I have always had a horrible fear of flying so my definition of a "bad" experience isn't truly bad to most people, I get that, and just wanted to preface. I flew out of Fort Lauderdale during a really bad storm and there was really bad turbulence on the way up. As someone who was already horrified of flying despite coming out safe it still scared me away from flying these last couple years. Now I have an event I genuinely don't think I could stomach missing so tomorrow I will be getting on a flight for the first time in three years.

I'm going through the motions of my fear again. Seeing more things about plane crashes, convincing myself they are a sign of some sort, getting "gut feelings". That's all typical for me but they are only amplified this time around because I am still so scared from my last experience.

I need to get on that flight tomorrow, I will regret it so much if I don't but I know my anxiety and fear of flying are strong enough to keep me home if it gets bad enough. I don't really know what I'm seeking here. Words of wisdom, advice, comforting facts? I don't know. It's just late and nobody I know personally is awake to talk to about this and I'm starting to drive myself nuts.

Okay, sh*t. I can't help but cuss already whilst I'm writing this! So yeah we have an upcoming flight to the USA. It's a connecting flight- first is 4 hours then 13 hours. Crossing through the Pacific.

Had a talk with my psychologist and while it did help and actually does make me feel better, it only lasts for a few days! Then, it comes back!

Funny thing is I looked up something that could knock me out through the ENTIRITY of the fright but unfortunately there's nothing and apparently it's more dangerous for me to do that since if there's an actual emergency I'd be a burden.

Anyway, so my psychologist asked me what I'm really afraid of- whether it's the flying or something else. My thought was: maybe its not really the flying... and more of a fear of death thingy but worse than average. I sometimes get these flashes in my mind about a plane crash scenario where it's about to happen. Real scary stuff.

To give more context about me, my father passed away around the first quarter this year. And though I already am aware that death comes unexpectedly, that event made me feel like it's already within proximity. Top it all off with what's currently happening around the world esp with the unfortunate disaster that came across Nepal- it made me even more anxious as our lives really are that fragile.

So yeah, scared as sh*t with this upcoming flight. My mind can't comprehend being "helpless" up there for more than half a day. But trying to not think about it much and trying to feel better because mental health care is expensive af.

Anyone have recent experience flying from SF to NYC? It says my flight is 5-6 hours and that seems so long to me (usually only fly 1-2 hours like LA or Vancouver). Is the flight time manageable?

Back leg of my honeymoon and had a 2 hour flight earlier today and it was very bumpy the first half, and now have a 12 hour redeye from Cape Town to London. I really need to sleep. If it’s smooth I should be fine, but I’ve also somehow developed an irrational fear of a mid air collision even if flights are going smooth. The anxious brain is such an asshole.

I'm a very nervous flyer and do a ton of constant research and also pay pretty constant attention to the phases of flight, the flight attendants and their expressions, etc. This weekend I took a Friday trip TYS to PHX and I realized I hadn't seen them do the safety demo. I second-guessed myself since it was a red-eye flight and I was running on an hour and a half of sleep, so I thought maybe I just missed it. But on my return flight today I also didn't catch a safety demo. Has anyone else every experienced this? I feel like I'm gaslighting myself because surely an airline wouldn't totally skip this part but I also have no memory of it.

I’m taking my first ever flight in a few days and the anxiety is starting to take over me. I’m so scared of something going wrong and my brain is good at always leaning towards the what ifs. Unfortunately I am flying alone for the first leg of my trip and I’m pretty afraid that I’m going to want off of the plane the second I step on. Can you all give me some tips and tricks to what works to calm you down and also a little bit of what to expect? I hate rollercoasters and heights and the only opportunity I had to fly was in a helicopter and I refused because I was overcome with fear in the moment. I also really hate that my way there and my way back I have to take a connecting flight :( doing it four times feels daunting. Thanks in advance

my flight is still 36 hours away, but i'm already getting that horrible all-encompassing feeling of panic. i'm so embarrassed, i felt like i had this under control, and even felt pretty confident up until this point. anyone willing to watch over my flight or who has any advice is much appreciated!

I never thought I would ever go on a plane but my bf & I are planning a trip 2hr-3hr flight trip in less than a month for our 5yr anniversary. I’ve been doing research and have asked people who have flown. I’m just looking to see if anyone has any advice or something they wish they knew before or helped them prepare for the first time? I’m already having anxiety but I’m doing my best to stay calm. He’s been on multiple flights so that gives me comfort. I’ve learned for some time that pilots are always training every couple of months for emergency situations, turbulence is normal, a plane can fly with 1 engine, even the jello theory. The more I know and understand the better I will feel. I really don’t want to back out because I feel like if I don’t go, I won’t ever get on a plane. Thank you in advance!

I had an awful flight from Paris to Dublin last week , half hour from landing it had just begun its descent and felt like as it was descending it was falling and shaking , most scared I’ve ever been on a flight but also in a weird way I knew it would happen right about then.

So many people looked so unbothered. Honestly couldn’t relax for hours after I landed. 😢 I feel so not normal.

How are people so calm in those times honestly??

Okay, ive already made a post about my anxiety and going into my first ever international flight, i feel i make it no better by constantly researching about the plane im getting on or what not but i was looking to try and ease my anxiety and within a few months this specific type of plane has had multiple engine failures during flights? its honestly made my anxiety worse and im now considering to try and swap flights or just not go.. any professional opinions? anything advice wise? im just extremely uncertain now and this specific flight anxiety has been eating me alive mentally

I had a successful flight to Paris last week. My flight to Rome wasn't too bad. I only got anxious because my seatmate was at a few little bumps.

My flight back to Paris this morning was bumpy all the way. The flight attendants still did their routine work and we could go to the bathroom but it was not a smooth flight and the seatbelt sign stated on. I kept telling myself just because it is uncomfortable does mean it isn't safe. My heartrate was definitely a little elevated but I wasn't panicky.

