I do not mind plane travel when the flight is half full or the seat next to me is empty, but if the flight is delayed on the tarmac and it just sits there forever and you do not know if you are ever going to escape I get a terrible case of claustrophobia and can get a severe panic attack.

Anyone else get a panic attack or similar on an overcrowded airplane?

I don't but have a friend that tends to have panic attacks and dreads flying. She has medication prescribed by her Dr. It has made a big difference for her.

I do if it's hot and crowded also but sometimes take a little Xanax to help-takes 15-20min to work though.

I've been avoiding the isle seats when they are three across for that reason. I just feel traped. I wish the U.S. airlines would change their Boeing 777 configuration from 3-3-3 or 2-5-2 to 3-4-2.

Please do tell which airline does have 3-4-2 config in economy?

btw, didn't know that there are <b>isle</b> seats on any plane...

I think that was Wally's trip to Cairo on EgyptAir

Yes, BeachBoi has it right. Egypt Air has seating on their 777 aircraft that is 3-4-2.

To me, that type of seating makes a lot of sense.

Groups of four in the middle, couples on the right and groups of three on the left.

The plane didn't seem to lean to the left, either.

As for the isle seat, have you ever been on a flight when the pilot says, &quot;now I need to remind you, you can not sleep on the floor.&quot;

I heard that on a Qantas and South African Airlines flight.

I believe LOT Airlines also has 3-4-2 seating.

It's a well known fact that a plane is more stable when the poles are on left-hand side of the plane.

I will correct myself. Now that I thought about it, AA 762 first class cabin has only 1 seat in the middle and so does LAN, so I guess it could be argued that I sat in a <b>isle</b> seat...

<i>I believe LOT Airlines also has 3-4-2 seating. </i>

LOT does not have any 777s and their 767s have the traditional 2-3-2 seating.

and if that was an attempt at some Polish joke, it wasn't funny....

All of CO's 767s have 2-1-2 in business class. AC used to have 1-2-2 or 2-2-1 until the recent switch to the 1-1-1 herringbone flatbed.

It's actually an old, bad mathematics pun. You'd need to be an &uuml;ber-geek to have heard it before or to get it at 1st glance.

Why would someone feel more trapped on an aisle seat than in the middle, or window seats?

Back to the OP's query...

I've got some claustrophobia issues and am careful to minimize the problem. Here's what I do:

1. Wear lightweight, non-binding clothing. I generally layer my clothes (as of course it can get very cold during the flight) and typically wear a sleeveless dress (yes, even in the winter) or camisole with a skirt. The cooler I am the less of an issue I've got with feeling trapped, and in most cases just knowing that I can very easily take off just about all of my clothes without freaking out other passengers is very comforting.

2. Use the fan and/or fan yourself, again to keep cool but also to give yourself the impression that there's more space around you. Think about an open, windy space. Fanning yourself will also often tip off the flight attendant to your situation: experienced FAs recognize pax in your situation very quickly, and will come to your assistance if they can.

3. Drink water and either splash a bit of water on your face or hold a wet towel to your forehead. The FA who recognizes your problem will often show up magically at your elbow with a bottle of water and a cool towel to offer. I usually ask for water immediately after boarding, and also usually prepare a couple of wet paper towels. Just knowing that you've got these items available to you will make you feel better.

4. If the FA doesn't notice you, don't be afraid to ask him/her for help. In addition to the water, conversation can be hugely helpful, as it distracts you from your internal panic. Conversation can be with anybody, of course, and needn't avoid the topic of claustrophobia---it can be very helpful to laugh about it, in fact.

5. Never wait to pee. If you sort of need to go and tell yourself that you can wait 10 minutes, and then 10 minutes pass and there's suddenly turbulence that requires that you remain seated, you will feel very trapped.

The more proactive I am about the situation, the better I feel and the less prone I am to claustrophobia.

Good luck!

I've adopted many techniques similar to Therese's as my claustrophobia issues are also exacerbated by warm cabin temps. In addition to wearing a very lightweight innermost layer I can strip down to, always having water on hand, and fanning myself (usually with the safety instruction card), I also turn the air vent on max as soon as I sit down if there is one and try to avoid having to board a flight during the hottest part of the day in warm climates. I must hide my distress well because no FA has ever come up to me

Unfortunately, my issues aren't limited to crowded planes and extends to buses, subways, snowcoaches, elevators and pretty much anything you can ride in with other passengers.

Good advice above.

As it happens I'm a clinical psychologist and often work with people who have anxiety (which includes panic disorder). More often I've worked with people who panic, say, in an MRI machine or going into stores, movie theaters, etc. Interesting to read how the sensation of heat aggravates the problem pretty consistently from reports here &amp; elsewhere.

I sat next to a young man who developed a full blown panic attack soon after start up on a trip from Paris to San Francisco. In addition to having him do diaphragmatic breathing (slow, regulated breaths) I asked him to concentrate on getting home to see his family, the look on his mom's face when he arrives, etc. Also kept talking to him to help focus &amp; distract him. He did recover fairly well and the rest of the flight was uneventful. (The surrounding passengers shot many grateful glances my way.)

Another approach might be something useful with MRIs and similar tests, to close one's eyes, use a little lavender/buckwheat pillow over the eyes (I'd say try to imagine you're at a spa but in contemporary coach travel I'd get laughed off this board), spritz on and sip some water, and if possible use ipod or similar device. You are trying to create your own little oasis in the middle of this difficult environment. The alternative is getting involved in some kind of conversation as recommended above.

The long term cure is exposure therapy; locally there's a virtual reality clinic for flying phobia; if I were working with someone for whom traditional cognitive/behavioral therapy was insufficient I would refer (in fact have referred) to that practice.

Don't underestimate the value of correct breathing; often when people get anxious they unconsciously hold their breath, then over-breathe, then get hyperventilation syndrome.

Xanax is a short-term fix that works for some, especially if you only use it rarely and for situations like plane flights. The addiction potential (IMO) makes it concerning for long term use.

(Disclaimer: the above is general commentary in the spirit of the OP and not intended as diagnosis or treatment.)