First Time Flyer - Advice?

[Yamer]

Somehow I have made it into my 30s without ever flying on one of them aeromaplanes. I've always had a fear of heights, and flying in particular. For the longest time I simply did not have the money to travel, so I had the perfect excuse.

However, at the beginning of November I have been scheduled to fly to a professional conference. I could have gotten out of it if I wanted, but I think it's time I challenge myself and overcome this phobia. There are so many wonderful opportunities if I can jump this hurdle.

Here's the interesting kicker: it's a flight from Red Deer to Medicine Hat, with a stopover in Calgary. The person I am travelling with didn't want to be driving on the roads at that time, so I was thrust into flying to the bustling metropolis known as the Hat.

I've sorta come to grips with the fact I am going to be flying in a little under 3 weeks, but I don't think I've fully grasped that it's happening and an inevitability. I'm worried that it won't sink in until I am sitting in that tiny plane and my anxiety kicks in.

To the veteran flyers or the people who have been in my shoes before, I ask for your advice in seeing me through this adventure. Right now my biggest issue is getting around the thought that I will be up there with no control, and it is pretty unsettling.

Thanks in advance.

[CaptainCrunch]

Wear clean underwear. That way when the plane spirals out of control you can pass to the great beyond knowing that everyone that see's your battered corpse will comment on your nice clean tighty whities.

Next make sure that you take care of all of your um personal needs before you get on the plane. Because there's nothing worse then taking a poop on your first plane flight. Especially if you can't make it to the bathroom as the plane is spiraling into the ocean.

Listen to the inflight instructions, they might be boring, and most veteran flyers make it a habit to try to look cool by ignoring the message. But there's nothing that's worse then the plane spiraling into the ocean and looking at the dude next to you who quickly put on the complex fire proof survival suit while you can't even get it out of the bag.

Don't eat heavy greasy food before your flight. Seriously there is something un natural about flight, especially when you hit turbulence. There's nothing worse as a first time flyer then over filling the vomit bag with a pungent mix of eggs of Sausage during a particular bouncy flight.

Take gum. When you take off and land the pressure changes do terrible things to your ears. Also if your flying and feel any anxiety, just pop in a piece of gum and or mint, and then go back to watching the movie Airport 76 on your I-pad.

[kermitology]

Reassure yourself that it's one of the safest ways to travel. Far safer than driving.

Get dressed up for the affair and imagine yourself as a high flying business man who is on important business.

[heep223]

Research some breathing techniques that you can use as a crutch if you do feel some anxiety coming in. Bring music and pump it, put your headphones in before you even get on the plane and keep them in the whole time. Bring some mindless iPad/iPhone games. Not sure how alert you have to be after you land but take a gravol or two to make yourself sleepy. If you can, get an aisle seat so you are free to get up and move around whenever you want.

These are all purely anecdotal.

[CaptainCrunch]

Oh I forgot.

Make sure that you show the stewardesses that this is no big deal. Don't announce that its your first flight (not cool unless your 4). Also don't be afraid to show your veteran chops by addressing them as Toots (thanks Pylon), sugerbum or their personal favor "Hey you drink cart now".

Also if its a longer flight, make sure you hold your pee until you absolutely have to especially if your sitting in a window seat or a mid seat. The best time to need to go pee is approximately 5 minutes after you see your aisles mates nod off.

[CaptainYooh]

Alcohol

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by heep223

Research some breathing techniques that you can use as a crutch if you do feel some anxiety coming in. Bring music and pump it, put your headphones in before you even get on the plane and keep them in the whole time. Bring some mindless iPad/iPhone games. Not sure how alert you have to be after you land but take a gravol or two to make yourself sleepy. If you can, get an aisle seat so you are free to get up and move around whenever you want.

These are all purely anecdotal.

For music, you will have to take them off for the safety briefing. Since this is your first flight, you should probably listen. Since it is short, I'd recommend a window seat if you can, just so you have the option of seeing what is going on as the plane goes through the motions. I think it would be more reassuring than being in the middle not knowing what is going on as the plane shifts around. The flights are going to be so short you won't have a chance to get up and move around anyway. I wouldn't bother with gravol for something so brief, especially if you have to switch planes in Calgary.

Now I gotta ask, why are you afraid of flying if you have never done it? It sounds like you kinda worked yourself up to this with no evidence you will have a problem with it. Lots of people are afraid of heights and have no trouble with it. So maybe you should tell yourself to go in with an open mind, instead of one already made up that it is going to be horrible. Oh, and lots of people feel uncomfortable with flying or parts of it, so it isn't that abnormal. And it is OK to feel a bit uncomfortable, no need to let yourself turn that into panic. So just know that it is OK if you feel a bit uneasy, others are feeling it too. But as was mentioned, flying is super safe.

[JiriHrdina]

talk to your doctor before and see if there is medication like a calming or anti panic drug you can take

[ken0042]

There's a few sensations that you should be prepared for. Take-off you will be pushed back into your seat. On a small plane like you'll be on, when it reaches cruising altitude it will feel like the engines have stopped and/or you are now falling. You aren't. There will also be a jolt on landing. Probably far less in Calgary due to the length of the runway.

