Tips For Beating Flying Fear?

Question

I have a terrible fear of flying, but as i would like to travel more and see the world, i need some good tips at combatting the fear, So far i have just about managed to get comfortable sitting a 2 hour flight to spain. I also would like to know of any boredom combatting tips on flights Such as UK -Kenya?

Thanks

Answer 1

You really have nothing to worry about, flying really IS the safest way to travel, yes its always big news when a plane has a problem but how often is this?

There are tens of thousands of flights worldwide every day and 99.99999999999999999% of them go without a hitch. Its a proven fact that you are 100,000 times more likely to die in a road crash on the way to the airport than dying as a result of a plane crash.

I used to be rigid with fear on planes, the way i beat it was getting on planes, simple as that really. I now fly around 40,000 miles every year and have been doing for about 9 years now.

You mentioned Kenya :) was there less than a month ago, from Heathrow on BA its about 7 3/4 hours. This will sound daft but if you are nervous about crashing and want to go to Kenya, fly with BA, they run the Boeing 777 on that route - as the planes havent been in service that long they have a 100% safety record, always comforting to know if you're nervous.

Answer 2

I had this problem too, so much so when we drove up to the airport and saw the planes I puked in the car!

Ring the airline and ask them to send you some stuff to read,it explains what the different noises etc are, and tell the stewardess you are a nervous flyer, they will look after you and are used to it.

I took a camera and took hundreds of photos, sounds mental I know but when you are behind the lens of a camera you feel invincible, I have no idea why though!

Once you've done it once you'll be laughing your head off, I was so scared I cried when it lined up on the runway, but when you feel the awesome power of the jets fire up you feel pretty safe.

Don't forget, we have the strictest flight safety laws in the world, a plane flying from Britain will not go down because of mechanical failure, Heathrow is the busiest airport in the world and how many accidents you heard about there?

As for terrorism if that's the fear, then rest assured, I couldn't even get a tiny tube of vaseline of a plane to ALBANIA! So don't worry about that, it's not going to happen.

Plus you know, the view is amazing up there, and the fact that hundreds of tonnes can soar through the sky incredible. Just get a camera and relax!!!

Answer 3

Interesting Question. My tip is to look at where you are going on holiday and how long the flight is. This is a good way to estimate how long your in the air for. To combat the fear off flying simply visit a local airport and watch aircraft taking off and landing. Then think about taking internal flights around the UK i.e) London to Manchester. or other short flights. They help with the check in procedure, Getting to the gate on time, Boarding the Plane, Finding your seat, Safety demonstrations (which for a first time flyer can be information overload and quite scary), then the take off and landing procedures which again can be very scary. Hopefully the above will help out loads.

Answer 4

depends upon what exactly your fear is...

are you claustrophobic? If you have claustrophobia, see your doctor and ask for a sedative.

are afraid that the plane is going to crash?

I had a very real fear of flying after I had a very rough flight. What I did was read aerodyanamic and aerospace engineering books. I also spoke to an aerospace engineer friend. He told me that aircraft are "over engineered." That is to say, if it is calculated that jet engines need so much torque and power for a particular load, the jet engines are designed for 3 and 4 times the torque and power needed, for ten times as much weight. Similar, if it is calculated that parts and components need to withstand a certain amount of stress, heat, and vibration, then those parts are manufactured and designed to withstand 10 times the amount of stress.

Part failure and poor maintenance are even taken into account during the design and manufacture of commercial aircraft. Airline pilots have to continuously attend classes and training.

Really, 99.99% of commercial aircraft are very safe and air worthy. So, what about that .01%? The risk is still very low.

The cliche that you are more likely to be in a automobile accident than in a plane crash is very true, and not a public relations gimmick by the airline industry.

I get a little nervous before a flight. But really, it's not big deal.

Answer 5

When our daughter was 23 she went to the USA to get married,
Her father doesnt like flying and I wanted to go and see her,so I had to go alone on two flights
to florida,I was so afraid,but all I thought about
was to see my daughter again after six years, I took a good book with me,I played games on the TV, then youve got your meals and there is plenty of people to talk to.
At the end of the flights there she was in Miami
to meet me,I went ten times after that.
You'll be fine,if I can do it you can,good luck.

Answer 6

Well, I was told that you are more likely to get kicked to death by a donkey then die in an air crash.

I am getting better at it, but I have flown nearly all over the world, and still hold my breath when we take off or land or get turbulence.

But I guess, the odds are good, and I think if all those pilots and cabin staff can stand it day after day, year after year, they don't get paid enough if its that dangerous do they?

So, take a good book, and put your fate in the lap of the Gods, and enjoy your holidays, its got me around the world twice!

Answer 7

Actually nobody has a fear of flying. What people have is a fear of being at 38,000 ft and not flying. Seriously there is nothing to worry about just look down at the snow below you and enjoy the sunshine while those of us down here get soaked.

Answer 8

I think some major airlines, like BA, offer courses where you get to meet pilots and other industry professionals, who go in to the whole issue in detail. At the end of the course, you go on a short flight, with all the experts on hand.

Answer 9

Just do it !!! I flew about 5 times and had some bad experience all in smaller aircraft, I gave up flying for 30 years. Then one day I thought I can only die once and wifey and I flew to Singapore, 14 hours straight. On big planes 747 etc you don't know your up there. Do it now, you don't have time to be bored.

Answer 10

Britannia Airlines do a intro to flying for people with a fear. Check out their web site or call them.

It is safe, good luck with cracking the fear.

xx