Fear Of Flying Advice

If you are looking for advice for fear of flying, the first thing to know is that you are not alone in your fear. Around one third of people are afraid to fly in some measure. This varies from mild anxiety before or during a flight to sheer terror that can prevent a person from flying.

The good news is that there is a lot you can do to help you feel better about flying.

Booking Your Flight

Because of your fear of flying choose an airline that you trust. Most people feel much safer traveling with a large, well established national airline with a solid reputation. Bargain basement airlines may be just as safe statistically, but you won’t feel so safe.

Color is important. Business-like colors inside the cabin will tend to make you feel safer. Dark blue or gray seat covers are calming; red and orange are scary.

If you have never taken a course in relaxation techniques, now is the time to do it.

If you feel anxious in the days before the flight, focus on the benefits of flying: the time or money you will save compared with another form of travel, or what you will do at your destination.

Know The Facts

Because fear of flying is often related to other aspects of flying e.g. claustrophobia, lack of control or fear of heights, knowing the facts about airline safety will not remove the fear completely. But it can help when thoughts of disaster start to make us panic.

Most of us know that flying is one of the safest forms of travel. However because of your fear of flying, you may not know that you are more likely to die in a car accident from driving just 11 miles than you are to die in a flight. It doesn’t matter how long the flight is. Even on a long haul flight traveling thousands of miles to another continent, you are no more likely to die than if you were driving to the mall!

We don’t have space here to explain all of the science of flight, but remember that planes are held up in the sky by air and by the propulsive force of the engines. It’s the difference in air pressure right above the wing that gives the plane lift.

Imagine a big heavy fish swimming in an aquarium, half way between the surface and the floor of the tank. If the fish stopped swimming, sure, it would slowly sink, but while it swims it is supported by the water. It can completely control if it wants to go higher or lower.

Think of the air supporting your plane the way the water supports that fish. Just because we can’t see air, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

The Day Of The Flight

Generally it is better not to take tranquilizing medication or drink alcohol before or during a flight. These have their own risks and complications that outweigh the possible benefits. Practice your relaxation techniques instead.

Take plenty to do or read at the airport and on the plane. The best book or magazine is something that you can get totally absorbed in, but is not scary. Do not watch TV news or read newspapers on the day of your flight. Any scary or violent news (even if not flying-related) will increase your anxiety.

Don’t indulge your fear of flying fantasies. When terrifying scenarios arise in your mind you must firmly switch them off. Divert your attention to something else, like your magazine, or talk to your neighbor about something unrelated to the flight.

Try to meet the pilot and/or co-pilot briefly before take-off. You will find they are normal people and you will feel much safer and have much more trust in their ability to fly the plane after you have met them. So ask the cabin staff if that would be possible.

Some people who are afraid to fly are also afraid of heights. If this applies to you, avoid looking out of the windows when the plane is in the air. If you have the choice, take an aisle seat. If you cannot avoid being beside the window, close the blind. If your neighbor wants it open, exchange seats.

Don’t worry about turbulence. Turbulence is caused by differences in air temperature and pressure. It is not dangerous. Imagine the plane traveling on an air current that is like a road. Turbulence is the bumps in the road.

In turbulent air, you need to sit down and fasten your seat belt so that you don’t hit your head on the locker. That’s the only danger of turbulence. In fact, a little turbulence can be reassuring for some nervous flyers. It gives the illusion that you are in a bus or a train.

However scared you are of flying, there is a lot you can do to help yourself get up in the air and even enjoy your flight. Bookmark this page so you have access to our advice for fear of flying whenever you need it.