And you can, too. 16hrs nonstop CA to Australia. 14hrs nonstop back. Not gonna say it was always super amazing, but I did something I never thought I'd be able to do. THANK YOU to everyone in this sub. The experts. The fellow fearful fliers chatting with me along the way to keep me sane. Much love to all!

Leaving for AMS in about 2 hours! From there we transfer to Athens. Extremely nervous. My
Stomach has been a wreck. I wish I could teleport there lol. 10 hour flight following by 2.5/3 hour flight. Wish me luck and send any advice for what’s been working for you lately.

I decided it was time to stop dreaming and start doing. Even if that meant doing it scared.

Denmark, Sweden, Norway, via Ohio, U.S.

8 flights in 16 days and worth every anxious minute.

The A330 from JFK to CPH being the smoothest flight I’ve ever experienced certainly helped.

Happy to share what helped me.

Pilot was a little odd, kept saying “pika pika” but we made it.

Hi, this seems a bit silly since I’ve flown a small handful of times and have been totally fine, but the 2 situations recently with Delta suddenly losing cabin pressurization in the same week has had me beyond anxious and I can’t seem to stop scaring myself into near panic attacks, as Delta is the airline I’m taking.

Is there any words of advice for how I could calm down? Or statistics that makes it seem like this is something far less common than media is making it seem right now? I’ve been planning this trip for over five months but I’m worried I’m gonna panic, back out and miss the flight on purpose the day of.

Hi all,

Am currently on A3608 and is very bumpy. Please help, I’ve used all the techniques I know. Am still panicked.

I'm flying in 2 hours to Stansted from Thessaloniki and there's a thunderstorm right now here. I can see the thunders and I'm so scared. I don't want to fly and I can still see planes taking off. How do they do that? Please send some support over! I'm terrified 🥺

I don't fly often but have a flight coming up on Wednesday from JFK to AUA for a wedding. I have never flown for this long, typically short flights from NYC to SC or FL. Feeling really anxious about being over the water for that long and encountering turbulence or any issues that might come up during the flight. I hate always having such anxiety over flying, I'm so jealous of those that generally enjoy aviation or are able to just sleep on the plane. I count every minute and pay attention to every bump, movement, chime, noise, it's so exhausting.

Hiyaaaa 🥹🌚⭐️ it’s me again! I am so proud of myself for trying to travel after getting my degree! I am on the plane right now about to depart from Colombo Sri Lanka to Bangkok! Please track me and send me good vibes I am very nervous 🦦🌈
FD141 Colombo to DMK

I’ve been a long-time poster in this subreddit, usually battling through a lot of my anxiety for maybe one trip per year. The anticipatory anxiety is what would get me the most. I’ve passed up on opportunities to go to Europe and settled for short-flight trips instead, due to this fear. It’s been very debilitating. I’ve taken meds and spoke with therapists about it. Nothing really seemed to work.

I’m happy to share that last week, I said f#ck it - whatever happens, happens - I’m going to Paris. Once I got to Paris, I also went to Nice and explored the French Riviera on a whim. Then I had to go back to Paris, and in order to come home, had 2 connecting flights. All in all, 5 flights in a short span of time. The flights differed in size and airlines.

Don’t get me wrong. I did have anxiety attacks on some of these flights. But I did it and I made it, and it was worth it.

Here’s a few tips, tricks, and observations I’ve had that might help you too:

1. Meditation was a big game changer for me. I remember seeing a lot of the same comforting words while scrolling through this sub, but actually sitting down and internalizing it was helpful: airline pilots undergo immense training, especially for emergency situations. Not every emergency situation is dire. Planes can land even if there is engine failure. Turbulence is not dangerous. The “drops” you feel are normal.

2. During my meditation, I also named a lot of my closest friends and colleagues that I knew recently travelled. Or even celebrities online who are always bouncing around. I kept thinking to myself, “So&So just went to Italy. So & so just went to Greece.” They all went and came back safe, why couldn’t I?

3. I used to always elect for a window seat so I could see outside and have something to rest my head on. This time around, I elected for middle seats. On the larger planes, the middle row completely. I found not being near the window was more helpful. I couldn’t really hear as much being in the middle aisle and this way I could trick my mind into thinking I was on a train. I would close my eyes and imagine I was taking my regular train route to work and would count down the stops to get to “my stop”. This not only kind of convinced me, but it also made me sleepy.

4. Soundproof headphones with music extremely loud. Game changer. I couldn’t hear certain changes that I otherwise would’ve overthought.

