I'm going to poland in the summer. what is it like to be on an aeroplane?

Question

i'm worried cause a friend is terrified of flying and keeps saying the plane will crash or some how she will die.

no she can't drink, we areunder age and it's a school trip

Answer 1

It's not so bad. You get assigned a seat, you stow away your hand luggage, and sit down. You'll be given snacks, drinks, and possibly a movie, depending on the length of your flight.

Taking off and landing are the parts people find most frightening. Sometimes people can experience popping of or pressure in the ears on the way up and down, and chewing gum or sucking a sweet can help to alleviate this.

Your biggest enemy with flying is boredom, so take a good book and relax! Pilots and co-pilots are very experienced and professional and will keep you informed of any turbulence. Turbulence can be a little scary, if the plane rocks a little when it hits an air pocket, but be seated and relax - you will be fine!

I have travelled on about 10-15 flights across the Atlantic Ocean to America, and I am still here! Accidents with planes are *extremely* rare, so relax about it.

Good luck on your trip!

Answer 2

Less people actually die on a plane than in a car statistically you just hear about the plane ones more because they happen less so they become newsworthy.

Basically you know how when you sit on a bus you can't walk around or smoke a plane is exactly the same just up in the air.
You will get a film to watch & possible food to eat depending on how long the flight is, sometimes the plane hits pockets of air called turbulence and these make the plane jolt slightly like when an elevator or lift stops but thats about it for excitement lol.
I highly recommend taking a good book and some boiled sweets as sucking a sweet helps your ears when the cabin pressure makes them pop.

Answer 3

You will be fine. Just think of it as a coach with two or more very large engines. You are statistically more likely to be killed driving to the airport than flying. So make sure the car driver is qualified and been studying driving techniques etc for the last few years and has a type rating on the car you are going to be driving.....lol. I flew about 4 times a week + for years and have still to have any problems with the aircraft i was in. My car broke down a few times though. Imagine how safe your car would be if it was given an overhaul, new engine etc every 100 miles, thats similar to what they do too planes, but not every hundred miles or it would take about 6 weeks to get to south of france.

Answer 4

I can tell you what it's going to be like... a long boring ride. Take some good reading material.

As for your friend, this is a common fear. Just like Bert from Oz, I could list the reasons, but for the average person it doesn't help.

Support your friend like you would with any other problem. Let her know that you are right there by her side.

You may wish to take the window seat for the first take off. ;-)

If she is real jumpy, let the flight attendant know she is a 'first timer'. Most have more experience that they care to think about, on dealing with first timers. They will be able to reassure her.

Next, don't forget to bring her some gum. Pop a piece just before, take off and another when the pilot announces that you are fixing to land.

Let her also know about turbulence, you don't want her screaming the first time things shake a bit.

Does she drink? A nice glass of wine with your pretzels can do wonders for the attitude.

Answer 5

I'm a commercial pilot by job...and I can honestly tell you that it truly is the safest form of transport.

The laws and regulations in aviation are the kind that just don't exist in other areas - from design in the first place (every design has to be certified or it can't be flown) to the maintenance and upkeep to the pilots - we're regularly re-tested on our skills and if we haven't maintained them then we lose our priviledges, ratings, licences even.

You'll be flying with highly skilled professionals...not just one but two in an airline, in a well-kept, extremely advanced and high-tech piece of machinery!

Ben is wrong, too, by the way.

I'm not having a crack at him - but it is utter bull**** that one in ten planes "develops engine failure" - engine failures are few and far between - they are extremely rare and especially so on jets! Plus...we pilots are drilled and drilled and drilled on what to do if one does fail...so we know it better than we know our own reflections in a mirror! :-)

Not to mention that ALL aircraft have to prove that they will not only fly but perform (e.g., climb, control) adequately with an engine out.

If they can't - they're not allowed to fly... :-)

Plus - cold weather is even better in an emergency - so another false fact.

Planes perform better in dense or "thick" air in terms of actually staying up there. So when the air is cold...it's actually "easier" for the plane to fly than if it is warm!

I really hope this helps :-) feel free to email me at [e-mail] if you have any other questions!

Answer 6

Why dont you write to the airline they sometimes will let you sit on one to show you and reassure you. Why dont you book a cheap local flight inland just to get used to it. It will give you an idea. Tell her people die on the roads and at sea everyday but you have to live. There are thousands of safe flights it is only when something terrible happens that it hits the media. Why dont you visit your local airport for a day and look round she will see hundreds of passengers enjoying theirselves either before or after their holiday. Tell her to enjoy the experience and will come back ready to save up for her next holiday.

Answer 7

Don't be affraid. Fear is the government. Statisticly, a lot more people die in a car crash than on the plane.

Answer 8

Its fine, honestly! I get a little nervous before for some reason, but once on the plane its great.Put it this way,a car ride along a motorway is more bumpy and more dangerous.Do it,you'll be fine!

Answer 9

you wont die, it wont crash!

Flying is fun, exciting and scary. Enjoy it! be scared if you wish, but remember, you will survive, you will land ok and it will be great!

I flew to Australia last year, nealry 29 hours on two planes to get there, trust me after that lenght of flight, flying is so BORING!!!

Enjoy it, you'll be fine.

Answer 10

Don't worry!!!! Flying is great, and you will love it. Turblance does shake the plane a little, but there is nothing to worry about, i promise you.