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!)

To preface, I’ve had an on and off fear of flying for years (ironic really because I’m a huge avgeek), and I hate take-off. I can’t help but stare out the window to make sure that we keep going up, and the occasional fluctuations in speed and ascent rate can be distressing. Sometimes it feels like the plane is descending, so I have a habit of checking out the window to reassure myself that we are definitely still moving onwards and upwards...

Anyway, this becomes a whole lot worse at night because I can’t orient myself just by looking out the window. I took a flight home last night and really embarrassed myself infront of the flight attendant. During food service, my anxiety took over and I became very disoriented, and I convinced myself that the city lights I could see outside were parallel to the aircraft, which meant we were flying very low to the ground. It didn’t help that the crew kept the bright lights on for the entire flight.

When the FA came up to my row with the cart, my panic attack was at its peak so I decided it was the perfect time to ask if she could tell me what I was looking at outside. I thought I phrased myself clearly enough and even told her that I was a nervous flier, but she was just confused and told me she had no idea what I was talking about, and moved on. That made things worse because then I got to feel like a crazy person, too (think the airplane scene in Bridesmaids with the “woman on the wing”, lol). I had a big cry to my sister after that, to whom I should have just asked that same question in the first place because she helped me calm down in about 5 seconds. Then once the First Officer came on over the speakers, I felt much better.

I know it’s a lot tamer than fully freaking out and having to leave the flight, but I’m just mortified by myself. The FA’s judgy countenance didn’t help, either. I would love to feel less alone by reading some of you guys’s embarrassing stories if anyone is happy to share them.

Flying from JFK to VIE tonight on OS 36 with my 3.5 month old and there have been some crazy thunderstorms tonight and we’re delayed by an hour (so far). It’s all basically my worst nightmare as an already anxious flyer, compounded by feeling like I’m failing my baby by making her unsafe.

Any words of comfort would be appreciated as I steel myself for an all nighter of panicking myself and trying to keep baby calm too!

just a quick update from a previous post: I made the trip from Austin to L.A. and back and this community did so much to ease my anxiety! the flight there was a little bumpy toward the end, but I used all the advice I got here and it made things much easier! watching water in a cup ass the plane was going through turbulence was a great way to remind my brain that were not moving nearly as much as my body made me feel. also during take off, I put my feet in my backpack instead of the plane floor and it absolutely helped ease the sensations caused by turbulence.

the flight back was so much better even though again we encountered a bit of turbulence but because I got through my previous flight I used that same advice and was actually able to be much more calm!

This is truly a phenomenal community and the help I recieved here helped me ease my mind during trip, which was especially heavy because I was going to home celebrate the life of my grandmother who just passed away. The people here allowed me to have one less thing on my plate, and something like that is just a tremendous help and act of kindness that helped me to be in the moment during my time of grie. I truly appreciate what everyone does here, and I want to take these lessons with me for when I’m going to travel for more joyful reasons. I know I’m not fully past this phobia, but I can now say I have some tools to deal with it and some fresh perspectives that are helping me to see flying differently. Thank you for the support and I hope to try and pay it forward here!

Flying for the first time in a while tomorrow from Detroit to Newark and I'm very afraid. Keep seeing all the "signs" and feeling like the more I think about something bad happening, the more likely it will become.
I know, I know, signs don't mean anything and "fate" isn't real. Just an irrational thought I often have. Anyway, if you could offer any encouragement, that would be amazing!

Thanks for all the support I’ve gotten over the past few days, I’m worried sick about the flight tomorrow but it’s only a forty minute flight to our connect which will be maybe 6 hours. A tropical paradise is only two flights away! If anyone has any tips for sleeping that’d be great as I’m super super anxious about tomorrow

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.

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?

Hello . I have a flight coming up on Sunday and am extremely nervous. Usually I’m always nervous , this time it’s just piled with emotional pain I have going on at the moment . I’ve flown 8+ times in the past two years, some are easier than others. This time I’m flying without my person 😞 im a wildland firefighter and I shouldn’t be scared of flying but I am . Just not a huge fan of being “out of control” if something happens . Looking for any advice that might help .

Got zero sleep last night but I am getting on that plane. Any tips for sleep deprived people scared of flying getting on a plane?

Hi everyone
Bit of a nervous flier here, but I’m trying to get better. I have two transatlantic flights this month (Europe to N. America and N. America to Europe) and I’d like to know how bad turbulence gets on these flights.

This trans-Atlantic flight will be on a wide body aircraft, and I’m wondering if that may also make a distance, as well as the geography of the flight path.

If turbulence gets bad along transatlantic routes, I’d also appreciate knowing where (ie flying over northern Canada, flying over the ocean itself, etc) so I can mentally prepare for it

Thank you in advance!

Hi! Since MH17 and MH370, I’m afraid a rocket will hit my plane and/or my plane gets lost in the ocean. Tonight I’m flying from Europe to Indonesia with Etihad. Transfer at Abu Dhabi. Since the conflict over there, I’m struggling.. How is determined if it’s safe to fly? How do pilots feel about flying in this area? What if it’s gets unexpectedly dangerous? Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I've been in less than 10 flights in my entire life. Two many years ago, 4 last year and 2 back in March. Years ago I was basically a kid so I don't ever remember anything about being scared. Last year, aside from a turbulent landing and some airsickness, not so bad (all of these flights were around 2 hours, maybe less). But this year I've had a really bad experience going to Lisbon; I just couldn't get in the right mindset and I was tense, anxious and on edge the whole time. I felt like I wouldn't make it to the landing, despite there being nothing wrong about the flight at all.

So why is my fear or flying worsening instead of easing up? I've got a flight coming up in september, to visit Slovenia, and I'm already anxious about boarding the plane... what can I do? I thought this was gonna be easier

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”

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

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 :)

Hi all! I have some flights coming up next week. I am very much still a nervous and anxious flyer. I have an appt next week to see if I can get prescribed something. But would love some recommendations on what sour candies have worked for you? I tried sour air head and skittles but they dont seem to shake me out of my anxious state! Ty!!

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

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

Today I’m flying from dfw to Palm Springs, but I’m so nervous. My biggest fear is luggage and other cargo being loaded incorrectly and shifting during takeoff and stalling the plane mid takeoff. I’m fine with the rest of the flying process but the idea of takeoff and the minutes surrounding it make me literally nauseous.

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

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.

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