Never Flown & Nervous

[JohnM]

Hi agent009

Good on you! Go for it!

France, Italy - just fantastic! Two of my favourite places. Ahh, memories - that taxi ride to Fiumicino in the manual Mercedes watching the speedo wind through 170 km/hr while the driver handled two mobile phones simultaneously and put Post-it notes all over the dashboard - only in Italy! And you're worried about flying?!

Why don't you let the F/F folk know where in those places you intend to go. I'm sure you'll get a swag of tips.

I agree with everything others have said.

Personally, I enjoy the ride (especially QF) as much as anything on my travels. Apart from lying on Swanbourne beach (Perthites will understand the significance), being on an aircraft is the only other place this hyper-active individual can do absolutely nothing and love it.

Many of my friends think I'm strange but each year I buy a round the world Business or First fare (the next one, which is about the 6th or 7th), starts on 29 August and is a 20-sector F (the last of the 20-sector OneWorld Explorers), and I shoot through for 6 weeks.

What makes them really think I'm strange is that I travel at the pointy end and stay at hostels wherever I go (although I do rent a car for total independence). The great people I've met is fantastic! (and at 58 I'm no spring chicken). Ah, the benefits of semi-retirement - stuff the kids' inheritance!

What do I do on board? - Relax. I never watch the IFE (I never watch TV at home - too much dumbing-down). Eat, drink (the QF Premium wine list is, by any measure, exceptionally good) - and take my time doing it.

I just put on my Bose noise-cancelling headset, plug in my iPod, sit back and just forget about the rest of the world. It's sublime.

I think you'll enjoy Premium Economy but if your budget can stretch to it, Business would be a different dimension (First is a dimension apart again...).

Remember - the only time it is worth travelling in the premium classes is on the long trips!

Just do it! You'll be back - the bug is real!

Cheers

John

 

[straitman]

Unless you see the cabin crew looking worried, then there is no need to worry. I know a nervous flyer who is comforted by looking at the faces of the FA's as they sit strapped-in during takeoff/landing/turbulence.

agent009,

I would just like to reinforce this point from NYCguy.

Just remember that the pilots and cabin crew are not going to do anything that puts themselves in peril. If it is not safe they won't do it :!: They are not maniacs or daredevils they are regular people doing jobs that are a little different. They want to go home to their families as much as the next person.

 

[newflyer]

Agent 009,

I suffer from claustrophobia and still get very nervous and anxious before each flight, even short ones.

FWIW, JohnK's response above is a good example of the value I get from these forums. It's nice to know that a Platinum level flyer (which mean a LOT of flying) still gets nervous, and I'm (or you) are not the only ones that get anxious about getting on a plane!

Thanks JohnK!

 

[oz_mark]

Remember - the only time it is worth travelling in the premium classes is on the long trips!

or doing short cheap Status Runs

 

[oz_mark]

Apart from lying on Swanbourne beach (Perthites will understand the significance),

I don't know what you're talking about :shock:

 

[Optics]

.... the best solution for me is xanax and/or valium before the flight to keep me calm.

The only problem with this is I'm sure they would not mix well with the liberal doses of HPs/wines being recommended by most others .

(Disclaimer: this post should not be construed as in any way recommending alcohol as a method of reducing nervousness about flying, nor that excessive amounts of alcohol should be consumed during flights. Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation.)

Now, my moderate may be significantly different to others )

 

[NM]

alcohol should be consumed during flights. Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation.

or given to a moderator

 

[Nutcase]

There have been many really good suggestions and Im not sure if this one has been suggested;

Fearless Flyers Inc with Qantas

This is a Non profit group that works on behalf of Qantas and is staffed by current and former Qantas staff.

I also had a big fear of flying and was traveling every week with Ansett. It was excrutiating. One one occasion I was sitting in First Class and next to me was the woman who ran a similar course for them at the time. She "talked me down off the ledge" over the course of the flight and I have never been scared since.

I beleive that they will take you on a flight as well as part of this course (am happy to be corrected on that one)

Best of luck to you

 

[straitman]

or given to a moderator

A moderate moderator, now there's a contradiction in terms :!: .... and something/someone I've never seen or met.

 

[Maca44]

There have been many really good suggestions and Im not sure if this one has been suggested;

Fearless Flyers Inc with Qantas

This is a Non profit group that works on behalf of Qantas and is staffed by current and former Qantas staff.

I also had a big fear of flying and was traveling every week with Ansett. It was excrutiating. One one occasion I was sitting in First Class and next to me was the woman who ran a similar course for them at the time. She "talked me down off the ledge" over the course of the flight and I have never been scared since.

I beleive that they will take you on a flight as well as part of this course (am happy to be corrected on that one)

Best of luck to you

According to the website it also costs $900 to do the course :shock:

 

[NM]

.... and something/someone I've never seen or met.

I am sure we will get to meet one day. Bill.

 

[Nutcase]

According to the website it also costs $900 to do the course :shock:

Money well spent in my book. If you can do something to overcome your fear (not just of flying) and as a result your life improves - then that is a good investment.

 

[straitman]

I am sure we will get to meet one day. Bill.

NM,

Do you mean something like 'I can run but I can't hide' :?:

 

[Maca44]

Money well spent in my book. If you can do something to overcome your fear (not just of flying) and as a result your life improves - then that is a good investment.

Yes I agree that it's money well spent if you can get over your fear of flying, and the $900 might be just a small amount of what it might cost in future years travelling around the world etc

 

[Dave Noble]

Yes I agree that it's money well spent if you can get over your fear of flying, and the $900 might be just a small amount of what it might cost in future years travelling around the world etc

The key word being 'if' . It could end up being $900 just spent for nothing. Irrational fears , such as that of flying, are by definition , irrational and a course may well do nothing to alleviate it

Dave

 

[agent009]

Irrational fear ? Most likely.

However I have a friend who was returning by Qantas. Apparently the flight was delayed 3 hours while they were messing about with the a/c or related problem.

She tells me the flight to Singapore was without entertainment. I had an electrical problem 30,000 feet up there.

 

[straitman]

Irrational fear ? Most likely.

However I have a friend who was returning by Qantas. Apparently the flight was delayed 3 hours while they were messing about with the a/c or related problem.

It's called scheduled (or unscheduled) maintenance. Not really messing about :!: :shock:

She tells me the flight to Singapore was without entertainment. I had an electrical problem 30,000 feet up there.

No IFE is like your car radio not working. It does not have any effect upon other parts of the car/aircraft.

 

[NM]

No IFE is like your car radio not working. It does not have any effect upon other parts of the car/aircraft.

Some people seem to believe IFE should be included in the MEL

 

[sully]

A lot of good responses here except the idiot who said practice your hobby on board. I tried this once and was kicked off the plane. Something absolutely lame about not being able to shoot skeets in the cabin.

 

[agent009]

I was thinking of flying QANTAS, now I really doubt it.

I have been recommended :

Singapore or Cathay.

OK but do these carriers fly with Australian or British captains ? My reason is that I believe they would be the best (ignorant opinion). And where would their maintenance be done ?

Maybe really dumb questions, the QANTAS incident really made me think about these things.