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Original poster

Scared of flying and about to fly to Australia - reassurance needed please.

25 replies

DumbledoresGirl · 28/03/2008 14:41

Also taking 4 children with me, 24 hours in a plane with my 4 kids and everyone else too. Scared of flying, also claustrophobic, and turn into a monster when I don't get 9 hours sleep every night. I have done this before (with 3 children) and know how awful it is going to be.

Where is BettySpaghetti and the other nice Mners who are/were cabin crew?

OP posts:

Aimsmum · 28/03/2008 16:31

Message withdrawn

twotimestrouble · 28/03/2008 17:38

Wow, that sounds difficult! But how old are the LOs? and are you going economy? My mum took three of us to Aus when we were young but we went First so we had loads of room to play. Hopefully, if you can have a word at check in they might put you in a good spot (near back where you can get up and stretch your legs in crew area??)

I'm also claustrophobic and have done loads of longhaul plane journeys. I find it's best if I am near a window and some space not just jammed in the middle of people. I positively cannot sit in those rows of five in the middle of planes. I almost have a panic attack LOL.

PS I read only yesterday that you have a one in two hundred chance of dying in a car crash and a one in 65k chance of even having a prob with an airliner - and I bet you get in cars OK?

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 28/03/2008 18:30

Thanks for your answers. I am not too bad - not phobic about it - but I know I am going to be very anxious.

About the only good thing I can say about the flight to Australia is that is goes on for so long that eventually you kind of forget you are in the sky and defying the laws of gravity - well I do anyway. I have some Kalms Aimsmum. I have never found them to be much good at home, but I will definitely give them a go next week for the flight. Hope you overcome your fear for Thursday - think of me then as I will be flying practically the whole way through that day.

Twostimestrouble - I wish we were going first class! Dh and I flew first class to Oz for our honeymoon and it was a hugely different experience from flying economy (eg you could sleep properly because the seats went flat). Flying economy for that length of time with children is like going back 200 years and taking the stage coach from London to Manchester.

My children are 11, 10, 8 and 5 btw. From my experience of taking them to Oz 6 years ago, they will love every minute. This is all about me unfortunately

OP posts:

Aimsmum · 28/03/2008 20:09

Message withdrawn

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 28/03/2008 20:10

Helicopter eh?

I did once (well twice) fly on a boat plane - 7 seater. That was scary! (not helped by bobbing up and down on a rough sea first causing me to feel seasick!

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Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 28/03/2008 20:11

I think I meant seaplane then.

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twotimestrouble · 28/03/2008 20:11

You're right the kids'll love it. Just be a bad mother and let them run up and down the plane annoying passengers till they're worn out

Will think of you on Thursday with

PS Bring back some sun.

twotimestrouble · 28/03/2008 20:13

.......and I used to fly on aeroflot internally in Russia - now there the odds of crashing were about one in two.

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 28/03/2008 20:14

Did you have any near misses? or do I mean near hits?

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Maidamess · 28/03/2008 20:17

I flew to Australia (granted, by myself) last year and was cr*pping myself before hand.

I used Rescue Remedy drops and liberally squirted them in my mouth when I was stressed.
I did what you did, and actually forgot I was in the air, it was so smooth. And even when it did get a bit choppy, I really wasn't scared.

i just concentrated on watching the other passengers and not one of them looked the least bit concerned.

Your kids will keep you busy, the movies will too. Try and cat nap when you can, ear plugs and a travel pillow.

Eeek · 28/03/2008 20:22

I'm an ex-flying phobic. Go to your doctor and ask for valium or a beta-blocker if you're not asthmatic. You can take a low dose for a few days and it takes the edge of it all. When you get on the plane look at what's happening rather than trying to pretend it isn't happening. Look out of the window etc. I went on the Fear of Flying course which is good if you have the money and the time. They also do a very good video which explains what all the scary noises are. Have a look here

Aimsmum · 28/03/2008 21:44

Message withdrawn

twotimestrouble · 30/03/2008 11:17

No, dumbleG although I would hazard the pilots were a little merry on more than one occasion.

However, did have an aborted take off in Langawi (Malaysia) which was v scary and then they stood around hammering the wing for ages and shaking there heads. You could cut the tension with a knife when we took off.

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 30/03/2008 11:48

[scared]

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sunnydelight · 31/03/2008 05:39

It is only 24 hours of your life. It really won't be that bad (and especially not with kids that age). They will all plug themselves into the in-flight entertainment and hopefully that will be that. You will get there and think "that wasn't as bad as I thought". We did a return trip in 07 when the kids were 12, 7 and 3 and flew out to live here when they were 13, 8 and 4 and they were all fine.

