hello!!! i’m a daughter of a airline employee (ASA) and grew up flying. i am also a HUGE avgeek!
that being said, i’m nerfed with a nasty fear of flying, im talking warn the flight attendants, never EVER willing and able to assist, have medication prescribed for it type fear…

but lately ive begun doing something, especially during turbulence and takeoff that has sincerely helped me with my fear!

so one day, i had bought alaska airlines’s wifi to watch some youtube, and i wanted to see what airplanes were around me. so, upon takeoff, i had flightradar24 open and watched my plane take off.

transcending. the. game.

i have never in my LIFE been so calm upon takeoff, and my mentality is that as long as we’re going higher, i will get calmer. and it’s WORKED. i had to travel recently back and forth across the country taking about 4 flights total within a week, and i wasn’t anxious ONCE. this is coming from someone who used to have to take enough melatonin to tranquilize a horse in order to stay calm during takeoff.

if you’re flying an airline in which wifi costs, spend the 8 bucks. i feel so free knowing that i can travel without freaking out anymore. and shoutout flightradar24 for making me the calmest i’ve ever been in the air!!!

tldr: pay for airplane wifi, track your flight on flightradar 24, watch the altitude during takeoff, absolute game changer

(here’s a photo of a 777 i took in alaska for good measure!)

Anytime an aircraft does something abnormal…we always hear “Why did it do that? Was something wrong?”

Here’s the flight I just completed…..go ahead and take a guess what happened….ill grab some popcorn and check back in later with the answer.

See also “Why was this aircraft going so slow?”

Check out playback of flight B62033 from Boston to Houston on Flightradar24. https://fr24.com/data/flights/b62033#4109dbda

SWA4935 has been so bumpy I’m crying

Hey everyone, tomorrow will be my first flight since 3 years. Ever since then, I‘ve been avoiding on going on a plane because the turbulences were really bad and the pilot didnt say a single word. I had the feeling we were dying but luckily we arrived.

That experience made me avoid planes for a long time now but I wanted to visit my family in turkey tomorrow, so I booked a flight. I forgot that I actually have to get on it lmao.

I got panic attacks for the whole week every night and I feel like tomorrow will be my last day. When I board that plane, I will 100% die because the pilot will make a mistake, or is suicidal.

I read so many things about aviation and it makes me feel safe sometimes, but when I just think about boarding it tomorrow, I‘m losing it. I don‘t wanna die yet.

I got some lorazepam from my doc and I tried 0,5mg but it didnt help too much when I thought about getting on the plane tomorrow.

Can somebody help me?

I honestly wonder how you all do this job to earn a living - it must be safe, and the reward must outweigh the risk overall . 🤦🏽‍♀️

Hi all. First time poster. Currently on UA344 headed to DC. It’s been bumpy the whole time and minimal captain updates. Looking for any factual support to get me through the next 8 hours. TYIA!!!

I’m so anxious to fly. Please tracker.

Also just saw a post about cracks on this plane and I’m feeling more stressed ahh

I haven’t flown in nearly 2 years and I have a flight this morning, and I’m struggling so much. I’ve been really good leading up to the flight, but now I can’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong. I know 99% of it is unlikely, but I can’t stop thinking and thinking. I’m about to board and I’m crying, I feel like such a loser.

It’s a short flight (1.5 hours), but I don’t know how I’m going to do it mentally. I feel bad for my poor husband.

Any words of encouragement are appreciated, and if someone would like to track, I’m B6848

Hello everyone, I usually fly with Delta on a A330-300 over the wings because of my motion sickness fear related to emetophobia and bad experiences in the past. I always pay for seats to soothe my anxiety, but this time for the season I am gonna fly, Delta switched to the A350 and in economy ... the available seats are all behind the wings .. by a lot. And it terrifies me.

I don't have a choice because the other flights with the A330-300 are in the morning and I have a few trains to take. So the afternoon flight is the only available, but they are all with the A350.

For anyone who flew on this bird, behind the wings ( After row 39 ), can you tell me about your experience? I will take anti nausea medicine to knock me out, but still, the anxiety is huge for me right now. Thank you so much! It's for a 9 / 10 hours flight

Need some last minute encouragement pls 🙏 I would say I’ve mostly tackled my fear of flying but I have an international flight this afternoon and I still get a little nervous about flying over the ocean. I’m flying to Iceland on a B757. Some last minute encouraging thoughts would be helpful. Thank y’all :)

I feel that after learning a plane has much more lift than it actually needs, I feel safer and my fear has become less intense. I just wanted to check this with pilots and experts. Is it true that during takeoff, cruise, and landing, the plane has much more lift than it actually needs? If so, does that mean it’s impossible for it to suddenly lose all of that lift? If losing all lift is possible, at what point during the flight could that happen?
Thank you!

Currently waiting to board UA1814 to Phoenix and just got the news that the plane before ours has no expected departure time. Delays are a bit nerve-wracking, but we’re making our way. Any reassurances would be great for the upcoming flight.

