We're going to France this summer. I'm looking forward to it, but it seems as though there have been so many air accidents lately. Any thoughts?

<BR>EK, while the news about an accident stays in my mind for awhile, I don't let it consume me. We travel alot, are leaving for Puerto Vallarta in a few days (Alaska Airlines) then have a trip to Italy in May/June (Northwest/Swiss Air). The stats say that one is more likley to die in a car accident than an airplane anyway. I was in Hawaii when the Alaska flt went down, and I do admit that it was on my mind when we flew home, but it didn't ruin my flight and I wasn't scared. I also admit not wanting to get on a plane for awhile after that though, but now I'm ready. Take your trip and have a wonderful time.

I have been afraid to fly for years - but I love to travel. I finally decided I had to do something about it. My doctor gave me zanax which is an antianxiety drug. I take 2 before I get on the plane. I can have a drink, take a tylenol pm if it is an overseas flight and drive when I get off the plane. <BR> <BR>The pill does not effect by ability to concentrate or read - it just takes the edge off the anxiety. I could never sit in the window seat. Now I fight for it - I love to see the country. <BR> <BR>I have recommended it to friends who all swear by it. Try it!

Are you asking because you are generically fearful about flying long distances or because you think the political situation has heated up and there's an increased chance of terrorism? It's easy to worry about that, but should all of the hundreds of thousands of people traveling over the summer stay home because the risk seems higher? <BR> <BR>There's a long thread on the Smart Travel Tips forum (or was it the US?) on this topic, worth reading. A lot of people quote the statistics about you're less likely to die in a plane crash than XXXX, usually a car -- but I never find talking about comparative chances of mortality particularly reassuring, nor even particularly relevant. If you were able to make your heart and stomach believe statistics, there wouldn't be a problem. Still if an image would help: image all those planes sitting at all those gates at JFK or Dulles, and remember that they all have made their respective trips every day for the last year or two or three -- back and forth. If you WANTED to pick one that would crash to place a dark sort of bet, you couldn't do it, you'd lose completely -- they just keep on flying, back and forth, back and forth. <BR> <BR>Much more to the point is how you get yourself on the plane. Xanax is good (but usually needs to be started the day before and NOT a good idea to drink alcohol with it), but there are all sorts of other things you can do: bring a new book you're looking forward to; music tapes; books on tape; (my favorite): comedians on tape. <BR>

My anxiety/claustrophobia/physical discomfort of being squished in a teeny seat for 6-7+ hours/restless leg syndrome/crash fears/etc make the thought of flying to europe excruciating. (And y'all thought infants were bad to have in the next seat!) <BR> <BR> But the thought of BEING in europe...ah!!! Last flight, I broke down and asked (ok, begged) my doc for a mild tranq...he complied, and it made all the difference. Just took the "edge" off and made it all bearable. Way to go!

The mid-air accidents have really freaked me out. I've always been terrified of flying (if you've ever had a stranger seated next to you on a plane unconsciously grip your wrist upon takeoff, and apologize profusely later, that was me). But until recently, I've felt fairly safe between takeoffs and landings. Still, I continue to fly. I try to focus on other things, and figure if my time's up, it's up, and would be up even if I were simply walking down the street. I take the fatalistic view, and do some deep-breathing exercises when necessary (they really help; in fact, I haven't gripped anyone's wrist upon takeoff in a long time). However, after reading the posts about zanax, I may be having a talk with my doc. I hate the idea of taking drugs to combat something like this, but then again . . .

Be aware that there are alot of "dodgy" pilots around in Europe. Also the French airtraffic controllers, despite being so well paid, are regularly on strike which adds to the frustration and hence risks of accidents for everyone.

EK: <BR> <BR>I'm not sure what is your definition of "recent" - - the crashes of TWA, SwissAir and EgyptAir are significant tragedies, but I take some issue with the comments by Falcon, suggesting that flights WITHIN Europe are not safe. <BR> <BR>Could it be that we simply don't hear about them here in the US? The NTSB - - www.ntsb.gov has a searchable database of air crashes for 1996-2000, and I can only find one crash in Europe, CrossAir in Zurich, with 10 deaths that has occurred in Europe air space. I understand that maybe our NTSB does not get involved in other Europe air accidents. But I can't remember one. Have there been any others I can't think of? <BR> <BR>I can think of many more deaths in train crashes, US and Europe and on US domestic air travel in the same period. Am I looking at this through rose-colored glasses?

From what I have been told, fear of flying is mostly fear of CONTROL. You are totally dependent on others for your safety. Get the statistics--millions and millions to one for even getting hurt. Think of those magnificent stats, accept the lack of control, take the edge off with a mild sedative, concentrate on your destination, and keep occupied. If you start listening to a book on tape before getting into the plane and get well into the plot, you can divert nicely. Closer to home, think of all of us on this forum, going back and forth all the time. Enjoy France!!!

