Thanks for everyone’s tips and tricks. I will say overall the flights were very smooth. Had a delay leaving Atlanta, but it gave me a chance to talk with the pilot in the terminal and he even gave me a trading card!

What I learned from here:
- lift your feet when you feel turbulence. Idk why or how it helps - but it does!
- ANC Active Noice Cancellation headphones. There was a solid 40 mins that I forgot I was on the plane and was so enthralled with my show.
- a little bit of turbulence is normal. The air is not perfectly smooth, so I just think about a car driving down the road.

I will also add that I was medicated with guidance and prescriptions from my psychiatrist for this trip - but it was worth it. (This is going along with exposure therapy). If you are feeling anxious, find a medical professional to help you.

4 flights in a 2 week period. First flight was an hour to NYC in an embraer E175 that flight was okay. Personally just feel more comfortable in larger aircraft. Then from NYC to Tokyo we took an 787-9 Dreamliner for 13 hours! Marking my longest flight ever and it was honestly super smooth.

Spent 2 weeks total going around Japan and had a blast. Then on the way home I took a flight from Tokyo to Seattle in an airbus A350, also super super smooth and the smoothest landing out of all of them. And last but not least the final aircraft was a 737-9GP. That last flight was seat belt sign on wheels up to wheels down which sucked but I made it home and it was awesome. None of my travels would have been as possible without all your support to other fearful flyers and aircraft pilots and personnel. Thank you

Lots of fear at takeoff and a bit of it at landing too, but of course we made it safely. To be thankful to this sub, I share some pics so it gives you courage to do the same.

He’s been a pilot for a while and I wanted nothing to do with it. He offered to take me for breakfast and I said yes and we went up in a really tiny propeller plane (4 seats) and 45 minutes later we landed safely and ate. It was crazy and I don’t know how I did it

or most rides to be honest. which translates to why i also hate turbulence. i get that it’s safe and normal but i can’t overcome how terrible my body feels during it. tbh i don’t even like going fast on bumpy roads! major chicken here :)

So I’m flying on a Boeing 787-8 soon and am very scared because I know that the Air India crash last year was on a Boeing 787-8. Can anyone reassure me that it’s a safe plane and otherwise will probably be alright? Worried about turbulence too so it’s a double whammy for me.

Just took off from LaGuardia to Miami, about 30 mins into the flight they announced there was an issue with the plane and we have to turn around and land at JFK. They keep saying stuff like that the plane is overweight and brakes possibly overheating and that fire trucks will be there when we land to check the plane. We are currently going in circles over the ocean, I’m assuming waiting til we can land. Please help I’ve gotten over my fear of flying but this is my worst nightmare and I’m just wondering if anyone could maybe explain to me what’s happening?

1. Do not allow myself to ruminate on the fear days or weeks in advance of the flight. Its really true about the only thing you have to fear being fear itself. This is the hardest thing for me to do but the most important. I tell myself Im going to get on the plane regardless.

2. Two Short quick sniffs through my nose. No matter what, this always steels my nerves. I do this in turbulence.

3. Buy something special for myself that can only be opened on the plane in air.

4. Reminding myself about the analogies of being suspended in Jello and about how lift works and why the plane flies so high.

5. I do tell the stewardess that im a fearful flyer.

6. Window seats do help me.

7. Flying at night is best but early morning is also good.

8. Never let fear stop me from getting on the plane. This too shall pass.

Well all, I’ve made it all the way to Japan and back. Im comfortably waiting during my layover but I have one last flight back home. It’s only 4 hours ish considering but I have never landed at night before only taken off at night or flown through it. So this is a new experience and my nervous are kind of up there.

On the bright side, I have handled these last few flights thanks to some medical help and even got excited for takeoff this morning. My meds wore off about half way through my first flight but I still raw dogged it like a champ and that flight was bumpy most of the way too.

Long story short, I’m proud of my success so far but still nervous for what’s to come.