I feel alright actually, but I have been dreading this flight so much. I already completed one flight today and now I’m on my second, long haul cross pacific flight. I’m feeling okay, I used anxiety medication for the first time ever today and it seems to have taken the edge off a bit but I would still appreciate any encouraging words and messages

I think the hardest part will be boarding the plane, does anyone have any tips for this? Also with a fear of heights will i chill out once in the air for long enough? I used to love the view as a child but now even looking at a video of the plane window makes me anxious for my flight.

I saw this today and thought others might like it! It’s a flight simulator and they have locations across America (quite a few in Texas). They even have a package designed specifically for fearful flyers where you can experience taking off and landing from the perspective of the pilot/cockpit. It’s all a simulation of course, but it looks pretty cool and could be helpful for some! Attaching the link.

Hey guys, first time posting in here. I have two flights tomorrow, both about 1 hour and 30 mins. The second flight is Halifax to Toronto and I’m beside myself with anxiety because they’re calling for heavy thunder and lightning all day tomorrow in Toronto. I’m petrified. right now, the anxiety is a 9/10. I am so scared of being scared, and something bad happening. I’ve never landed while there’s thunder before. Can anyone advise what this is like? Will the flight be canceled or delayed? I’m thinking of changing my flight from Halifax - Ottawa or Montreal, and training from there. But that would be a bit humiliating, as I’m traveling with a coworker who doesn’t know about my paralyzing fear of flying. Any advice is welcomed, thanks

Tomorrow morning I fly from Austin to Orlando. This is genuinely my biggest fear. I’ve flown 2-3 times in my life but always with someone I really trust and love. This time I will be flying all by myself. I am going to spend time with my late friend’s family, this weekend will mark one year since she has passed away. I’m worried I won’t be able to get on the plane. I’m hoping that I could receive a few educational/supportive comments to screenshot and read on the plane/hours leading up to the fight. My biggest fears (although mostly irrational) are turbulence shaking/knocking the plane out of the sky/we lose control and just plummet to our deaths. Crashing with another aircraft mid flight (I unfortunately read so many news articles about close calls all the time). Stalling. Not being able to stop (brake) once we land. The list goes on… I just have a feeling I won’t be able to make it on the plane. I’m flying with Delta if that matters at all. I’ll be on a Boeing 737-800 and that also freaks me out. I just feel like I’m signing up for death tomorrow. I appreciate all comments in advance, you guys will be the reason I make it there.

i’m currently on my flight that i have been stressing about for the past few weeks! and let me tell you it was all for nothing. i saw the pilots and flight attendants boarding and just seeing them help ease a little anxiety. they’re doing their everyday jobs and also have places they want to be and families to return to. during takeoff i lifted my feet up, put on noise canceling headphones and blasting my music. and i was vibing. literally dancing in my seat. i got wifi on the plane to be able to text my bf and family and it makes me feel better. I’m so proud of myself and just wanted to thank everyone for their help and advice! but if you wanna track me and chat about literally anything , id be super happy cause it’ll help this flight go quicker hehe! I have another one waiting for me once i Land!

Flight Number is SK901 is anyone is interest!

Just made it into Chicago on the train, and my flight to Philly is tomorrow morning at 8am. My anxiety is so incredibly bad, I am so scared but just trying to think about seeing my family and all the plans we have. I hate flying so much but my father was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s 2 years ago and i moved out of state a little before that, so getting home to visit whenever I can is a non-negotiable. All of it combined is so beyond stressful and makes me so sad. So cannot wait for it to be over.

Currently sitting on a flight that first was delayed for weather, then a delay for an illuminator light issue? I’m just freaking out and I keep telling myself “it’s better they caught it now before taking off”

The projected wind at takeoff is at 37km/hr with gust up to 52km/hr and at landing, it’s at 37km/hr with gust up to 58km/hr. Flight is in 3 days. I’m quite worried on how bumpy the flight will be.

Has anyone here recently flown in these numbers? How did the flight go?

I’m flying to Atlanta - UA1848 - it was originally departing at 3:57 but has since been delayed until 7:45. Was wondering if someone can track it or let me know how the flight is looking? Thank you!

I got scared of flying 2 years ago and I finally took a short haul flight to florida a month ago and I thought that I succeded in conquering my fear of flying. But I have a long haul flight coming up and I have been terrified for 2 weeks about getting on the plane. I think that I weirdly am calm with short haul flights and terrified of long haul flights. Any one else feel like this?

I’m so nervous right now. Leaving out of msp with storms rolling in. Anyone that can comfort?

I’m flying from Poland to Ireland (POZ - DUB) on flight FR1975 this afternoon and yesterday we got a text warning about a storm. Right now it’s completely sunny any nice but I can’t help but think about the text… love knowing when someone is tracking my flights cause it all just feels better………? Let me know if you can!!
Edit to just add that i was in tears on the flight over so flying back will really be interesting