Fear of Flying

I hate flying.

But love holidays.

For my 40th we decided to book an all singing all dancing affair to Mexico but I was dreading it because of the flight.

In the end I decided to go to a hypnotist ahead of the flight to see if she could help me.

I’m still frightened but one thing she said that stuck with me is that statistically you are more likely to be killed by a donkey kicking you in the head
Harry Maguire likes this post
 
Good post and nothing against Hampshire but the weather conditions across the US are vastly different to what the UK experiences. I personally feel very safe flying with any British carrier or any US. One thing you don’t have to deal with on US flights is chavs and duty free:)
The weather is very different. However the impact on the Aviation sector is often similar. The US often suspends traffic entirely at some airports in very poor weather, so at least that's a known position. That total traffic stop is rare here so the traffic that continues has to be handled depite the weather being marginal. I see a US non-chav tried to open a door whilst taxying the other day;-)
 
The weather is very different. However the impact on the Aviation sector is often similar. The US often suspends traffic entirely at some airports in very poor weather, so at least that's a known position. That total traffic stop is rare here so the traffic that continues has to be handled depite the weather being marginal. I see a US non-chav tried to open a door whilst taxying the other day;-)
Then you have the pedestrian on the runway
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/09/frontier-airlines-plane-hits-pedestrian-denver
 
Aviation, at least the passenger aspect of it, is a mental battle that is often won or lost before one ever arrives at the airport.

Preparation combined with realistic expectations and the ability to pivot when something untoward pops up is the key to successful aviating.
 
if i can avoid flying - i always do it Fear of flying is more common than people admit honestly. Even people who travel a lot still get nervous sometimes during turbulence or takeoff. I recently had a stressful experience with Delta Airlines delays and realized airports alone can already raise anxiety levels before the flight even starts. Music, movies, or distractions definitely help during long trips. Hopefully it gets easier for you over time.
 
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Aviation, at least the passenger aspect of it, is a mental battle that is often won or lost before one ever arrives at the airport.

Preparation combined with realistic expectations and the ability to pivot when something untoward pops up is the key to successful aviating.
I am flying to San Antonio tomorrow and I am shitting it not gonna lie. Hopefully, my anxiety medication helps.
 
LAX is has been dreadful the last few times I've used it, and DFW is also a dump. EWR gets a bad rap but it was fine when we went through there a couple of months back.
Good weather day, obviously. Also, probably didn’t have to change terminals. Other than that, EWR can get ugly quickly.
 
I hate flying.

But love holidays.

For my 40th we decided to book an all singing all dancing affair to Mexico but I was dreading it because of the flight.

In the end I decided to go to a hypnotist ahead of the flight to see if she could help me.

I’m still frightened but one thing she said that stuck with me is that statistically you are more likely to be killed by a donkey kicking you in the head
More people are killed by donkeys than die in crashes
 
Flying is kinda like getting married. Once you decide to get on board, you are no longer in control of your destiny. So you may as well make the most of it, and hope that you somehow survive... :)
 
I have no fear of flying, a perfectly pleasant way to travel, but I absolutely get that some people are scared of it.

Hate airports though, awful places.
Trains are pleasant. Planes are not!

Glad it’s not only me reading this thread though I am not as bad these days as I’m on the older side of life.

It’s all about taking my family aboard and not having that control. I was in a really dark place at least a month before a flight years ago. Sleep really well before now though still can’t sleep on a flight. I’m the noise monitor!!!!
 
Was on a plane this morning and with thanks to @Millwallawayveteran1988 i always check turbli for the expected conditions, so there I am this morning in airport checking - an advisory in place it said over the Alps, instantly start getting the shits feeling, gets on captain comes on telling us a smooth flight ahead so I thought ok might be fine…lying bastard it was fucking bad and lasted a good 40/50 mins - that site is the dogs for flying conditions believe me
 
Was on a plane this morning and with thanks to @Millwallawayveteran1988 i always check turbli for the expected conditions, so there I am this morning in airport checking - an advisory in place it said over the Alps, instantly start getting the shits feeling, gets on captain comes on telling us a smooth flight ahead so I thought ok might be fine…lying bastard it was fucking bad and lasted a good 40/50 mins - that site is the dogs for flying conditions believe me

It is usually close to the mark. I’m not keen flying over the alps though. Always been bumpy there.
 
Was on a plane this morning and with thanks to @Millwallawayveteran1988 i always check turbli for the expected conditions, so there I am this morning in airport checking - an advisory in place it said over the Alps, instantly start getting the shits feeling, gets on captain comes on telling us a smooth flight ahead so I thought ok might be fine…lying bastard it was fucking bad and lasted a good 40/50 mins - that site is the dogs for flying conditions believe me
I flew into JFK in September 1999, we hit the back end of Hurricane Ffloyd, I can honestly say even the Airline staff were cacking it for a good hour, strapped in, no drinks service! My mate was soo frighted he had sweat rolling down his face, the turbulence was by far the worst I’ve ever experienced. Even the pilot sounded relived after we’d landed saying he was going to reroute but in the end stuck with the original flight plan.

A few days later we were stood on the top of one of the World Trade Centre towers, that was more scary for me than the flight, it actually went through my mind about a terrorist attack as there had been a failed one a few years earlier. Obviously two years later came the disaster.
 
I flew into JFK in September 1999, we hit the back end of Hurricane Ffloyd, I can honestly say even the Airline staff were cacking it for a good hour, strapped in, no drinks service! My mate was soo frighted he had sweat rolling down his face, the turbulence was by far the worst I’ve ever experienced. Even the pilot sounded relived after we’d landed saying he was going to reroute but in the end stuck with the original flight plan.

A few days later we were stood on the top of one of the World Trade Centre towers, that was more scary for me than the flight, it actually went through my mind about a terrorist attack as there had been a failed one a few years earlier. Obviously two years later came the disaster.

Wow, madness that mate on both tales
 
I hate flying.

But love holidays.

For my 40th we decided to book an all singing all dancing affair to Mexico but I was dreading it because of the flight.

In the end I decided to go to a hypnotist ahead of the flight to see if she could help me.

I’m still frightened but one thing she said that stuck with me is that statistically you are more likely to be killed by a donkey kicking you in the head
A comedian once said, and the figures won’t be correct but it’s artistic license:

“The odds of a bomb on this plane are 100 million to one, the chances of two bombs being onboard is 20 billion to one, so when you fly take a bomb with you”

Sane vein, it’s a statistical fact more people die in hospital than in Fast Food Restaurants, so, if you’re having a heart attack head to KFC.
 

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