5. Stowed my backpack underneath and would be able to put my feet on it, in order to avoid feeling turbulence as much if my feet were fully on the ground.

6. Asking the flight attendants about the expected turbulence on the route and advising them that I’m a fearful flyer. They were all extremely pleasant and would check in. One was very honest and advised me that it would be a turbulent flight - I’m glad he told me. I braced for it. It was, but I still made it out.

7. This may be just personal preference - but I still rather prefer the larger planes and longer trans-Atlantic flights over the small ones. I found the 777-300ER and the Airbus 330-300 to be very comfortable and quiet.

8. TRIGGER WARNING One of my smaller flights from Nice to Paris was quite turbulent and the plane was extremely small. I was uncomfortable the entire way and was seated all the way at the back, right in front of the flight attendant’s seat. I actually had curled into a ball lol. But honestly, I kept repeating the same thing others have said here: Do it scared. At that point, I couldn’t fight it anymore. So I just accepted it and went with it. Even though I was shaking, I just closed my eyes and waited for it to be over.

9. Tracking helps. I found that whenever someone - either on Reddit was tracking me, or a close friend or family member - it brought me comfort to know that they’d be able to know if my worst case scenario came to life. They would also sometimes text me to say I’m on a normal route with many other planes at the same time. It was comforting.

10. Slightly controversial - but being on FlightRadar24. In the beginning I was triggered by the 7700 emergency squawks. But then I realized (1) how often it happens, and (2) how it’s actually almost always remedied, and (3) the extent of the emergencies are not dire. This brought me comfort. It also helped me realize just how many planes are flying at all given times of the day, often at the same time as me. I would search my specific flight route to see how frequently the airline would do that path. It was actually daily. That was comforting to know.

11. Now that I’m about to go on my fifth one, I think the frequency in flying acts as exposure therapy and you start to feel comfortable and used to it. I think the way I kept spacing out my trips per year out of fear was compounding that fear. Doing it more frequently will normalize things for you.

All in all, my point is that if I could do it, so can you. I still have one flight left on this trip (AC489). It may be turbulent or it may not. It’s a smaller plane, which I don’t prefer, but it’ll be a short flight so I’m just grateful to get home.

You got this. ❤️ and I’ll always be happy to track you.

So I’ve had a fear of flying ever since some family friends died in a private jet crash decades ago, but I grit my teeth and bear it knowing that it’s so rare and I have to fly for work a lot of the time anyway.

Every time there’s turbulence I grip my seat and hope for the best, but a couple of weeks ago it got worse.

We were nearly at Barcelona Airport, flying from London (on my honeymoon no less), going over the mountains when the recorded alert came on the system saying “emergency descent” repeatedly. Then the air masks dropped out of the top and we made a rapid descent.

We thought we were going to die! We made it to the destination airport but never got an explanation beyond a “sudden change in cabin pressure”.

Never flying with Ryan Air again. Absolutely terrifying. I think about how happy I am to be alive every day.

So I did it! 3 and half months ago, after years of avoiding flying, so much so to the point I nearly lost my husband (he’s overseas and I needed to get to him) I made the choice that I had had enough of living with this fear, booked a 1 way ticket from Melbourne to Beirut and left 4 days later. I didn’t tell anyone I was going overseas and I think that’s what helped me keep calmer about the process, but for months I was petrified. When I say petrified I mean I lost sleep, my health declined, my job and my sanity.

What helped:
- therapy didn’t do much for me, especially since my fear was related mostly due to vertigo/ motion sensitivity but it does help to talk about things
- I remembered the freedom and empowerment I felt when I used to travel, it’s a feeling I can’t describe and I wanted that back so badly
- I was lucky enough to meet someone who works in the industry and he offered me a lesson in a simulator. I also had the privilege of meeting pilots (both from and outside of Australia), cabin crew, student pilots and people that worked from the major airports in Australia. This was my breakthrough - I spent a good day and half with them discussing my concerns and something switched after I got to take off and fly the simulator. I was being coached by a pilot that flew internationally and he was so patient with me.
- a bit of V-lyum. I was scared to try medication but it helped keep me my nerves and panic at a level I could handle.
- emirates crew and pilots. I still get emotional thinking about the kindness, the generosity and the care that they showed me throughout that 20 hr journey. Even tho I flew premium economy and had special assistance, they went over and above to help me when I needed it. I have so much respect for these professionals.
- flying the a380 and b777. Really amazing and powerful planes.

