I am so scared to fly

I am so scared to fly?

I am going on a trip form Sacramento, CA to New york on Wednesday and i am so freaked out!. I haven't been on a plane since i was 8 years old and that was 11 years ago- and I am going alone I am also freaked out because the flight is a red eye and I am leaving at 11:59 at night!. I know that flying is one of the safest forms of travel, but for some reason that doesn't make me feel any better. I still have 2 days left before I leave and I have a huge knot in my stomach and I feel like I am going to throw up. Please, and advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Air Travel - 5 Answers

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1 :

I know how you feel! I used to love flying in planes, and still do, but still nowadays I get so nervous that something may happen. The first time I flew after 9-11 was last March. I was so nervous, but they happened to play a movie that I loved (Happy Feet) so I watched it, forgot where I was and started dancing in my seat! They also have a music playlist that you can listen to (on United and probably other airlines) to keep your mind off of the bad things. I comfort myself in thinking, how often do you hear about a huge airplane emergency landing or crash? Hardly ever! As far as potential terrorist threats.... I might take my car key with me to gouge his eyes out if someone gets up and starts threatening us, lol

2 :

I have found myself flying alone most of the time. I eased my fears by burying myself in a good book or a magazine. I would read while waiting to board and then continue as soon as I got in my seat. It is a great way to distract yourself and you don't have to put it way like an electronic device. Using an MP3 or portable dvd player can help on the plane too - you just can't use them while waiting for take off - for me the toughest part.

3 :

Your chances of being involved in an aircraft accident are about 1 in 11 million. On the other hand, your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5000. Statistically, you are at far greater risk driving to the airport than getting on an airplane. However, the perception is that you have more control over your fate when you are in your car than as a passenger traveling on an airplane. Experience shows otherwise, considering that over 50,000 people are killed on the highways every year. Media coverage would suggest that airline crashes happen every day. Studies have shown one would have to fly once a day every day for over 15,000 years in order to statistically be involved in an aircraft accident" Flying is very very safe. Don’t worry about terrorists that is the least likely thing to go wrong on a commercial flight in the US these days. Flying in the United States is very safe, there has not been a major airline crash in the US since November of 2001! That is a long time for no major crashes and only on fatality in the last seven years for the Major Airlines in the US. Even when there is a problem on an airplane, if an engine fails on takeoff or an engine fire etc.. 99% of the time the plane lands safely. Planes these days are amazing piece of technology and the pilots are trained better than ever. If you not afraid to drive in a car you should not be afraid to fly in a plane. Just sit back relax and try to enjoy the flight. Its one of the safest things you can do much safer than driving a car, walking down the street, or even sleeping in your house. More people have died on North American highways in the year 2006 than the amount of people who have died in powered flight aviation whole 104 year history! Also the best way to completely get over your fears is go to you local General aviation airport and take flying lessons! Once you fly in a small airplane a few times and learn that airplanes fly and that’s all they do you will be much more confident with flying on commercial planes. You will learn a lot with a few flying lessons. I could even teach you a lot by just showing you my Microsoft Flight Simulator. Flying is a great experience, once you get used to it and learn what makes airplanes fly etc.. your fears go away trust me, I used to be a little bit scared to fly too. Now I LOVE it. Just remember this, your not afraid to drive in a car are you? Well think about this. Cars are made to crash wells planes are not. Why? Because cars crash and planes don’t, they just like to fly.

4 :

Flying is cool. My father is a pilot and he is a great and safe pilot. Flying is safe and the pilots are extremely qualified. Have fun on your vacation.

5 :

I love aviation, and I visit sites like airliners dot net as my homepage, and I love to fly, and I enjoy aviation photography very much. But when it comes time to step on the plane, I get excited, but when I get into the boarding area I have the same problem a little bit. I even am right now on a trip, I am plane spotting in SF, and I am a bit nervous about coming back. I just say it is going to be okay, and I pray before every flight. I also have a wierd habit of touching the outside of the aircraft before boarding it. If you are flying on United you can listen to Air Traffic Control, and it is enjoyable, and a little bit comforting for me. I hope I helped a little bit, and don't be so scared just think about the fun you are going to have in New York, and you will forget about being scared.