There's nothing holiday wise (i.e. sun and sea) in France that you can't get better in the US. Why put yourself through all this fear in taking the risk? <BR>After all accidents in the air are very dangerous - worse than all other forms of transport. <BR>

"Falcon", you are misinformed. European air transport is as safe as in North America, with similar safety requirements. (the ex-Soviet Union may be an exception) <BR>Also, there are lots of "holiday things" in France that you won't find in the USA. <BR>Falcon, please refrain from posting untrue information on this forum.

Alaska Air - Jan 31, 2000 <BR>www.ntsb.gov/events/2000/aka261/default.htm <BR> <BR>American Airlines - Jun 1, 1999 <BR>www.ntsb.gov/events/2000/aa1420/default.htm <BR> <BR>ComAir - Jan 9, 1997 <BR>www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/DCA/97A017.htm <BR> <BR>ValueJet - May 11, 1996 <BR>www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/DCA/96A054.htm <BR> <BR>US Air - Sep 8, 1994 <BR>www.ntsb.gov/events/usair427/items.htm <BR> <BR>Which is the more dangerous continent for air travel?

Well, firstly, thank you to everyone who took the time to respond. <BR> <BR>Kathy-are you sure you can have a drink and Tylenolpm with xanax? <BR> <BR>To arjay-what was the name of the tranquilizer...sounds good! <BR> <BR>I just wanted to get a wide variety of thoughts on this subject. I'll be checking back to post a more comprehensive response.....thanks to everyone.

EK, <BR> <BR>Here's a thought. I used to be deathly afraid of flying. It was about control, uninformed regarding certain noises, like retracting flaps and slats etc. <BR> <BR>My doctor, a friend, when I asked him for drugs to help asked me the following question: <BR> <BR>What is the worst thing that can happen? You die, right and then you know exactly where you will be, so why the anxiety? <BR> <BR>I listened, tried his advice to pray at the end of the runway and then relax and forget about it. It works for me and I'm now a million miler on Delta and travel about 75,000 miles per year including in Europe. <BR> <BR>PS Not proselytizing, merely telling you my situation. <BR>

EK - <BR> <BR>Been in a plane incident before and keep flying! My secret - sleep - usually induced by my favorite - Tylenol PM! <BR> <BR>Why? Because you can sleep all the way there and feel refreshed - no drugged feeling when you wake up. That, on the overnight flight, and a 2 hour nap before dinner, gets you time-zone adjusted very well. <BR> <BR>I have been prescribed Ativan (I think that's how you spell it) before, and that didn't do as good a job as the Tylenol PM, even though it did take the edge off. <BR> <BR>Think of it this way - life's too short not to see the world. I may use the Tylenol PM and have been known to weep on a bumpy flight - but it's not going to stop me. I'll be heading to Austrailia in May, so buy your Tylenol PM now or there may be a shortage! <BR> <BR>It also helps me to think that the plane that I'm on does the same trip every day....

Re: xanax <BR> <BR>First you do NOT have to start taking it the day before. My doc started out by only giving me 10 .25 mg. at a time. The docs don't want you taking zanax on a regular basis unless they prescribe it for an ongoing anxiety problem. Now that she knows I use it only to fly, I get 20 at a time. <BR> <BR>Yes, I can have a glass of wine and it does no harm. Ask your doc. <BR> <BR>Tylenol p.m. I take one only, has benadryl. That's what makes you sleepy. Again ask your doc. If you start using z to fly, you have to test your reaction. I started out by taking two. Now,I generally take 1 1/2 on domestic flight and 2 on international. <BR> <BR>It truly has changed my travel life. Since I started taking it 4 years ago, I have been to Italy, Spain, Egypt, London, Mexico and numerous domestic business and pleasure flights.

I have two comments here. <BR>1. If you look at the total number of people killed on the Interstates, then you should be more fearful of driving. <BR>Flying US and Western European passenger airlines is statistically safer than driving. (But it is like an infection following surgery. If it happens in your case it is 100%!!) <BR>2. I am not afraid to fly, but some airlines are making it $#$%#$% uncomfortable in tourist class to the extent I may give it up. The last time I flew Delta I should have been 9 inches shorter and 2 inches narrower. As it is my 6'0" inch, 180 pound frame has a tough time. I wonder how the guys an gals who are two to three inches taller than I am can make it. Pity the poor guy who was about 6'7". He flew standing up or sitting on the floor near the facilities because he could not sit without suffering.

I was (and still am) very afraid of flying and had to live with it due to my work. I attended an Air France fear of flying course which was very helpful (my company paid for it). I still hate flying, but try to think of all the rational things they told me during this course. I would recommend this approach. If anyone wants any details about the course content, I'd be happy to oblige.

Clarification reanax, or any prescription drug for that matter: it's not a good idea to take it for the first time just as you're about to fly, because different people have different responses. <BR> <BR>For me, for example, it's necessary to start the Xanax a day before because it takes 24 hrs. to build up enough in my system for me to have the benefit, esp. since I found that taking one BIG dose instead of two or three smaller doses meant that it didn't take effect until AFTER I'd arrived and then totally zonked me. That's me, may not be you, but you'd want to know before you travel what's going to happen. If you've never used Tylenol PM, you might want to consider a test run ahead of time, too.