Nervous about flying....

[windoesfloorsdoors]

Hi I'm currently sat in Newcastle airport
Checked in and I can't bottle it now
Haven't flown in 13 years
I'm terrified
Sounds silly but just want to know it's gonna be okay
Take off scares me
It's the intense feeling
Eeeek
Going to lanzarote

I just think to myself the crew wouldn’t be doing this job if it was dangerous, but like you I’ve not flown since 2011.

I very much understand this.

It will be fine and I hope you have a great holiday.
Hopefully some nice weather!

Do you do any relaxation techniques- breathing, meditation?

Have you got some music you could listen to?

Have a lovely time! 🏖

Check out Paul Tizzard on Spotify. I was a phobic flyer. Am okay now after listening to his stuff.

I have a fear of flying. It helps a lot for me to visualize in advance the take off. Picture yourself in your seat on the plane and deep breaths.
Once on I always distract myself with a book until we're safely in the air and leveled out. Concentrate on your deep breathing. You can do this!!!

Just to let you know you’re far safer on a plane than almost anywhere else in the world including your own home! Good luck!

A few things that helped me is planes have multiple back up systems so if anything does go wrong, there’s many many fail safe systems in place. The plane can land without engines. It’s ridiculously strong and can bend and flex. Turbulence is like potholes in the road. The plane cannot just fall from the sky, physics won’t allow it. Pilots have to retake their test over and over again. Once again good luck! You have my sympathy!

You've already done the most dangerous part of the trip - the journey to the airport. Take some deep breaths, focus on your destination, the sun, beaches, lovley food etc. You've got this!

I feel your pain, OP. I also have a fear of flying.

If it helps, I'm sat in my car waiting to board a ferry and I'm so anxious too, I don't know whether to be sick out of the door or rush to the loo!

Just try and remember that the journey will be worth it and you'll arrive safe and well. Focus on your breathing and relax your shoulders.

Tell the crew when you board that you're nervous, they will keep an eye on you and check you're ok and they are nice and reassuring

I've worked in a control centre at an international airport for 5 year now and have never seen any aircraft have any serious issues. Honestly you will be absolutely fine :) where are you off too?

assuming you drove or took a taxi to the airport that was a statistically much more dangerous thing to do than your flight. Flying is so safe compared to many other things.
Maybe try a relaxation podcast, and think of being on holiday!

I did a fear of trying course a few years ago. The thing that helped me the most was learning about angles of flight. I don’t remember the exact degrees but I have always felt a surge of panic when the plane starts levelling off - it feels too early. The course leader (a pilot) explained that it starts at a particular angle, and at about 10,000 feet the pitch changes - it’s something to do with noise abatement. It then keeps climbing until it reaches the cruising altitude.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

I have a fear of flying. I even had a flying lesson to try and address it. Bizarrely I was fine in 2 seater plane. It made me realise that the issue for me is lack of control and claustrophobia. I am similar on crowded trains. Knowing what is happening helps so engage with cabin crew. Tell them you are nervous.

You said your flight was at 8am yesterday op, have you checked in?!

Mine is not to do with danger but the claustrophobia and lack of control. I get panicky when the plane is going up as I realise I can't escape until it lands. What's helped me is seeing the relaxed cabin crew and knowing I can speak to them, distractions like listening to an interesting podcast or reading a book and having a glass of wine half an hour before the flight!also doing it as much as possible has lessened the fear. I hope it goes well and you have a nice holiday!

Think about leaving the dullness, rain behind and the warmth of the sunshine, Lanzarote is fab, you will have a great time OP, try to relax. Enjoy OP.

For anyone that does have this issue. easyJet offer a fearless flying course. You do the whole airport experience from check in etc through to the lounge. Then you go up for about 20 mins in the aircraft and back down. It is supposed to be a great experience :)

Jet 2 left at 8:10 for Lanzarote, let's hope OP is onboard

That sounds amazing!!

Did you make it op?!

I made it
Thanks everyone
My ears ached on landing as per usual
But we are here
Got updated to a suite -it's amazing
So worth a bit of anxiety

Aww lovely update, enjoy OP.

The most important thing to remember when you have a fear of flying is that the highly trained pilots want to get there and home again safely as much as you do. Safety is the number one rule pilots live by because they’re the most likely to die in an air crash. Plenty of flights are delayed or cancelled because the pilot wants to check something is ok and the pre flight checks they do are extensive.

glad you got there ok @windoesfloorsdoors enjoy your holiday.

I seem to remember an AMA thread on here with a pilot or someone who works on planes. I found it reassuring. Will try and find it .

www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/3293146-i-m-an-airline-captain-ask-me-anything