended). I hate flying to begin with, and Orlando is quite a stretch for us! I purposly booked an itinerary of us stopping at DFW at the halfway point. That way, it's only 2.5 hours, then a break, then another 2.5 hours. It seems to have calmed me down so far. As much as I fear flying, the fact that we're going on our first Disney cruise is enough to make me get in that plane and want to get there ASAP!

That was the only way I could get to Florida, too. But the last two times we flew out of DFW, the plane was delayed on the runway, with us in it, for over an hour. And for me, it isn't the fear of flying, but being enclosed...cooped up for a long time....so we had to quit stopping in Dallas and go for non-stops. It was one evil vs. another. I usually take a pill and manage to sleep for at least 3/4 of the flight.