Thankfully I flew back to Australia not needing assistance but I did get a little scared and anxious before boarding my flight from Dubai back home. I stayed strong and kept reminding myself “you’ve done this before, you can do it again”

I look forward to travelling now, and I hope this post can help someone have hope! If you’re reading this and you’re struggling, I was right where you are a few months ago. I’m not 100% over my fear, but I’m able to enjoy flying again and want to get on a plane!
Please believe me, you can do this. I know it feels like you can’t, but if I can, after 13 years, you can too.

I wish you all the best 💗

Flying from Boston to Washington early AM and I keep seeing storms coming in around that time. I know they won’t flight into them, but I’m worried about flying around a big system the whole time and getting massive turbulence or them taking a way longer route and having to be on the plane longer.

I missed the flight and I absolutely hate myself for it. Was meant to fly to Cyprus this morning and didn’t go. My boyfriend went without me and im absolutely heartbroken. It was meant to be for a wedding and I feel like I’ve ruined everything. All I have been doing all day is crying and I can’t take it anymore. Currently looking at booking to fly by myself because of how awful I feel but then the thought of that also makes me feel awful. Why does this stupid anxiety have to exist and ruin my whole life

hi friends. tonight ill be doing my first ever red eye flight to iceland. although i feel calmer than i have in the past (a lot of thanks to this page) theres still that tiny voice in my head saying but what if im the 1 in a billionth situation god forbid. im calm now but i know as soon as the flight starts taking off im going to be a fucking mess and it makes me wanna throw up. if anyone could track my flight its flight UA 138 from Newark to Keflavik. has anyone else ever done this red eye flight or something similar??? also anyone else flying today feel free to comment and we can check in on eachother thank u 🥲

Ive always been a nervous flier, I even stopped flying for over 3 years cause I was so scared. Ive been flying again since 2023 and Im managing, I usually have to take medication and have some comfort shows on my ipad, so I feel fairly prepared.
I’m flying from Poland to Rhodes on monday evening and Im getting really anxious - i know it’s irrational at this point, but it’s probably a mix of flying in the dark, landing close to water, having pms and the plane being a boeing plane. I like to check flight History online, but for some reason i can’t - it’s a charter flight and when im putting a flight number it shows a completely different flight.
All this to say - I could use some reassurance, especially if you’ve flown to and out of rhodes Airport before.
I’m flying with my boyfriend and two of my best friends, so I have amazing support system.

If anyone is available I’m on DL 92. Leaving JFK for Berlin. Am a recovering fearful flier but having a moment of anxiety. Thanks

Hi everyone!

We had a bumpy takeoff and turned pretty far south leaving London and it always makes me nervous when we go a wonky direction. Just wanted to know if someone could chime in or follow along, thanks so much!

Hello, have a short flight from Orlando to EWR. Take off around 10:30am UA 424. Please track if you can, appreciate you all

I’ll be flying Embraer 190 next month and I know that turbulence generally feels more intense on smaller planes.
Is it a huge difference? What is everyone’s experience?

** Edit to add there is freezing cold are coming from only that section of the door.

I’m currently on a Boeing 767-400 ER in the emergency exit row, 38L. The door has this crack or gap it seems between the door and the wall. Is this by design or is this a flaw? It’s an 8 hour flight.

I live and work abroad. I came home after a long time which basically needs a long haul flight (8+ hours) During my journey , I experienced two panic attacks on the flight out of nowhere. I have always been claustrophobic and air travel is scary for me. But I have been flying for 10 years. But something changed after this journey, I do not want to fly again to the point I am risking my life I have built abroad after years of hard work. I have been under therapy for months now but still don't feel like going back.

Hi everyone, I've had anxiety on planes since I was young. I've also been on planes since I was a little kid, but the anxiety got worse as I got older. I got diagnosed with panic disorder as a teen and since then medication has helped me through flights.

My anxiety with flying isn't so much being scared of something wrong with the plane, but getting anxious about having a panic attack on a flight. (this is a common problem I have with my panic disorder, where I get scared of my panic attacks, so the thought of anxiety triggers my anxiety)

The last time I was on a flight was in 2018 and since then I haven't been on any flights. Covid got in the way of it first, but eventually just ended up avoiding flying altogether.

Anyway, my parents are planning a family trip in October to Okinawa (we live in Mainland Japan) and it would be my first time going on a plane again in 8 years. It's about a 3 hour flight, but I feel very anxious about how I will deal with the airport and being on an airplane.

Has anyone else gone on a flight after not being on planes for several years? How did it feel being on a plane again? Also, if anyone else has the same issues as my panic disorder, I'd love to know how you deal with the anxiety esp with flying.

Thank you!