Flying/bag drop last minute nerves

[PumpkinPie2016]

Shamelessly posting for traffic 😔 in the hope of some reassurance/someone handing me a grip/both.

Me, DH and 9 year old DS fly Saturday morning. For various reasons- covid/elderly relatives/DS having been a spirited toddler (he's very chilled now!) This is our first holiday abroad for some years. We are so looking forward to it and I know how lucky we are to be going.

I, however, am a very nervous flyer 😬 logically, I know I am probably being ridiculous. As a physics graduate, I can even explain how planes fly, but it still makes me nervous. So, to help myself, I have done everything possible to try and make things easier.

I have done online check in (completed today - all good)
Booked fast track security.
Doing day before bag drop tomorrow so that on Sat morning, we can focus on just going to the airport, through security and into departures.
I have ensured hand luggage liquids are in the appropriate bag.

I literally cannot do anything else (apart from maybe resort to gin!). I am actually excited for the actual holiday - it will be great.

But, I have felt queasy all day 😔🤢 I'm so nervous about the flight. DH loves flying and is being really lovely and reassuring. DS is super excited and has no idea I am nervous as I wouldn't put that on him. But I can't shake the nerves.

To make matters worse, I am having total paranoia that our bags will be lost/forgotten. I have cross packed and got essentials in hand luggage but keep convincing myself we'll get off the plane at the other end and our bags won't be there.

Ultimately, I'm just going to have to woman up but any words of wisdom/reassurance would help.

Has anyone used day before bag drop? Old threads on here suggest it has been fine? Can anyone say they have used it and not ended up bagless??

Any tips for a nervous flyer at this stage 😬

Day before bag drop def fine.

are you an iphone user and do you have air tags?
I def find it reassuring to see that the bags are “put to bed” 😂 at the airport, you see them physically going on the plane and then at the other end you see them coming off which gives you some confidence when waiting at baggage reclaim and yours turn out to be the last on the carousel, which usually happens to me.

Thank you @StillWantingADog good to know day before bag drop is fine.

Yes, I have an iPhone and neighbour has some air tags so could do that for extra reassurance 😂

Get some noise cancelling headphones, put on your favourite music, audio book or film and relax.
Think about the lovely holiday.
In the highly unlikely event bags go missing you only need a passport, bankcards, everything else you can do without or purchase elsewhere. Just relax and enjoy time with your family.

@Sothisiit thank you - I think I really do just need to try to focus on the holiday.

We will have debut and credit cards, so, as you say, worst case scenario, we can buy things there (we're going to a European country so nowhere obscure).

If you have your passports and credit card with you, you can buy anything you need at the other end. I secretly hope the airline loose my bag so I can buy new clothes and claim back the cost from them!

Try and break it down into what you are worried about and see if there is anything that serious. Most of what I worry about I find is trivial when I break it down. Eg what if my bag is overweight - I just need to pay an extra £x and it’s fine. What if I forget shampoo - I’ll just buy some when I get there! What if I accidentally take liquids over 100ml - I’ll just replace them.

Basically I need to remember me and my passport and most other things are easily solvable 😊

Happy travels!

On holiday at the moment and used night before bag drop (third time we've done it) - works perfectly. No queues to check bags in (or short ones and no stress about the time), no stress the next morning. Bags come off the conveyor when we land just fine.

Enjoy your holiday!

I usually put the travel insurance emergency phone # in my phone and DH in his phone. We also print a photo copy to carry in our day bags in event of accident /unconscious.

Also I take photo copies of our passports in event our actual passports are stolen or lost while abroad. It makes it faster & easier to get a replacement from the embassy.

I'd agree with previous post about noise cancelling headphones.
I'm a nervous flyer, they really helped me on my recent flight.
I got the Anker soundcore ones off Amazon £35 prime next day delivery - in case you need a recommendation! They were brilliant.

And also we used bag drop. I also put a post on here before as was worried about bags being lost. It was a brilliant service, no lost bags and would definitely use again.

Used night before bag drop with Easyjet last week and it was fine.

Just catching up with the thread.

Thanks so much for all of the tips/reassurances. It's also good to hear so many have used day before bag drop with no issues! We're taking ours this afternoon.

Going to try to relax and accept that I can't do anything else now - I have made all arrangements.

Hoping for a nice, smooth flight ✈ tomorrow!

Hope you have a lovely holiday @PumpkinPie2016 It really sounds as if you have done everything you can to be ready and have some strategies (bug more shampoo) if things go wrong.

If (when) I find my mind running away with me, I find it helpful to jot down the worry on a piece of paper. Even a tiny notebook. Helps me distance myself from that thought, saying 'oh look, there is mind mind worrying about running out of shampoo or whatever again.