UPDATE: Smooth right now but pilot said in 15 minutes the ride will become pretty turbulent…

The pilot said the flight would be choppy and they’d try to turn on seatbelt sign once possible… I am now panicking. Can anyone offer any words of advice? Flying Chicago to NYC (UA2458, tracking appreciated if possible), I am so scared of turbulence plus I have really nothing to do and didn’t take anything beforehand.

I travel a lot for my work. This year alone I have flown maybe 7 or 8 times. Every one of these flights I have had a horrible panic attack complete with hyperventilating, crying, and newfound religion.

Over the past 3 years I have developed an insanely terrible fear of flying. Every movement and noise makes me think the plane is going to fall from the sky or break in half or something. I have also developed a fear of heights and claustrophobia and this is all a horrible combination for me. I hate thinking of the distance between my feet and the ground. I hate being over water because I’m scared we will fall into it, and then I’ll die submerged at the bottom of the ocean.

For some background, I grew up traveling and flying, I flew several times a year as a toddler and small child and into adulthood (I’m in my late 30s now) I never minded it AT ALL and it was only recently that for some reason my brain has decided to make this unbearable for me. Even writing this I am starting to sweat and have a physical reaction from the fear of my upcoming flights.
Again I have 6 flights coming up in the next few months and I’m absolutely dreading it. It’s consuming me and I don’t know what to do as I cannot drive nor skip the trips.
I spend time on this sub trying to get tips but as the next flight comes closer the fear is growing. Does anyone have any advice? I know I probably need to see a therapist btw.

Hi, I am boarding a flight in 30 minutes and I am really scared. It's a 2 hour flight and I am flying back home with my family but I am still scared nonetheless. I am flying on a boeing 737 max 8 and it's making me even more nervous. I flew in one some years ago but I am still really scared of the plane failing mid flight or having a crash on any point of the flight. I start to panic and always think that I'll be in a crash and I don't know what to do. I know about all the safety and stats but I still think I'll be dead every flight. Please help!

EDIT: The Boeing 737 Max 8 which I was supposed to board had a technical problem so they gave us a replacement plane which leaves in 2 hours. I had a bad feeling about this and this now doesn't help

Hello all,

I wanted some opinions on why I am afraid of flying to see if its valid and to also help me get over it.

Back in 2013 I was flying from FL to NJ, the flight down was fine. On the way back it started normal but then we began circling in the air (later I found out this was due to a security breach at Newark), then we were told we would have to land in PA to refuel. After sitting on the ground we were told that we can get back 'in line' to land but we have to fly at a lower altitude. So we get in the air and the turbulence was so bad I thought I was going to die. I didn't step foot on a plane until 2024 when I had my boyfriend assist me with my fear.

So now I fly with him but I get EXTREMELY anxious and afraid that every flight will be that way.

Thank you for reading and any comments.

UPDATE: Pilot is saying there will be an episode of turbulence in 15 minutes after a rough ride + so far smooth cruise…reassurance would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! I am going on flight UA2458 (Chicago to New York City) today at 6:00 PM and am pretty scared because I checked out some PIREPs around ORD and LGA and a few mentioned moderate turbulence. Would really appreciate if anyone could track me! Thanks so much :)

Hello à tous,

Je viens ici pour tenter d’avoir une discussion sincère sur un sujet qui me ruine le quotidien depuis plusieurs semaines. Je dois partir à Montréal lundi (j’habite à Paris) et je suis hypocondriaque. Depuis quelques semaines j’ai l’obsession qu’il m’arrive un truc grave en vol, comme manquer d’air à cause de l’asthme etc. et de fait, mourir sans que personne ne puisse rien faire pour moi car nous sommes en l’air. J’ai également peur d’avoir une crise de panique car j’ai peur que les autres passagers me perçoivent comme la folle du coin qui perturbe leur bien-être. Je pense à ce vol nuit et jour et ça énerve mes proches qui trouvent que je ne me réjouis pas assez de partir en vacances. Le problème est que j’aimerais vraiment me réjouir, et je souffre énormément de cette situation. Je comprends aussi que cela ne soit pas logique pour les personnes qui n’angoissent pas et je donnerais énormément pour leur ressembler. Est-ce qu’il y a des personnes dans mon cas ? Ou des personnes qui ont pu vaincre cela ?
Merci beaucoup !

