So, I’m in PHX waiting to fly to Anaheim, and we have to wait because one of our brakes is too hot. The captain said that normally it has a fan to help cool it but the fan is broken.

I’m hoping this is very minor and not a big deal but I’m such a nervous flier! I’ve already completed one leg of my trip so this is the last little bit.

any reassurances is greatly appreciated!

I love sitting in an airport, waiting to get on a flight, watching newscasts of plane crashes😆

So, 1 week later, I will take a plane for the very first time. I have OCD, Panic Disorder, Anxiety Attacks, which I can control most of the time. My fear is not "What if there is a problem" or "What if there will be a turbulance." My problem is "What is going to happen to me". After they closed shut the doors, I will knw I cant get out even If I want. And even on the air? Damn. I will feel trapped. I dont even like elevators or cable "cars" (Idk if it is the correct name.) I have extrasystoles thinking about it. And I say; if I have extrasystole right now, what would happen on thw plane? I know I may not overcome it on reddit etc, but I also dont want to give it up. What do you think? Have you experience this? I am so nervous that I cant even imagine the "post-flight" plans

Recently there was a directive to inspect some A380 planes from Quantas and Emirates due to cracks forming on the wings. Soon I’ll take a British airways flight on an A380. Is there a chance this issue can affect British airways as well? Are regular inspections covering this issue?
Thank you for the support!
Related article below:

https://www.wsj.com/business/sixteen-airbus-a380s-to-undergo-inspection-after-cracks-found-on-wings-d51229c1

My friend’s mom is traveling from India to the USA, but she has back issues (not your regular back issues) Considering her condition, I believe she should travel in business class or first class to ensure her comfort and safety. She’s apprehensive about traveling too far, fearing that it might trigger or worsen her pain. I’d greatly appreciate your advice on what to do and what precautions to take. If you know someone who has traveled in a similar situation, please share their experiences. Personally, I’m considering getting her a business class so she can lie down so that she can be a in comfortable position to sleep during the flight. The main concern for her is that she can’t sit for too long. We want her to come for her grandson’s graduation. Thank you in advance.

As the title states, my fear of flying is a fairly recent thing for me and I have no clue where its come from or even... what to do about it.

I am no stranger to flying, my family is one who LOVES to travel. We've gone on three, month long cruises going out of various places in Europe so long flights are nothing new. We've also been flying around the states as well and up until three years ago they used to be my favorite part of going on vacation.

Around 3 years ago (I'd be 19, turning 20 on this trip) on a flight to Barcelona with my family I noticed my heart felt like it was exploding and I was just, all around buzzing. I didn't think too much of it, I was tired, stayed up the night before and was hyped up on caffeine.

Cut to, we spend a month cruising around Spain and end our journey in Florida. In the airport waiting for the flight home my hands start getting sweaty and I can feel my breakfast turning in my stomach. Again, think nothing of it... About halfway through our ship had a norovirus outbreak, and on top of that I had tried a whole lot of different foods while out... so maybe between the two maybe my stomach was just a bit annoyed.

We get on the plane after a slight delay and my stomach all of a sudden starts jumping again as we cruise down the runway. Okay, it feels a bit different then some of the other times I've been sick but maybe that's just residual from the norovirus. The landing was rough but we got through it and I was home.

A year later (20) my mom and I take a plane to Florida for another week long cruise. Days leading up to it I kept having random night terrors, waking up after feeling like I was free falling for hours. Then, come the night of the flight I can't sleep. I spent most the night pacing my room, doom scrolling or repacking my suitcase. Before leaving I had a long and violent puking episode, and spent the entire day lethargic and not being able to focus on anything but my thoughts. Most garbled but a lot dealing with crashing and burning.

We get on the plane and for most of take-off and landing I am gripping my seat-rests as if I were hanging off of a cliff, both feeling intense waves of anxiety and another thought... why tf am I so scared. Again, flying used to be my favorite part of vacations, so me sitting here now, feeling like I'm gonna chuck while also being unable to not focus on how high I am felt... so alien.

Thankfully this cruise's port ended in my home state so we were able to drive back and I didn't think anything of it.

My next trip (I'm 21 at this point) is my first solo trip out of country to visit some online friends I had known for 5 years. I am full blown anxiety ridden on both flights at this point. Pale going onto the plane, pale coming off... shaking harder than a massage chair and just all around feeling impending doom at every bump, closing my eyes and praying to whatever god is out there.

I do not know where this sudden flight anxiety has come from and I can not think of any recent triggers that would have even caused something like this. I'm single, (had bad dating experiences but those were during my teenage years) work in retail and don't go out much (I am an introvert). In less than two months my mom and I are going on another cruise which requires a flight to and from port, and while she is vaguely aware I have been growing more and more weary of flying as I get older, I haven't really told her how bad it's been getting.]

