LoveItaly

Hi shuttlebuggy, personally I think you have a very positive attitude!
Yes, no cherrio's, lol, but how about a delicious small box of chocolates? And when in Europe you could buy yourself another box for the flight home.

Cowboy1968

Thanks a lot to everybody who took time to post re. my "drug issue". As I said, it was mere curiosity.
And, raspberryberet, I tried to separate in my question the issue of phobias from other, more widespread negative feelings some have re. flying. I did not intent to summarize phobias as one of the latter. Sorry, if that was not clear.

Reason I asked was also that I started to develop somewhat of a mild fear of flying after my first 100 or so flights, since I felt that at some point the statistics would start to work against me ;-)

But, so far always a happy landing (or take-off), a couple of close calls, e.g. before a hurricane was going to hit Miami (last plane allowed to take-off), or while the leftovers of another hurricane hit the New England coastline (last plane allowed to land in Boston, and FAs asking to give.. hmm.. "the bags" to other passengers), 5 hours of non-stop rough air above the Northern US and Canada, a few missed approaches and turn arounds, and a couple of landings at some rather odd airports.

After all, this is why planes cost more than a used pick-up, and pilot training takes more time than a drivers license.

suze

For year's I've had the theory that if they would just pump a little nitrous oxide (laughing gas like at the dentist) thru the air vents, ALL plane flights would be a MUCH happier place.
suze

agilepagile

Yes do like Mimar said and fly first class even if you can't afford it. Spend all your funds on the flight and hell with the rest of the trip. Maybe you don't have a sugar daddy like Mimar, so talk to your doctor and get some xanax and you'll sleep like a well traveled baby. Make sure you take enough and don't mix with alcohol.

Grandma

Once again, I advise logging on to Salon.com and reading "Ask the Pilot" by Patrick Smith. He's a commerical pilot who covers so many of the issues of scared flyers! Also, I think he's published his columns in a book. One might try Amazon.

Bluehour

Aw shuttlebuggy, a VoDilanduh can handle this. No problem. Quahog tough.

The reason I asked, and didn't want to be alarming, is that when you land at Logan, many of the routes take you over the water until the very ... last ... second. Which is a bit disconcerting. Sometimes people say upsetting things like "Where's the runway? Is there a runway?". But it's OK. You just have to not look down.

You may never become a person who jumps on a plane, but you're sounding like a person who is confident they can pull it off when they need to, even if you put a few dents in your husband's hand on the way. That's something to be proud of.

Mimar

Well, agilepagile, some people must be able to afford to fly first class, even without going into debt -- or having a sugar daddy. Never had the experience myself. But we have friends who could easily afford first class but insist on economy class.

shuttlebuggy, I pick calming books to read/listen to on flights, not murder mysteries. (Though I'm a fan of Michael Connolly and Harry Bosch also; got one saved to bring on my next trip -- to read during the land portion.) What to read could be a whole other thread.

canjo

As a person who still has a bit of anxiety with flying I want to say bravo that you are willing to give it a go! My husband is a retired UAL Captain and he would explain procedures and answer my questions. I appreciate the training and the skill of airline pilots as well as the safety training the flight attendants go through.I realize the drive to the airport is more dangerous. Before I felt comfortable these are the things I learn to do and still do. I look ahead and think of being on a train if there is turbulence know that it is safe just uncomfortable at times. I have found a good book and watching in flight entertainment will pass the time and perhaps a nap or even a chat with your seat mate. Drink lots of water, eat as much as to control your hunger and do a bit of exercise in your seat all will help with the jet lag. I use to sweat on take off..not pleasant for my seat mate and two years ago I flew to Australia! I think of my destination and it helps through any discomfort. Have fun!

