Someone recently took to Reddit concerned about their fear of flying and asked, “If you travel a lot on planes, what stops you from being petrified?” They confessed that they wanted to travel and see the world but couldn’t get past the idea of getting on an airplane. Here are the top-voted tips.
1. Consider These Two Things
One flyer confessed, “It helps me to think two things. Number one, you’re far more likely to die in a car crash on the way to the airport. Number two, if the plane crashes, there is nothing you can do about it anyway. So there’s no sense stressing about it.”
Another added, “Correct. Once you arrive at the airport, you have completed the most dangerous part of the trip, driving.”
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2. A Crew Checks Every Function for Every Flight
Another noted, “A crew checks every function of that plane before every flight. No one does this to your car before every drive. If something goes wrong, they have miles to correct it and no other planes around to crash into, unlike the road.”
3. The Pilot Boarded the Plane
“The pilot wouldn’t get on the plane if he thought it was going to crash,” one confessed. “I tell myself every time I board. It’s alright once you get on there. Taking off and landing can be bumpy, but the airport is the real pain.”
A second user admitted, “Yeah, that’s my go-to as well… knowing that the pilot, co-pilot, and the rest of the crew are putting themselves at as much risk as their passengers.”
4. A Pilot Responded
“Hey, I’m a pilot. I can safely tell you the procedures put in place for aviation travel are unlike any other method of transportation currently used. We spend hours doing pre-flight checks to ensure everything is in order. If something isn’t, the flight is either aborted. Or if it doesn’t jeopardize the safety with permission, it can be ok.
Unlike driving your car around with people tailgating you, others speeding past, not signaling, etc., when flying, we have controls for equipment, environment, and us.
Airline flights are monitored and partially controlled by air traffic control, assuring no one will get too close or go off course, etc. Pilots know every in and out of their plane and their team.
We understand our equipment to ensure safe flight and undergo rigorous testing and training to overcome emergency events in unlikely events. I hope this helps.”
5. Exposure Therapy
One traveler shared, “I used to be highly nervous, fearing I’d have panic attacks. So I would take Xanax with me. Then I took a trip that required me to take off seven times in total, and I was then cured of my fear. Exposure therapy helps—a LOT.” Others agreed the more exposure, the easier it becomes.
6. Pay Attention to the Passengers and Flight Crew
“Look at the flight attendants’ and passengers’ faces and body language. You’ll see that everyone is calm and relaxed, and it will help,” one suggested. Several others agreed that the flight crew’s energy helps them relax.
7. A Flight Attendant Reassured
“I’m a flight attendant,” admitted another. “We’re well-trained to handle various situations and catch things before they become a problem. Safety is number one, so don’t be afraid. Fun facts – airplanes can run and function perfectly fine on one engine.
No amount of turbulence will cause a plane to break. Planes are built and rated way above what nature can produce (sorry, movies). That said, our captains avoid turbulence and can see it on the radar. They work together and communicate where turbulence is.
Lighting? Not a big deal. Once again, sorry, movies. Unless it eats a lighting strike sent by Zeus, nothing will happen except for cool special effects, maybe a flicker, and some people gasping.
We can evacuate an entire plane quicker than you cook a hot pocket or a cup of ramen. And, of course, if you’re nervous, tell the first flight attendant you see that it’s your first flight and you’re a bit nervous. They will take care of you.”
8. Know What To Expect
“Knowing what to expect helps me.
- While you’re flying, the clunking noise from down below is the landing gear either retracting (right after take-off) or coming out (just before landing).
- Shortly after you become airborne, you may feel the sensation that the plane is slowing down. That’s normal, and there’s no risk of the aircraft losing lift.
- Flying through clouds can get bumpy, but things typically get nice and smooth once you fly above them. Bumps are no big deal, though.
- Have fun with the journey. Sit at a window seat and try to identify the cities that you’re flying over. I sometimes snap a pic and then compare it to a map afterward to see if I was right.
- I usually drink a cocktail and watch a downloaded Netflix show with earbuds. Don’t get hammered, though. I limit myself to one, depending on the length of the flight. If it’s an overseas flight, I’ll have another.
Plane travel is incredible. Just give it a shot and see the world.”Â
9. Giant Glider
“Another aspect is, say, if the engines cut out on a plane, the plane is still just a giant glider. And you can land gliders safely. You’re not going to drop like a stone out of the sky suddenly if they turn off. Pilots are audited annually to ensure their training is still up to date. So there are systems and layers in place to protect you,” another reassured.
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10. Think of the Ocean
Finally, a traveler confessed, “Whenever we hit turbulence, I think that air is nothing more than fluid, so turbulence is nothing more than waves on the ocean. Some waves are bigger than others, and currents in the ocean push or pull like the air, but boats don’t regularly sink, and neither do planes regularly crash.”
Many also suggested reading up about airplanes and their safety compared to everything else in your life. We hope you enjoyed these Reddit tips for helping you overcome your fear of flying. This article is inspired by the internet and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Savoteur.
