How to Overcome Your Fear Of Flying

Almost everyone is at least a little scared of flying. Here's how to overcome your fears and enjoy air travel.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. It's understandable that you are afraid of flying, and you aren't alone. Flying makes everyone a little scared, from the fear that you'll miss your flight, to the strange airports in unfamiliar new cities, to the fact that you fly 30,000 feet in the air and can look out the window at the clouds.
   
   It's okay to be a little scared of air travel, so don't pretend to yourself that you are the only person in the world who is afraid of flying.

2. Do some research if you don't believe that commercial air travel is the safest mode of transportation in the world. Air travel is statistically safe.
   
   The media likes to sensationalize every air crash that happens in the world, but as long as you stay out of small, private and charter planes, the chances of something happening to you are very, very, low.

3. Business travelers are the most confident flyers in the sky, simply because they travel all the time. Prepare for a flight like a business traveler by focusing on the positives of air travel and not the negatives. Business travelers would be unhappy if they had to drive all over America, so they are happy that they can fly. You need to be happy about the fact you can fly across America and the world.
   
   At it's best, air travel is a safe and inexpensive way to visit friends and family, or go on a great vacation, or do business that will help you succeed financially. Face it, even if you don't like to fly that much, air travel always results in a "peak" experience.

4. Fly direct. If you have the choice, always choose the flight with the least connections. This is the golden rule of air travel.

5. Bring several different ways to distract yourself on board the flight. Have a book, several magazines, an iPod, and your laptop if you have one. You'll be a lot less anxious when you don't have any time on your hands to worry.

6. The best way to avoid anxiety during air travel is to talk to someone. If you are flying on a trip with someone you know, engage them in conversation during the flight. Or maybe you can talk to a friendly stranger. A conversation makes the hours fly by. You can even talk to the flight attendants if you sit near the back of the plane. They'll be happy to chat.

7. Don't sit by the Emergency Exits if you have air travel anxiety. If you are seated next to an exit, request a seat change from a flight attendant. Someone will be happy to take your seat because the Exit row has slightly more leg room. Don't worry if you think this makes you look wimpy or scared. You need to make air travel enjoyable for yourself, not worry about what other people think.

8. As mentioned before, the very back of the plane is sometimes the best place for air travel because fewer people sit in the back, and the presence of flight attendants makes the very back rows a little more like First Class, cordial and fun.

9. Remember, in summary, that air travel is safe, you should bring several forms of entertainment onboard, and flight attendants are your friends.

[sherri930]

on 7/15/2009 I don't know when this article was written but it contains some good ideas. I am battling this fear and have printed the article so I can read it daily if need be. I'm missing out on some travel because of this fear and I don't want to miss out anymore.