AtlTravelr

Mimar-I want to say that I agree wholeheartedly with your suggestion to fly first class IF you can afford to. And sometimes it is not that much more expensive. For instance - we purchased full fare coach tickets for $1400 per person then used miles to upgrade. Our friends who flew the same time, same destination paid $1000 for their discounted coach tickets. Yes, we used our miles but we only paid an additional $400 for the first class seats tha retailed for thousands more. And I can tell you, that the comfortable flight with all the "fun" things - ice cream sundaes, choice of movies, real pillows & blankets - combined with my previously mentioned drug of choice, Xanax, makes the whole Europe flight thing a real joy.

I know that not everyone can afford this and even if they can they will choose to spend their money on other ways to enhance their travel experience. But it IS a good suggestion for fearful flyers - at least it was for me!

PalmPilot

There's an audio course available that helps you conquer your fear of flying. It's done by a former (possibly current) airline pilot -- Capt. Tom Bunn.I'm not afraid of flying myself but I've heard this is extremely popular.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/3c4qr3

shuttlebuggy

I definately will keep the upgrading thing in mind - BUT the whole idea is that it took a lot of $$$ or €€€ however you want to look at it for our dd to be able to not only travel but live for 4 months overseas. Not even counting the education cost!
Sooooo...at this point and time it was not possible to go first class - we had to get out tickets thru a student flights agency and only paid about $750 a person - I say "only" because that is a relative term - especially when combined with dd's expenses, our 10 day looks like "nothing" relatively speaking that is...
we will eat alot of rice dishes and economize once home again!

suze

While 1st class certainly LOOKS more comfortable, I don't think it would improve things for the folks with anxiety issues.

AtlTravelr

BTW shuttlebuggy, my husband and I are also heading out to visit our daughter in Europe. She is spending the whold school year abroad except for 10 days home at Christmas. I'm very glad that I've (finally!) gotten the anxiety thing under control so that it was not very hard to book this trip to see her.

I admire your taking charge of it by doing the 8 flights you've done in this short while. I finally fingured out that with the drugs reducing my anxiety, I became less anxious about experiencing the anxiety - if that makes sense! So hopefully with drugs, books, supportive travel partners, etc. you will have yet another postive flight experience which will help you the next time you fly as well. Happy (and peaceful) travels!

MrsMeber

Have you had a conversation with a counselor about why you have this fear? I was VERY anxious about flying, and realized it was because there was a terrible airline accident when I was young close to the DFW airport, that was so deep in my memory that I couldn't uncover it. Two sessions with a therapist, and I am EVERYWHERE by plane. It is so much safer than driving! Also, invest in an ipod, and download some books...you don't have to read them, listen to them...and your favorite music to calm you. I avoid drugs and alchohol when flying, and drink plenty of water; try some melatonin to help with the sleeping, it helps reset the circadian rhythm of our bodies. However I agree, you should always try anything new at home before your trip, to insure no adverse reactions. We have flown first class where there is always a pleasant distraction (they feed you nonstop it seems,and pamper you with socks and a small toiletries bag to freshen up) however when we do fly coach I take several various magazines that I have saved as a real "treat". Also, if the flight is not full change seats so you can stretch out across two seats. If my husband brings his laptop I start a journal about my trip, building a template for my photos, etc. HAVE A GREAT TRIP AND ENJOY!

shuttlebuggy

Suze - I laughed so hard when I scrolled back up and saw the nitrous oxide comment you made! I have never had that but it certainly sounds good! I do love to laugh!

Grandma -I will look for that book and have bookmarked the site

AtlTraveler - I hear what you say and hope to have a peaceful flight -and am borrowing an iPod and the person will put some books in for me

Mrs Weber - I will try and have a good flight! But I cannot take Melatonin - it bothers my stomach every single time I have tried it even in different forms...I will most likely be taking conventional relaxants from the MD.. Ah well - small price to pay..
Counseling - no - have done it as part of my past tx for physical illness and during treatment but not ever for flying - I don't think I have time enough for that.

suze

shuttlebuggy~ not only for my own sake, but to make ALL my fellow passengers MUCH more content during a long flight -haha.

shuttlebuggy

Too funny!!! I wonder if they would ever consider it!!!
I am still grinning over the thought!