Flying Alone

[SunnySideUpX]

Hello!

I have just booked a trip away to visit my friend, I will be flying alone for the first time ever. I'm in my early 20's. I have flown before, but always with someone else to "take charge."

I am an okay flyer but I am already nervous about being "stuck" in the air on my own. The last few times I've flown (not for around 2 years) I have started to feel increasingly nervous.

I have never checked in, found the gate, found my way etc on my own, but I'm a fairly confident person and I will ask for help, it is just more psychological advice I'm after. Although any tips for this too would be helpful!

Does anyone have any top tips? Anything I can do to keep myself calm? I am more worried about over thinking while I'm in the air and panicking.

Thank you!

This is all so reassuring! Thank you.

Fang, that's hilarious! How lucky that your husband is ATC or that would have been one expensive book haha. I can't believe they called for you 3 times

I am so glad I posted tonight. I almost didn't book the tickets as I was so nervous, but now I'm so bloody glad I did.

Thanks Venus, I can imagine it's ridiculously common. I will definitely say something if I'm feeling too nervous, I've only ever had positive experiences with crew previously!

One tip is to check the size of the on flight bag you are allowed, as it does vary from one airline to another. Then you can plan ahead to get the best bag for your journey.

Maybe wear a couple of thin loose layers to travel in, then if you feel a bit tense and hot, it's easy to take off a baggy cardigan.

I'm sure you will be fine, hope you have a great trip!

Oh and there are directions to the gates. You can't miss them.
You will be fine

Ryanair have changed their hand luggage allowance AGAIN for non priority passengers.

If you DO NOT have a priority booking, you can only take on board one very small bag 40x 20x25 that must fit under the seat in front of you.
If the bag is bigger there is a charge of £25 at the gate.
I received the email today about my flight next week. Not surprised their share price has dropped.

For me flying alone is a treat. Only having myself to look after. I often fly with just my youngest (currently 8) and she is pretty easy company. To be honest, even all 3 of the children are easy, it is just hard with DH as I like to go to the gate immediately, he likes to dally. I like to queue, he likes to sit and wait.....

Yes to asking someone to distract you if you panic. I have been asked plenty of times, or noticed someone panicking (even silently) and asked if they need anything or about their trip to break the train of panicky thoughts.

As far as navigating the airport is concerned, you are very likely to be on a flight with lots of passengers who have done this flight before. Once you've found the gate on the departures board head over there and just follow everyone else. Same when getting off the plane and out of the airport.

If you're travelling with Ryanair, book the priority and two bags option. You keep your bags in the cabin instead of having to retrieve them from the hold. It'll cost you an extra £16 but essential in my view.

If you're travelling with Easyjet, you can preorder food and drink at a discount. You get served before everyone else just after take off, no fumbling for money, it's lovely! A good distraction too.

My tip for nervous flyers is to close your eyes and imagine you are on a train (it feels very much the same). You might not feel so anxious if you think you are travelling on the ground, as it were. It really works.

I listen to podcasts for most of the journey. No Such Thing as a Fish, the Archers omnibus, Radio 4 News Quiz etc.

Oh, and have a last wee before boarding!

It is only a very short flight, almost 3 hours

That's not a very short flight . I fly to the Isle of Man from Liverpool quite a lot and you're in the air about 20 minutes, so that's what I class as a short flight.

3 hours is far beyond my boredom tolerance threshold, even if I have a good book and snacks to pass the time. I'm going on a 6 hour flight soon, and I'm dreading it because it's the furthest I've ever flown and I will be so bored and uncomfortable.

You'll be fine, just leave plenty of time, read all the boards, double check terminal, gate number, and airline and destination on the screen and watch everyone else on your flight for when to get on. But don't worry about the early queuers - you could let most of them go through the gate, join the back of the queue, and you'll still go round the corner or get on the plane and still find another queue, or everyone still faffing with their bags.

I also love flying alone, because there's no stress about keeping everyone together and you can browse the shops at your leisure and just do exactly what you want in terms of eat/read/sleep without worrying about keeping everyone else happy.

Gawd I love flying and travelling alone. Fucking bliss.

I flew alone from London to Seattle a couple of years ago (I only go away about once a decade so it was a big deal for me) and I did have a bit of a wobble as we took off, I didn't make a fuss but a couple of tears escaped. Nobody said anything and I was lucky as I had a row to myself but I did get snuck an extra glass of Bailey's from the very lovely cabin crew as ' enjoy yourself, you're on holiday!'

I read a lot of trashy books on flights! Something light-hearted, this is not the time to plough through a booker prize winner. My flight authors of choice are James Patterson or Lee Child.

I hate flying so I pretend I'm in a flight simulator and I could get off if I wanted to.Sounds daft but it works for me

Gawd I love flying and travelling alone. Fucking bliss.

Me too. And it's not that I particularly like the act of flying I used to have to fly regularly for work on a small plane in and out of a tiny airport that regularly had very windy conditions which often meant major turbulence and/or the nose blew up, and the pilot had to fly around until the wind died down enough to land, and frankly, it wasn't that pleasant but flying without a small child, or, as I've recently done, escorting a large group of flaky 20 year olds who were liable to lose passports and to have failed to apply for the appropriate visa/visa waiver, makes flying solo much more attractive.

They often list the codeshares separately on the departures screen so it can look like there are three planes going to the same place from the same gate at the same time, but don't worry, there's just one plane, but with people who have booked through different airlines on it.

Thank you all so much, I am so chuffed that I posted.
Some very good ideas here.

Thank you for the comments about the different flight numbers, that's something that may have caught me out.

I am travelling with Ryanair (I know, I know... But the only airline that does a direct flight to where I'm going) and I have booked the hand luggage and priority, or whatever it is.

Thanks again! I'm taking notes of all of the ideas

Quick update... I am at the airport now! Feeling very relaxed, got a new book that I'm reading and downloaded a few shows to watch on the plane. My friend is meeting me at the airport.

And I went on a first date yesterday Things are looking up!

Thanks everyone for all of your support and advice!

Good luck! You’ve done really well!

Are you checked in and through security etc? Found your gate number?

Thank you!

All checked in and through security, had a bite to eat in the lounge area and now waiting outside my gate ready for it to open.

I'm reading Pretend Im Dead - Jen Beagin, 50 pages in so far, I'd definitely recommend!

Toiletries have to be in a clear plastic bag, it's pretty small & has to be able to close. Anything that won't fit in the closed bag security throw in the bin.

Sounds fabulous!

Have a wonderfully relaxing time and enjoy your holiday.