When they switch off the seatbelt sign, I loosen mine but don't completely take it off. The plane can hit turbulence; so also expect that.

[puckedoff]

Nothing to worry about. Statistically, only one in four planes fall from the sky in flaming heaps of metal.

[Northendzone]

Boys, the op is flying from the deer to the big sombrero - I am sure if there is drink service it will be limited to passing around a bottle of Boone farm or colt 45 in a paper bag.

No real advice to the op, other than as stated above, it is safer to fly on a plane than make that drive.

[sa226]

What company are you flying with?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

talk to your doctor before and see if there is medication like a calming or anti panic drug you can take

Agree with this. I used to have a crippling fear of flying and eventually talked to my doctor about it and he prescribed anti-anxiety medication for flying. It made a world of difference.

The way I look at it, we are lucky to be living in an age where modern medicine can help us overcome things like that and we shouldn't be made to feel guilty or weak for taking advantage of it.

[dammage79]

Interesting, I want to say treat this first flight like riding a bus. But I get the anxiety and lack of control issues. But overthinking things only makes the whole experience worse.

The only really strange parts of taking a flight are the take off and landing, other than that it is no thing. It's just like taking a bus, cramped seats and a bunch of people you don't know. But you get a free pop from some people with a big cart. Not sure about a 20minute flight to YYC, but to the Hat you will!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ken0042

There's a few sensations that you should be prepared for. Take-off you will be pushed back into your seat. On a small plane like you'll be on, when it reaches cruising altitude it will feel like the engines have stopped and/or you are now falling. You aren't. There will also be a jolt on landing. Probably far less in Calgary due to the length of the runway.

That used to freak me out as well.

When they switch off the seatbelt sign, I loosen mine but don't completely take it off. The plane can hit turbulence; so also expect that.

You also have to remember that little bumps feel exaggerated on a plane. Even when you are taxiing on the runway and drive over little cracks you can feel it a lot more than if you were in a car and ran over the same bump. Mild turbulence feels bigger than what it actually is.

[SportsJunky]

I fly often. Honestly, the flying is the easy part. It's the airports/passengers that are the hard part. That probably doesn't help you with your concerns though.

I'd offer this:

I had a friend who once told me that he thinks of flying like being on a boat. The air is like the ocean. There will be some bumps and dips but that doesn't mean the boat is going to sink. It is normal. He says he actually can enjoy the movement of the plane now where as he used to dread it.

Lastly, flying from Red Deer to Medicine Hat, you will almost certainly be on a turboprop type plane. Don't sweat these smaller planes. They are actually quite a smooth ride. Also, no middle seats!

Think of it as a fun adventure and you'll be fine. People do this everyday.

Enjoy it.

[Swift]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

blah blah blah

Great post dude

To the OP... Definitely talk to your doctor and get a prescription for something to calm you down. I've had anxiety issues before (not in regard to flying) and have taken Ativan for it. Just take one of those, and nod off for a bit. Put some relaxing music on your ipod to try to drown out surrounding noise.

Or like someone else mentioned, maybe a couple of drinks will do the same trick.

If you feel like you're gonna be nervous, may be best to skip food for a while. Should be done easily enough with such a short flight.

Lastly, you may be building this into more than it is. Again speaking from experience, I know it's easier said than done, but try not to overthink it.

[prarieboy]

I am scared of heights but love to fly because in my mind it is safe. Going up a ladder to put up Christmas lights is not safe in my mind, weird I guess.

Flying is fun. I love takeoff as the plane picks up speed and gets airborne then you get to watch everything on the ground go by. It's a great perspective.

You know why you hear about those plane crashes where people die? It's because it's RARE. Planes are very safe to travel in, you probably already know this.

I'm excited for you. Go have a good time and the next thing you know you'll be planning a trip to some far off place you only dreamed of visiting before.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I had a friend who once told me that he thinks of flying like being on a boat. The air is like the ocean. There will be some bumps and dips but that doesn't mean the boat is going to sink. It is normal. He says he actually can enjoy the movement of the plane now where as he used to dread it.

I've heard something similar. A boat rides on the water, a car on the road, a plane on the air. You're still riding on something, not in the middle of nothing-ness.

Your itinerary sounds like a couple short flights on smaller planes, so it will be quick. I would suggest things like being prepared in terms of packing, don't get to the airport at the last minute, have your boarding pass early, etc. If you do all these things, you won't have the stress from being rushed, which should help.

Whenever I'm on a plane and something seems weird, I just look at the flight attendants. If they are doing normal stuff and looking relaxed, I figure it's something normal.

[Alpine Fisher]

Red Deer to Calgary to Medicine Hat?
That is the funniest thing I have ever heard. You gotta pop your Flying Cherry by doing something longer than that.

In any event, just pretend that you are in a flight simulator and you arent actually in a small tube of metal flying thousands of feet in the air. Thats what I do. Don't think too much of your surroundings. Just focus on what's going on in the cabin.

If you have an mp3 player, play "Learn to Fly" by Foo Fighters.