We are taking a vacation to the West to see Yellowstone National Park and the grand Canyon and places around there. Where we live it would take three days of driving. My mom desperately wants to go and so does everyone else, but she refuses to fly. She says she is scared to fly. I have already tried telling her that flying is safer than drivng but it doesn't work. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to change her mind? This could be a nice long vacation but everyone else doesn;t want to spend six days of driving out of the two weeks we have. Thank you for any suggestions.
2006-07-17 06:32:34 · 13 answers · asked by dude605 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Talk to your family doctor - make her an appointment. Most doctors will prescribe a mild sedative or anti-anxiety drug for people who are afraid to fly and have to fly anyway. She can take a sedative and sleep through the entire flight - basically, she only has to get herself on the plane and off the plane again. :) Hope this helps!
2006-07-17 06:36:21 · answer #1 · answered by Julia L. 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ask her if she has ever personally known someone who has died in an auto accident the odds are most people can say yes then ask her if she has known anyone who has died in an aircraft accident odds are most people don't know anyone personally who has died in a plane crash. Plane crashes get lots of press because they are rare events so in that sense they are news worthy, car crashes happen all the time and so don't often make the news this leaves the public with the false perception that aviation is dangerous witch is simply not true hundreds of people die on US highways daily but months or even years will pass with out a Major air disaster flying is by far safer than driving. The average airline pilot would have to fly 90 years to statistically have realistic chance of being involved in an accident.
2006-07-17 19:15:21 · answer #2 · answered by CRJPILOT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mild drugs as Julia suggests may well help.
Is it her irrational fear? Or lack of understanding? A few basic books about how airplanes work and about the vastly better safety of flying versus driving might correct a misunderstanding.
But often the fear is about being out of control. Of course while driving, you have no control about oncoming traffic serving into you, etc. But you have the illusion of being able to do something about it. In a large airplane, you have no illusion of control. You're hurtling through the atmosphere at nearly the speed of sound in a pressurized metal tube while buring thousands of gallons of flammable liquids. Very well engineered and very safe, but very much outside of some people familar activities and therefore outside their comfort zone.
There always the bus ("Leave the driving to us"). Pack her a lot of snacks, put on at home and pick her up in Livingstone Montana 2 days later. Or the train.
Does everyone only have 2 weeks? Could Mom and someone head out early (a girl's road trip?) and pick up the air travelers in Billings and Flagstaff? And get home a little later?
I just did a road trip to the Arctic Ocean with my son while the girls went to Salt Lake City and then we all met up in California. Sometimes everyone is happier if they don't spend every minute together.
2006-07-17 12:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, do the drive... It takes longer, but in the end can be a lot of fun, and be more memorable. I am a commercial pilot, but have also done a lot of road trips with friends and family across the country. Just map out places along the way that are of interest, and it will be an all in all better journey.....Of course in my opinion, and from my experiences....
2006-07-17 20:44:41 · answer #4 · answered by Brian S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mom is claustrophobic so really can't get on an airplane either. I try to convince her all the time but we are going in august to florida. Go to your local health food store and get this thing called the rescue remedy. It is made of natural plants and calms your body down( Its a liquid and you use a dropper and put it in you mouth it taste like alchohal). My mom takes it when she has to go on an elevator or a tight closed in room. This is what she will be doing for the flight and it really works. No lie.
2006-07-17 16:13:03 · answer #5 · answered by jackaug06 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask her if her fear of flying has more control over her than her love for her family. If she really wants to have a wonderful time with the family on vacation, she should get over her fear of flying (or at least put it in the back of her mind).
2006-07-17 06:37:30 · answer #6 · answered by Carla G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't bother to try any longer. If she has reached this age, and is still terrified of attempting to fly, you can't change her mind. I tried many times to get my dad to fly, he never did. Even when he got to an advanced age and knew he didn't have long to live, he refused.
2006-07-18 22:37:07 · answer #7 · answered by 13th Floor 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her to a small airport nearby and have someone (smart) show and explain to her how an airplane works. Once she sees for herself that everything has redundant safeties, and she understands what's going to happen, it should be a lot less scary.
Where do you live, maybe I know somebody nearby to take her on a (ground) tour?
2006-07-21 10:28:13 · answer #8 · answered by clara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Family is more important, but her fear shouldn't be minimized. The doctor can prescribe valium or another medication to calm her. Just explain to her that flying is one of the safest forms of transportation and people do it everyday.
2006-07-17 09:12:05 · answer #9 · answered by JC1214 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. Lay down the law (majority rules) and tell her that if she won't fly she can't come. Let her decide what she wants to do.
2006-07-17 07:08:05 · answer #10 · answered by Omar Y. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