To absolutely hate flying.

[user1464187087]

Does anyone else on here hate flying?
I do it to get to nice places, but have about 3 glasses of wine before I get on the plane.

Exactly this.

I’m a scared flyer but do manage to get through it. I have a couple of drinks before takeoff to calm the nerves a little but I’m sweaty and tremble for takeoff and the first 20 minutes or so. Hate landing equally as much and for the duration of the flight I’m on high alert for every bump, turn, noise etc.
Never been able to sleep on a flight because I’m constantly frightened, long haul night flights are bleak.
But I love being on holiday and I love feeling hot, adore all the experiences while I’m away so do just crack on.

For me it’s the element of not being in control and not having the option to stop and get off.

In a car or train you can stop or get off at the next stop. Once you’re up in a plane, that’s it until you land and you have absolutely zero control. The recycled air pisses me off too.

I fly every year, usually 2x holidays and a few times for work and I fucking hate it every time and usually need a bottle of wine to get me on.

I used to get diazepam from the GP but they don’t prescribe it any longer for flights?! How are people getting it! I’d much rather have a diazepam than three glasses of wine.

@abracadabra1980

What is the point of a drug being 'available' but then not allowing the people who need it, to use it.

Certainly the UK's CAA and I think other regulators don't like the idea of sedated passengers flying because it can reduce that individuals ability to respond to an emergency.

I know most are fine with the drugs but plenty of crew can tell you tales of having difficulty in rousing some passengers when they have needed too...e.g. at the end of a normal flight and the crew want to go home...

I dislike it because I don’t like being squashed in an uncomfortable seat, in a metal tube, with so many people. I can tolerate a couple of hours, but get very twitchy after that.

So I rarely fly long distances.

I’m struggling with it more as I get older. For me it triggers me in the sense of feeling trapped, I don’t have diagnosed anxiety but there are certain situations I seem to disproportionately struggle with and being in a situation where becoming unwell is very inconvenient is one of them.

I do get scared as well but that’s usually fine once we are up in the air.

The only cure I’ve found is flying business, alas, that’s not a common thing for me 🤣

Same. People can do whatever they want, but the constant conflation of travelling and flying on here is pretty wearing.

Don't like flying? Fine, enjoy a relaxing train ride with a glass of something you've brought on board, watching the countryside whoosh by.

Get Interrail passes, meaning you can also visit Berlin on the way.

Africa...kind of (depends which part, obvs)

Central America...I admit defeat 😆

I also hate flying but my brothers live in America and I have family in Hong Kong as well and to top it off DH sister and his Dad till he died live in Spain so I have always had to suck it up. I have done a lot of solo flying as well, I find I’m braver when alone which is odd. I don’t drink alcohol. I remember helping a Mum with her fractious toddler on a plane once , she was so grateful but honestly it was a great distraction for me.

I know exactly what you mean about “high alert” that’s me for the whole flight, so if it’s a long flight that’s bloody exhausting! That’s why I refuse long haul now, the mental and physical exhaustion (because there’s no chance of sleep when you’re that stressed) just isn’t worth it.

It's the earache and 2 day hearing loss on landing that I hate. Sucking sweets etc doesn't touch it. Also not a fan of turbulence.

Used to be terrified of flying but then flew weekly for work for 10 years. Twin props (bouncy!), short haul, long and ultra long haul on a380s. Economy, Business , First. Now it’s like getting on a bus. In fact buses are bloody terrifying compared to planes. Now I just find air travel boring. I often wish for turbulence just for a bit of excitement.

I have a friend who is a Dreamliner pilot for a major airline. I asked if he ever felt scared. He said ‘of course not, do you think I’d continue doing it if I did?’ He’s flown million of miles and hundreds of hours.
I realise safety tropes don’t help but it’s the safest form of travel you can do. Even being a pedestrian.

I fly to the US once a year and I quite enjoy the outgoing flight. I usually watch films back to back, it's the only opportunity all year I get to sit in peace and watch films and have meals brought to me. We're a family of 4 and we usually have a middle section for us, which makes me feel less trapped.
I never think about the danger at all and don't feel fearful. The flight coming back is a night flight and that is awful, I can never sleep and have jetlag afterwards.

We don't do many short haul flights these days as we live near to Eurostar and have been using the train to get to Europe. It was the easier option while the dcs were young. But we'll start doing more Europe flights as they get older and we want to explore places further away.

I used to work as cabin crew many years ago so it doesn’t bother me. The pilots we flew with always said the car journey to and from the airport was the most dangerous part of the journey.

I have flown for years . Back in the day from UK to US when people dressed up , knives and forks and plates ! no security , no departure lounge . Hard to believe how much has changed in one lifetime . Security came in after ShoeBomber ? I think . I hate the excessive waiting time , the cattle class vibe , the sheer inconvenience of walking to airplane ( outside on tarmac even in rain ) the overpriced food and drink in airports , lack of helpful staff. But these factors have what made travelling possible for a lot more people . Socially it is a great thing . Environmentally not so much .

@Nofeckingway

Security came in after ShoeBomber ? I think .

Going through metal detectors, etc, predates the ShoeBomber by many many years, but he (and his mates) are the reason for the liquids restrictions...

@Nofeckingway

Just going to correct that slightly, the Shoebomber incident happened at around roughly the time the liquid rules came in, but it might have been another foiled plot that led to their introduction.

@abracadabra1980
Yes - my GP no longer prescribes diazepam. There is a letter on their website explaining the decision. And whilst I understand their reasons, everything they say on there could also apply to alcohol. I would be much more unstable and unpredictable if I were to drink the amount of alcohol I would need to feel reassured, and a low dose of diazepam can calm you without knocking you out, plus it’s pretty obvious that someone should try out a drug at home to make sure of their reaction before getting on a plane with it.

I contacted my local private hospital and asked if they had a GP connected to them who would be able to prescribe for me. He was quite shocked that my own GP would no longer prescribe given I have had this prescription for travelling for 20 years .