I am scared of flying but want to go abroad so much ?

Question

Has anybody overcome this ?

Has anybody any advice ?

I live in England so as you can understand need to fly i am 26 and have put it off for to long and my mrs is getting a little p#####d off with me lol

Answer 1

I HATE flying but do...I only fly after a couple of real stiff ones!!

So hit the bar prior to...

Answer 2

If you really can't fly despite all the advice from others, how about a cruise down to the Med. (or even round the world?!) from an English port such as Southampton -  you wouldn't have to fly at all.

Answer 3

I am exactly the same as you! I have tryed alot of things including diazapan but if you dont want to take tablets the best advice i give you is ti watch what the air stewards do! They do the flights like twice a day so they know when everything is ok!! Plus it keeps ur mind busy n you dont think bout flying!!

Answer 4

I was exactly the same as you, my hubby was desperate to go abroad for holidays but I was too scared to fly, but fate took over and forced me to get on a plane, my friend who lives in Dublin has a serious accident and wasn't expected to last the weekend so I had no choice but to get on a plane to get to her bedside, I honestly can't believe why I was so worried about flying, by the time you get on the plane, sort yourself out and buckle up, listen to what the cabin crew have to say and have a nosey at who else is on the plane your in the air and on your way, thankfully my friend pulled through, my hubby got his much wanted dream of going to Cuba and last year I got mine of going to Australia, we've been all over since I took the plunge and decided to fly, I'm now 51 and wish to h**l I had been brave enough to fly years ago because I feel like I have missed out on so much of the world, please don't be scared, you are safer up their than down here, I bet you will love it and be booking your next holiday the minuet you get back from your first flight, good luck.

Answer 5

I have. You just try it and you'll see that it's pretty safe. Bring a good book, and avoid caffeine.

You can always travel to Europe via Paris and the Eurostar - the train in the tunnel.

Answer 6

Vicodin. Lots and lots of Vicodin. Pop two prior to flying and pop one every 5 hours you're in flight.

Answer 7

Take a boat if it's overseas.  And if it's like on the same continent as you.....drive!!!!

If neither of those are an option, just make sure to get a BIG plane (it is a less bumpy ride....and they are usually newer) and get an aisle seat....and possible have the window cover down, this way you won't see that you are up in the air, and you will be fine....it will feel like you are like on a bus going somewhere, or something!

Bring some travel games to play with your wife.  

Bring an mp3 player to listen to.

Watch an on board movie if it's available.

Also, you can make sure to take a couple ibuprofen before hand to relax you and it will help you fall asleep so it will feel like a shorter flight!

Just remember, once you are up in the air, you will be fine, it's just the anticipation that's the worse part!

Answer 8

A friend of mine just recently did a course at Birmingham airport.  It was a whole day with lunch included a seminar and then a 45 minute flight.  It was with Virgin and I think it cost about £220 and it cured him.  He has now booked a holiday to Spain in June.  There were about 100 people on the course so you're not on your own - and his wife is ecstatic.

Answer 9

You are actually lucky to be in the UK - most of your flights are short ones. (I am in the US - my flights are horribly long to get anywhere) I do know someone who overcame this fear. I had a friend that kept his girlfriend from traveling unless by car due to his fear of flying, it was a big issue in the relationship - eventually he had to do it to attend a family event - and he got through it and realized that he had made it a bigger deal than it was. There was no trick to it  to pass on, but he was fine after he faced his fears and that was that. Start off with small fights and work your way to longer ones.

Maybe deep breathing exercises might help - relaxation techniques. It really is no different than going somewhere by train or ferry - just tedious more than anything.

Statistically driving is much more dangerous, maybe you just have issues with the fact that you have no input - the loss of control?

Answer 10

Go on the Eurostar, cheeky weekend in Paris will keep her sweet.

Answer 11

For someone who flies on a daily basis and i mean daily-You shouldn't be scared of flying. There is of course more security than ever and it is the safest transportation.  And once you hop into that jet; try to get yourself comfortable. Ask for pillows and blankets from the flight attendant-ask for a drink from seltzer to an alcoholic beverage just to relax you.

Answer 12

Like a fairground ride you go on for the first time, you will be a little nervous but it really does get easier the more youdo it. Remember flying is the safest form of transport there is.

If you can grit your teeth for the first couple of times you should be ok.

Once up it is rather like travelling on a train. From inside it looks like looking along a carriage. The best seats for first time flyers is probably at the front as you don't seem to see the steepness of the take off as much as further back.

Answer 13

No reason to have fear of flying.  It is the safest mode of transportation including trains.  Automobiles are deadly.  You should be afraid of getting in a car.  After you've done it the first time, you may find that you like it and will want to do more.

Answer 14

I'm the same, but do fly and have tried a variety of things to beat the awful feeling of dread and fear.

Valium, get it from the docs - not overly effective.

Sleeping pills,  - good but do they work for you and are you ok getting 'knocked out'

Alcohol - ok if you can handle it  - you dont want to get barred from the plane.

Hypnotherapy - a bit wishy washy, works if you believe in it, probably needs to be regular in my experience.

Fear of flying Courses - im going on one at gatwick in june!

Try each of the above and find the one that suits you, whatever happens you are going to have to get over the initial fear of going on the flight. good luck, im sure you can overcome it.

Answer 15

Well, the easiest way to overcome air travel is to ignore the whole flying when you're on the plane.  Bring plenty of distractions, (ex. Ipod, DVD player, laptop for working, books, eyemask, etc)

When you're up in the air, you can't tell whether or not you're on the ground, so try to go to sleep.  If you can't sleep, try working on something to distract you.

Air travel is the SAFEST way to travel.  Of course we hear about terrorist attacks or airplane crashes on the news, but not that often.  You're more likely to die in a car crash than in an airplane.

Happy travels!

Answer 16

You can get the train all the way around Europe/Russia/Much of Asia.

You can get boats/ships from UK - America. From America you can drive up to Canada, or down into South/Central America.

From Europe - you can get a short boat ride to Northern Africa and then travel overland all the way down Africa.

So that's

Europe.

Russia.

Much of Asia.

Much of Africa.

USA

Canada

South America

Central America.

The Carribean.

Without stepping foot on a single plane.

It may take longer and cost a little more. But it's totally worth it in my opinion.

http://www.seat61.com/ is a great site.

As is http://www.gapyear.com (down at the moment - but check back)

And you're under 30 so you're eligible to work for up to a year in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

(there must be some cruises that'll take you to Australia...)

Just do it. What's stopping you?

Answer 17

hypnotheraphy lol