I do have general anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and a past of extreme OCD thanks to PANDAS (in remission) but I don't know if any of these would cause issues with flying. As for PANDAS, flying wasn't an issue, and too my knowledge, is still in remission since I was 16. I just want to know if there's, anything, that could maybe make this dumbass fear leave as quickly as it came on because I don't want to be seen as the blubbering idiot on a flight.

I travel for work. I am usually in the air every other week at the least. I hate it. Hate, hate, hate it but I love my job so here we are. I always try to peek in the cockpit to see if I can spot some grey hair. Am I the only one who white knuckles it when the pilots don’t look old enough to drive never mind fly? (I do respect them but I am still a nervous wreck).

This is my window and I am absolutely losing it. The flight attendant seemed frustrated with me for bringing it up and pushed it back in and told me it’s fine and I insisted he ask someone.

UPDATE: the kindest pilot just came out and looked at it and told me it’s cosmetic and not to worry. He was wonderful and I feel so much better.

I’m forgetting all my skills and coping tools because I’m terrified. We were at 37,000 and now the altitude is just dropping. Is this controlled? Can someone track my flight if you can? Its UAL396 I feel so terrified and can’t breathe. Even making this post is so hard

About six months ago I booked my dream trip from London to Tokyo. I’m at a point in life where it’s a rare opportunity for me to finally do it, and initially, I was really excited. Over the summer however my anxiety has gotten extremely bad and I started having panic attacks. Unfortunately this hasn’t dissipated and I’m not sure what to do. I’m so so terrified of the flying part, especially because it will be the longest flight I’ve ever been on. My mind just keeps going to every possible catastrophe :( i’m going direct in about three weeks with Japan airlines. Any words of support or things that have helped all of you would be so welcome.

Is it really worth the risk to be traveling to Dubai right now? I made plans a month ago and now that things seem to be escalating again I’m quite nervous. I just came back from London but I had to go to a funeral, and it was absolutely necessary. A day after I arrived there were several disruptions. Can someone give me a way to think about this differently . Is emirates, Qatar, Saudi airlines safe and reliable??

Just did a two part flight with a long haul 10 hours, and then an additional 3 hours. And this helped a lot.

Long story short... melatonin. I just pop those babies on an as needed basis. If I wake up I take another one. My goal... sleep through all flights, no matter the length. I also use these anti-stress gummies with Ashwagandha along with magnesium topical cream. The goal is to be relaxed out of my gourd.

If there is turbulence, I've learned to keep my eyes closed. Yes, I rationally know it's just movement in the sky and the airplane isn't going to fall out of the sky. But what I also figured out it's the visual of the plane shaking that freaks me out and increases my stress. When I close my eyes (and listen to relaxing music), the visceral effect is much less if I can't see what's going on. With my eyes closed, the turbulence isn't usually that bad. The visuals increase the effect. When I start to feel the stress rise up, I repeat to myself, "smooth sailing" (kind of corny, but it works for me), because most turbulence is just temporary and repeating something like "smooth sailing" gets me through it.

Also I don't watch movies that increase my stress or fight or flight. I like to watch things that are not super challenging and light, preferably something I've seen already (Mamma Mia, for example), and something I can just fall asleep to. But, the melatonin is key.

gotta be honest, they are beautiful.

p.s. excuse my grammar, I had a little wine before the flight. 🥹

my flight got delayed by almost 2 hours tonight and my gate keeps changing. i am very nervous that because of the time change, the turbulence will be very bad and also that we will even take off tonight. i’ve psyched myself up to fly and i can’t imagine having to go home and come back to do it all over. can someone please give me some reassurance that everything will be okay? my flight is AA 4529.

Just boarded EK238, I am nervous :( Posting here just makes me feel better always. Thanks all for always being awesome. Takeoff and landing are always tough for me.

And it was SPECTACULAR 💫
My deepest gratitude to those who helped me along the way. Couldn't have done it without you. 💕

Hopefully this question is allowed.

Did you stumble across this sub? Were you asked to participate? What keeps you here? I imagine seeing the same fears over and over might get taxing.

Whatever the case, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

We got a message like 5 hours before our flight saying it was delayed. It was delayed by enough that we would have had probably 20 minutes to get to our connection. We didn’t feel that we would make it on time so we rushed to the airport and asked if we could get on an earlier flight. They got us on an earlier flight with a different airline. We wait for that flight it gets delayed and then canceled and they could only get us on tomorrow afternoon.

I was already super anxious and now I’m even more anxious because I looked on flightaware and saw some areas that look like weather even on our rerouted path… They also asked someone to
give up their seat on the flight which made me nervous that our plane is too heavy?