Takes some of the sting out of it for me. Once I've recognised that, I consciously give my mind something to do. Remembering the layout of a large complicated historical building works for me. Or building my imaginary house. You may have other things that work.

Enjoy your holiday. I also like to have some treat planned for when we get back so it isn't as if all the fun had gone out of life afterward.

You're massively over thinking it all (yes I know thats anxiety). The staff at the airport deal with 1000s of passengers everyday. Apart from queues the system runs like clockwork. Just give yourself 30 minutes longer than you actually need, rock up with all your documents and go with the flow. If you've get stuck at any point someone will sort you out. Bags getting lost is exceptionally rare these days as the system is all computerised. Stick a spare pair of pants and any medication in your hand luggage. If they do get lost (they won't) the airline will compensate you for essentials until they arrive.
Have a lovely holiday.

@amylou8 you're totally right about me overthinking it!

Well, bags have been dropped and now on the train back home.

It was really easy-only 5 families ahead of us so it only took about 10 minutes. The lady was lovely - she said a lot of people use day before bag drop, which was reassuring.

Saw our bags tagged, including special day before tags, and sent through on the conveyor 😊 so all should be good now! It also gave me a chance to look at exactly where we will go in the morning.

The normal bag drop queue was quite busy but not crazy which was also reassuring.

Thank you again for everyone's tips and reassurance. Fingers crossed all will go nicely in the morning when we go for the plane 😀

I think you have a mixture of nerves & excitement. We're on holiday atm & I posted about feeling v nervous about taking off this time last week & was advised to watch YouTube videos of flights taking off etc which reassured me. On the night before I hardly slept due to nervous energy so I felt quite faint at the airport and on the flight. I told my family and they were v supportive and my 2 DDS held my hand if I was feeling a bit wobbly during the flight. I reminded myself that I've been looking forward to the holiday for ages & I enjoyed the flight & relaxed after a while. At the end of the day, as I'm sure you're aware, the aircraft goes through extensive checks and the pilot wants a safe flight as much as everyone else on board. Every bump or noise is completely normal and is all part of your well deserved holiday. Enjoy!

Glad to hear the bag drop went well. My partner managed to incur a parking fine at the drop, which wiped out any benefit.

I can commiserate on the flight anxiety, but the holiday will be worth it! Morning is a good time to travel too as anxiety won’t build through the day. You’ll be there before you know it.

@PumpkinPie2016

I am not just saying this but.... you are very organised and have nothing to worry about! I fly probably ten times a year, believe me, you've nailed it!

Everything I was going to mention for you to do... you have done!
Take it from me, it will be a breeze!
Hope you have a fantastic time! 🍸🍷

(Even seasoned travellers have nerves... we fly on Sunday and have a really tight connecting flight which is causing me a tiny bit of angst!)

Totally understandable to be nervous because we all have our irrational anxieties about something or other - for you, it just happens to be flying. But I promise you that a) the flight will be totally fine and b) if in the highly unlikely event that you're separated from your bags, it would nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Firstly, your bags won't get lost. Secondly, if they did, the airline would almost certainly get them back to you within 24-48 hours max. Thirdly, you have packed essentials in your hand luggage anyway so it wouldn't be that much of a disaster. Fourthly, they have shops in other countries and you would easily be able to buy everyone a few clean t-shirts and shorts and a multipack of pants if necessary. Fifthly, insurance.

Anyway. You won't lose your luggage, your flight will be totally OK, you've got your lovely DH and your kids with you and you're going to have a fab holiday. Bon voyage!

I just thought I would come back and update 🙂

We have arrived at the hotel earlier this afternoon and I am pleased to say that, logistics wise, it was an absolute breeze 😅

Security took less than 10 minutes, lovely breakfast in departures. No delay on plane and passport control/bag collection/taxi in Austria was so straightforward!

And yes, both bags arrived safe and sound (I actually watched them being loaded on the the plane at Manchester!).

The flight was fine - I was very nervous but DS loved it so that made it easier. It was a mostly smooth flight and once we were airborne, I read my book. There was just some slight turbulence at one point which I found a bit scary but used a tip from someone on here to watch the airline staff who were all just going about their business as if nothing was happening- very reassuring!

So, firstly, thanks for all of the supportive messages 🙂

Secondly, if anyone else is reading this thread with similar worries, I can honestly say it was totally fine.

So please your journey was smooth OP.

For anyone else reading, I work in consular assistance, I say get travel insurance, being medication in your hand luggage and more than you need, scan a copy of your passport and have more than one credit card stored separately. And if you do lose your passport then having good insurance will help!