Boarding in a little bit to head home. It's about an 11 hour flight so I'm a little anxious about the length. My flight out here was okay. Pretty smooth with only a few bumpy moments. Just hoping for a safe flight home!

I feel so silly psyching myself out here - I've never been fully comfortable on planes, but I've mostly done okay with flying in general. But the past year, this more intense anxiety has ramped up, a lot of it just me listening too much to the news, things about air traffic control shortages, safety corners being cut, etc. and just letting it get to my head. I'll be flying with Southwest for an upcoming work trip and I made the silly mistake of just looking up how long it had been since they'd had any recent incidents, and coming across this article just made all of that worse and has me now questioning their commitment to safety even though this was a few years back.

I'm so nervous it has me looking at just some bus routes I can take instead to avoid the first leg of my trip on a plane. Appreciate any reassurance!

I have 1.20h flight and I feel so afraid.

Can any pilot in here try to look up the turbulence between jfk and dublin tonight please?

Hey everyone!

I have a 16-hour flight coming up in two weeks, and I have a fear of flying. I'm generally an anxious person, and I think my biggest issue is anticipatory anxiety worrying about what might happen before it even happens.

I'll be traveling alone to visit a friend who lives in another country.

My last flight was a short, one-hour flight with my family. Now I'm wondering if I should take a two-hour solo flight to another city before my big trip, just to get some practice and build my confidence.

But honestly, part of me doesn't really feel like going through the hassle of planning another trip just for that.

What would you guys recommend? Do you think taking a short practice flight would actually help, or is it unnecessary?

I'd love to hear your experiences, especially if you've dealt with something similar!

Hello,

First off I have no fear of the plane being a boeing or being American Airlines. Its just flying in general.

Me and my wife will be taking our first trip to Japan. We have taken a long haul flight to Korea, but that was on Korean Air a few years ago.

Im kind of a nervous flyer. The take off I get super nervous, cruising I am just fine, and landing is not too bad either.

Just would love some reassurence from pilots if that is possible.

1. How do I convince myself flying (Take-off included) is way safer than my drive everyday?

2. How safe and reliable is the 787?

Thank you so much in advanced.

Hi!

I'm a nervous flyer, and I've only been up in the air a handful of times in my life. I have to travel for work in a few weeks, and I'm finally buying my tickets.

For my journey, I can pick between ITA Airways and KLM. Do you think there might be a difference between the two companies in delay times, comfort on board, or anything else that might make it a little bit easier for a nervous flyer like me to get to destination?

(I can only book economy, btw!)

Thanks for your help! :)

Flight is delayed because they need to switch planes. That is not helping at all.

Please send help!

Let me start by saying my fear has nothing to do with worries that flying is dangerous or fear of dying, etc. My fear is about the possibility of motion sickness due to turbulence. When I experience it on planes my anxiety skyrockets because of my inability to escape the situation (like you could in a car) and I feel trapped. I have all the motion sickness tips and good prescription meds, so in theory, I should be fine but I’ve never flown on a CRJ-700.

I want to hear experiences in the CRJ-700. The flight I have coming up is a 2ish hour flight from Texas to LAX and then I have a second flight elsewhere on a bigger plane. I’ve been so worried about feeling more turbulence on the CRJ that I’ve considered booking two separate ticket situations to fly on a different plane for my first flight (I know this makes things more complicated for so many reasons, and I’m not gonna do it, just explaining where my head’s been at 😂)

Can anyone track me please? Long haul solo flight. LY105 🙏🏽 thank you all

I'm back to the skies again this upcoming weekend to visit a friend in Cali but sadly it's not a straight through flight; I have an hour and some change layover in Dallas. I'm also flying through AA which makes me nervous because I tend to avoid the airline and I got a notification that they had an incident this morning after takeoff. How can calm myself well enough to get through both flights?

Let me start this off by saying that I know I’m being a baby. This honestly might not even be the right place for a post like this. If it isn’t, please let me know.

I’ve had a fear of flying since I was a teenager. They were never comfortable for me. I have autism, so even if I wasn’t scared, a cramped, noisy sky bus was never going to be my favourite place. But I could cope. But when I was around 12, my family went on an international flight that went through (or around? Idk how this usually works) a thunderstorm. The turbulence was awful, the noise was amped up to 11 and I had no real method of self-soothing. I was never in any danger, but since then I get so anxious when I have to fly that I shake uncontrollably.

That said, I have never once let my fear stop me from getting on a plane. I’ve cried at times and been anxious as hell, but I’ve always bared through it.

My work has asked me to fly out to another state for dept team building. But I honestly don’t know if I can do it this time.

I’ve had to put in a shit ton of extra work, taking on an extra person’s workload since August due to unavoidable circumstances. It’s left me exhausted. The extra work was only supposed to last for August, but it has been extended and will officially end on October 31st. But now the team building days have been arranged for the first week of November. I’d be flying out on the Monday (which is a day I usually wouldn’t work outside of my extended work hours) and leaving on the Wednesday afternoon.

I don’t know why, but the thought of spending five hours of my first day off in months stuck in a plane being anxious and uncomfortable, only to do a day and a half of team building, and then get right back in the discomfort tube for another five hours and go right back to work the next day where I’ll have to catch up on the the day I’ve missed is pissing me off.

I feel like it’s triggered my inner over-tired toddler. I just want to cross my arms and cry until I’m red in the face. Im honestly worried that I won’t be able to keep myself together in the air and will end up being disruptive to the other passengers.

Part of me is honestly tempted to just flat out refuse to take part. But that would not be a good look.

I guess I’m looking for help keeping my inner toddler in check?