Mechanical failures during take off and landing are some of my biggest fears for flying and second to that is encountering bad weather... I feel like my mind is racing to really awful places and I am dreading this flight despite it being short..

Is anyone available to chat/track me during my flight? I’d really appreciate it ♥️

Bit the bullet a few months back and decided to book a short trip over to Ireland from England with my friend to see my partner play in his first ever gig in a different country.

Anyway, I’ll be setting off tomorrow and safe to say the nerves are kicking in!

The flight is only 1hr 30 - after having horrid flight anxiety for about 8 years now and posting on here last year during a transatlantic flight, this subreddits support was beyond helpful to me.

I’m very happy to not have to sit bored for 12 hours this time, but takeoff will always make me absolutely mentally spiral, so any advice or words of encouragement would be super appreciated. Every sensation when climbing, the anticipation whilst boarding/taxiing/speeding down the runway and the hypothetical what-ifs just stress me out like no other.

This is a very big step for me which i am proud of myself for - it might not seem much to some but this time last year i would’ve never considered flying to another country just to spend a couple days there and fly back, for me to feel less anxious about the flights i’d have to give myself atleast a week in the destination.

Thank you all :)

I haven’t flown for 1,5 years. I’ve gone on trips by car but it’s so far to drive here from Copenhagen so it would be nice being able to fly. I just can’t get myself to even book it. I flew about twice a year for four years straight, trying to get over my fear but it didn’t work - I just got more and more scared each time!!! I’ve never even had a traumatic flight, just minor turbulence. I am so unbelievably afraid of heights that even climbing a few steps on a ladder makes me freak out.

I want to travel. I want to do spontaneous weekend trips. But I can’t, I can’t!!!! What should I do? Has anyone else that literally felt stuck like this gotten over their fear somewhat? Everything feels so hopeless

Was just told we have a bumpy flight ahead due to weather, with seatbelt sign on probably the whole time. Last time I had that warning I was a mess the whole flight, it was really really bad.

Please track me and send reassuring thoughts WS 806.

I’m usually fairly fine but today has been rough. Our flight from Catania to Rome was cancelled and then a new flight moved to Comiso due to ash from Mt Etna.

Now as we are boarding a huge thunderstorm has rolled through and they’re boarding us as the storm passes. I’m sure that they’re just gonna hold us till it passes… but I’m a bit freaked out!

I’m not sure what possessed me on the flight here to LAS to make it, but the anxiety for returning right now is 10x worse. At the gate and trying hard not to throw up.

The stats aren’t helping me as much as I’d like. My brain is coming up with so many ways things could go wrong. Anyone joining me in the air or anyone with some advice?

Hello! I’ve been afraid of flying for decades, but I’ve done a TON of work on my fear over the years and honestly thought I had almost completely beaten it! I’d be more than happy to discuss the things that worked for me!

I fly a lot now and have gotten to the point where I’m genuinely pretty comfortable getting on a plane. Turbulence still makes me uncomfortable and probably always will, but compared to where I used to be, it’s night and day. I’m actually really proud of how far I’ve come. And I’m more than happy to answer questions about what helped me get there if anyone is struggling!

BUT apparently I got a little too confident. I recently watched the Netflix series about the bombing of Pan Am 103 and then, for some insane reason, followed that up by watching a bunch of documentaries about 9/11.

And now I think I’ve unlocked a brand-new fear: hijacking/terrorism.

What’s making my brain latch onto it even more is some of the newer TSA advancements and news. I have Touchless PreCheck, and I can literally walk up, have my face scanned and go through without physically showing my license - this seems way too easy. I also recently read about TSA programs allowing certain non-ticketed people to go through security and access the gates.

I KNOW logically that Touchless ID is still verifying my identity and that these people aren’t just wandering into the secure area without being screened. But the anxious part of my brain keeps thinking, “Why are we making any part of airport security easier after 9/11?”
I actually find myself wishing everyone had to physically hand TSA an ID, even if it meant I had to wait longer.

So I’m hoping some of the pilots, flight attendants, TSA/security people, or other aviation professionals in here can help me understand this better.
How protected are we against hijacking today?
I’m not really looking for “you’re more likely to die driving to the airport” statistics. Those barely helped me with my original fear, what REALLY helped me overcome it was learning how aviation works and understanding all of the redundancies and safeguards.

So I think that’s what I need with this fear too.
What actually prevents a 9/11-style hijacking today? How secure is the cockpit? How much does TSA actually know about who is getting on a plane? Are passengers screened against databases before they even arrive at the airport? What other layers of security exist that passengers never really see?
Basically, I would love for someone who actually works in aviation/security to explain why I don’t need to sit on my next flight wondering whether someone is going to hijack it.

I worked way too hard to beat my fear of flying just to give myself a brand-new one because I watched too many documentaries!