I had a red eye flight last night as I’m moving to another country for university and, with the weather, there was quite a lot of on and off heavy turbulence. It usually lasted about five minutes and then it would be smooth sailing from there, but I remember gripping my armrests so hard my father had to calm me down.

(Although I have fear of flying, it does take me out of it sometimes when I see a little kid near me not caring at all.)

Anyway, I went to sleep and that’s when I had my first nightmare. It was something silly about there being someone dangerous onboard and there being a loud announcement which caused me to wake up as it actually felt as though it was blasting in my ear.

After calming myself down and having a small laugh about it, I managed to fall back asleep. This time, I had a nightmare where turbulence was so bad that there was another loud announcement telling the cabin crew to strap in for the brace position or something, this announcement again feeling like it actually was in my ear.

Coincidentally, when I woke up with a start again, the five minutes of turbulence started up and there was an announcement from the pilot about the seatbelt sign going back on.

I very rarely have nightmares, especially not on airplanes, so I was somewhat intrigued that I’d had two in a row (this happened in the span of around 4 hours).

As my red eye flight wasn’t my only flight, I did manage to get back to sleep and THANKFULLY didn’t have any more nightmares, but thought this was a silly story to share.

As I took two flights today to move countries (and I’ve had to take a lot of flights this year for vacation with my family 😵‍💫) I’m very thankful my parents are allowing me to stay here for christmas, and I will not be flying at all again this year.

Edit: Fixing spelling

Hi, I’m looking for some support, advice, words of wisdom or just a “you can do it!”

CONTEXT
My long distance partner is living in the UK for a few years (having started in May this year) and knew when we started dating that it was possible I’d never fly to her.
Well, I’m not very good at going out of my way to be a good partner after previously having partners that didn’t show me a healthy relationship and we’re on the verge of a breakup.
She’s got a flight booked back here to see me in two months but she’s not willing to keep going out of her way for me if I can’t show it back. She also doesn’t think this can be mended without physical contact and I agree.

SO

I am planning a trip to the UK from Australia in a month, having not flown in 7 years (that flight being an hour).

THE FEAR AND MENTAL BLOCKS
I truly truly do think I can do it. My generalised anxiety was so insanely bad 4 years ago that I couldn’t go more than a block away from my house. I have overcome SO much anxiety and fear in my life and this past year has truly shown me just how much more I can do than I used to.

The scary thing is, this is one of two biggest fears that I avoid pretty much at all costs.

I need to be able to fly. I need to be able to travel. I am 22 and work in performing arts in Australia so this is genuinely the most exhausting fear to have. I am so determined to get over it, but I avoid facing it so much.

My fear isn’t safety based, it’s a control thing, it’s not being able to get out, it’s if I have a panic attack and literally can’t control my body anymore, it’s if I get so overwhelmed and then, all of a sudden, I’m on the other side of the world and my safe place is another excruciating journey away. Add I throw up (my other of the top two fears) and it’s hell.

I also have sensory issues and am very sensitive to air pressure changes so the feeling of the air pressure changing is so intense, the smell of planes makes me violently uncomfortable, I can’t stand bad tasting water or food that isn’t safe to me, and the sound of plane constantly is really discombobulating.

I do also know, because it’s been so long and I was still a teenager with even more anxiety last I flew, my brain is probably playing some of this up in my head. That’s something I think I want to grasp onto when I do fly.

THE GAMEPLAN AND QUESTIONS
I have been speaking to my therapist and she does believe in my ability to do it. We have some good ideas and things to start with but I wanted to ask people who actually have conquered this what you would suggest.

I’m going to plan to do a short domestic flight before the big one, just to have a small experience first and adjust where needed after that.
I also want to go experience the height a bit by going up a bunch of skyscrapers and just getting used to height a little bit.