Who are you flying with btw? If you haven't booked yet Singapore Airlines are fab with kids and BA are shit whether you have kids are not (unless you fly business class or above of course when they will be falling over themselves to be helpful). You want your flight cancelled - book BA. You want your luggage lost - book BA. You want the rudest staff known to man - book BA. (Sorry, as you have probably guessed I have had more than one BAD experiences with BA ).

From my point of view the problem in travelling with kids isn't once you are on the plane, it's the hassle/chaos of airports, especially Heathrow. If you can pay for lounge access rather than hanging out in the scrum it's well worth it.

Donk · 31/03/2008 07:42

I don't know who your are flying with - we went with Singapore Air 3.5 years ago and they were great with ds (although I feel like a complete dilettante compared to you since I only have 1 ds).
Am currently in Oz for holiday with ds and flew with Emirates - their stewards were great and the in flight entertainment was varied and good - ds watched the same 4 episodes of Harry and the bucketful of dinosaurs about 50 times (not for lack of other options) and all my sticker books/toy cars etc that I had brought languished unused in my hand baggage. I was very glad that I had brought some snacks for him though as he decided that airline food was inedible.

twotimestrouble · 31/03/2008 14:39

Don't be [scared].....what I'm saying is that despite travelling on some of the ropiest planes imaginable I've never had a prob. Best to forget you're even on a plane and enjoy the inflight entertainment if you get any chance.

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 31/03/2008 16:54

Flying with BA or Qantas, not sure which. Too late to do anything about it anyway as we leave on Wednesday.

It is not the kids part that is bothering me really. They have done it before and loved it (all except littlest who is flying for the first time but why should he be different?) It is entirely me I am worried about. I don't feel comfortable flying and I am claustrophic - not badly but enough to notice it on a plane. Mainly though, now that the event gets nearer, I am worried about the physical effects of such a long journey. I know I am going to sound pathetic, but I often feel ill and I am so worried that I will be affected by jetlag. I mean, worse than I have been before.

Any tips on lessening jetlag since none of you can do anything to make the plane feel less claustrophobic for me or flying in general less scary!

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sunnydelight · 01/04/2008 04:37

I got melanonin tablets from the chemist when we arrived and they did seem to help. It would be even better if you had them with you so could start them as soon as you arrive.

Are you flying straight through?

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 01/04/2008 09:19

Will google that, thanks SD.

Yes, flying straight through - well changing planes at Singapore, but that is only a short stop and everyone has to stop briefly somewhere so I am guessing that is what you mean.

Not spending a night in Singapore certainly.

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raye123 · 01/04/2008 09:41

Flew back from Australia recently - just dd (then 11months) and me. We stopped at Singapore and it was FAB! Great restaurant area upstairs and carp pool, which dd loved (!). Good break from the trip.
For the flight i always take ear plugs, eye shade, neck pillow and warm socks! Trashy mags also a must! Hope it goes OK.

sunnydelight · 02/04/2008 10:12

Singapore is the best re-fuelling stop as it's totally stress free. Obviously if you're getting back on the same cleaned plane it's the same gate but even if you're changing it's usually within a gate or two. I was a bit stressed first time we came with the kids as there was only a 3 hour stopover and I was afraid we would have to change terminals etc. but it was fine. I was hoping you weren't going to stay stopping at Bangkok because even though it's a brand new airport it's brand new Thai style I spent a couple of hours there last September and felt like I was in the middle of Tron on acid crossed with a Bangkok street market - or maybe that was just me ......

cardy · 02/04/2008 10:22

I have done lots of longhaul flights (but not with children) and I am scared of flying. I think longhaul is better than shorthaul in terms of being scared as you are up there for so long you tend to forget about it and get on with it and once you are 36,000 feet there is less to 'feel'. I am sure having 4 dc with you will distract you enough!

I don't think there is much you can do in terms of jetlag other than get into the local timezone as soon as you arrive.

Will you be alone or with another adult?

I am sure you know this already but drink lots and lots of water and don't drink alchol.

snowleopard · 02/04/2008 10:23

I'm scared of flying, and DP bought me a book called the flying book which has helped me a lot. I suppose it depends what kind of person you are, if knowing more about it would make you feel better or worse, but it has all the science and statistics and they really do make me feel better (and your kids might enjoy it too, you could take it into the cabin to read with them - if you get it before the trip)

hang on a minute...
here it is

Original poster

DumbledoresGirl · 02/04/2008 10:56

Thank you everyone. Flight is tonight and I am already on the Kalms as I am feeling ill with anxiety.

But yes, I have dh with me (very in the know about aircraft and engines and a frequent flyer himself so he will not only help out with the kids but also reassure me about all the odd noises etc).

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