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Original poster

Fear of flying course

20 replies

inboxmayhem · 26/09/2019 17:04

As I've got older I am more and more fearful of flying

It's ridiculous as I used to fly 5-6 times a year with just mild anxiety.

This year it has just got worse and worse, to the point I am contemplating not flying anymore.

I can't let this be the case.

Has anyone successfully completed a fear of flying course? I'd love to hear good and bad feedback!

OP posts:

plantsplantsplants · 26/09/2019 17:55

Flying is appalling for the environment; why not take this as an opportunity to enjoy travel nearer to home and feel proud you are minimising this aspect of your negative impact on the world?

Original poster

inboxmayhem · 26/09/2019 21:04

I already explore the UK. I have property abroad also so I think I just need to grit my teeth.

OP posts:

bookgirl1982 · 26/09/2019 21:07

My mum did the virgin course at Gatwick. She's always hated flying and has since been to the USA and is booked to go again. She said the best part was the pilot explaining on the ground all the science of flight and how low the risks are, and then he was the pilot for the trial flight they do at the end.

differentcity · 26/09/2019 21:36

I've done two, they didn't make me less afraid at all and I still haven't flown but I'd recommend it as everybody else in my group, even people who seemed more scared than me to start with, did get on the flight at the end of the day so they work for a lot of people.

YouJustDoYou · 26/09/2019 21:37

Flying is appalling for the environment; why not take this as an opportunity to enjoy travel nearer to home and feel proud you are minimising this aspect of your negative impact on the world?

Yaaaawn

YouJustDoYou · 26/09/2019 21:38

BA does a really good one. My friend, who was terminally afraid of flying, went on it and though it didn't "cure" her fear, it helped her better understand what all the noises were etc so she felt more secure and less anxious when she did eventually go.

Sleeptillnoon · 26/09/2019 21:43

I did one of these courses years ago and it worked a treat. I'd basically got to the point where I couldn't fly, and now whilst I'm still a nervous flyer, I can get on a plane without spending weeks getting wound up, and can manage my anxiety better.
My course covered the science of flying, how they select and train pilots, what can go wrong and all the failsafes in place to stop them happening, and a session on breathing etc. All followed by a short flight during which I surprised myself by actually managing to get up and walk up and down the aisle, which I would never have done before. It was expensive but I would definitely recommend it.

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 26/09/2019 21:43

DH did the Ba one and it really helped.

LizzieSiddal · 26/09/2019 21:43

My Dh went in the BA one at Heathrow.
He was petrified of flying, so much so that we’d only flown twice in 20 years.

He said the course was amazing and it worked! A week after the course we booked a flight to Australia, We flew there and back with absolutely no issues at all. He’s now evangelical about the course and recommends it to everyone who’s scared.

Oldbutstillgotit · 26/09/2019 21:45

I did the BA course and it helped me greatly. I still hate take-off but I understand the process better and can now tolerate flights without having a panic attack .
A few hundred pounds well spent.

ShirleyPhallus · 26/09/2019 21:49

Flying is appalling for the environment; why not take this as an opportunity to enjoy travel nearer to home and feel proud you are minimising this aspect of your negative impact on the world?

Really is astonishing that posters manage to get their head out of their arse for long enough to be able to post stuff like this

plantsplantsplants · 26/09/2019 23:02

@ShirleyPhallus ouch! It's a very valid point!

HopeClearwater · 26/09/2019 23:25

Coming on to the thread to recommend the BA one out of Heathrow, very successful for two people I know.

Original poster

inboxmayhem · 27/09/2019 06:16

Thanks so much! I've booked the BA one at Heathrow. Appreciate all the feedback.

@plantsplantsplants enjoy your tree hugging.

OP posts:

Needallthesleep · 27/09/2019 06:29

I’ve done the Virgin course.

Prior to doing the course I was incredibly scared of take off and turbulence in particular. I’m now only afraid of turbulence. So it fixed one problem for me!

The biggest impact on my ability to fly has been taking diazepam before a flight. My doctor prescribes 2x 2mg before a flight and it seems to work for me.

HandsOffMyRights · 27/09/2019 06:33

I did the Virgin one. It didn't work for me and around half the participants - Virgin only seemed to allow the success stories on its site, so it gives the impression of high success rates.

Fridakahlofan · 27/09/2019 06:35

I’m another for the ditch flying and hug trees chorus!

LizzieSiddal · 27/09/2019 07:42

Glad you’ve booked a course.
Good luck with it!

Pedallleur · 27/09/2019 13:50

i did a BA one. I know how it all works but I just have an irrational dislike of flying. if I was sat up front with the pilots it would be different so clearly a control thing on my part. the course was good. those men/women wouldn't be flying the aircraft if they thought it was an unsafe job

Metriti · 27/09/2019 14:10

BIL went on the BA one at Heathrow and said it worked really well. He has flown a few times since then and coped really well.

Good luck on it!

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