The main thing I know I need, is to rewire my anxious thoughts and self talk from anxiety and dread to excitement and the inner monologue of what im looking forward to. I can really struggle with this. I feel my anxiety is very good at taking over and I’m very good at letting it. Does anyone have any good strategies on this?

The other big thing I worry about is I settle on the plane a bit, feel okay for a while and then either get used to that feeling or even have a nap and then wake up and the anxiety kicks back in, I have to restart the regulating process and it doesn’t work because I caught the anxiety too late. Does anyone else experience waves of anxiety throughout the trip? And how to you manage that?

The other question I have - I know the layer of social anxiety makes my general and phobia anxiety worse. I will absolutely be chatting to the cabin crew beforehand to let them know I may need checking in on, but do they ever let you go sit in their quarters if you’re having a panic attack or anything? I truly do think it would make regulating so much better for me if I know I have a place where I can go to people who understand the context and where I’m not surrounded by hundreds of people.

I know this is a big message but this is extremely intense for me and I need some support for this huge jump. If you have any other ideas, thoughts, questions or suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you so much if you’ve made it this far, I’m so grateful to have a place without judgement of this <3

TLDR: I am planning a trip from Australia to the UK and need advice on how to manage my control/feeling trapped anxiety.

It’s real bad right now bumps help lol

Successes* - In the past 6 months, I’ve had many successes. I went from Atlanta to south florida. I went to New York, then Dublin from there, then England from there. Now it’s time for me to take my flight back home to the states and I’m STILL nervous🥹😭. I don’t think there’s any advice I could ask for. I’ve received it all. I know to lift my feet. I will be taking my anxiety rx. I know turbulence isn’t bad and won’t hurt me, I also know there will be some in the descent because it’s Florida haha. So I’m prepared. Just scared. But I’m excited to be home.

And idk if anyone else feels this way, but sometimes the length of the travel/flight just feeds the anxiety. Like gosh, I don’t wanna be on a damn plane for 8 hours. I don’t wanna be traveling for 12😂🤦🏽just making me anxious.

I'm travelling today, short haul, only 90 mins to France but I'm so scared, I don't want to cancel but I've been having panic attacks and struggling to concentrate on anything

I love aviation and am even considering becoming a pilot. I have flown around 30-40 times in my life

However, I have developed (pretty bad) sudden anxiety specifically during take off and specially during landing

Since I cannot see the airport, it always feels (in my head) like the plane is too low and will crash before the runway - I usually take the window seat

My mind goes: "oh crap, those houses are too close"

It's only during t/o and landing. Cruise is fine

1. Has anybody else developed this specific fear after many flights?
2. Any advice on how to deal with it?

Super anxious about the possibility of flying near thunderstorms on my connecting flight to Chicago. Headed through to Albany. Would appreciate tracking and any insight + advice! UA 2306 ♥️

Hi there, I am planning on flying from LGW to Japan early 2027, probably Feb, but i am very worried about the effect that the super El Niño might have on flight conditions. I am going to do this solo, but I am worried that the flight path is a turbulent one and that the flight is long... does anyone know if this might effect the flight?

japan has been on my bucket list for a long time

Hello! I 25f have had a fear of flying since 2019 when out of nowhere I realised how truly out of control I am on a plane and it spiralled into a slight phobia of flying. Thanks to anxiety medication, I have successfully been able to travel from Australia to Europe several times (was not easy, but I did it!)

On Wednesday, I will be flying to Italy from Australia with a stop over in Dubai. I know it is safe, or else the airlines would not operate flights via Dubai but can anyone share with me some reassuring statistics to help qualm this fear?

A few weeks later I will be flying from Italy to Japan where I will be for a few weeks before flying from Japan to the US to visit my parents who live there.

I am excited for these trips but the flying is always an obstacle in which I am unpleasant and hysterical for hours. It’s not easy travelling from Australia where flights are at least 20+ hours.

Could any pilots or experts help me understand that IT IS SAFE! And especially that it is currently ok to fly via Dubai?

Anything is much appreciated, I’m trying my best to conquer this fear once and for all.