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Unfrequent Flyer

  • 02-06-2009 11:43PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm looking for some advice on the following: basically I'm flying alone to Tokyo by way or Paris in a number of weeks with... wait for it... AIR FRANCE.....!!!!!!!!! (heart sinks..) My issue is this - I haven't flown in several years because I hate it, in fact it scares the living bejaysus outta me and that is an understatement. No amount of alcohol, chirpy expressions, back pattings or suggestions of hypnosis are going to change how I feel. Trust me.

    So, I'm wondering what can I take to completely numb myself but to the point of still being functional to make the change in Paris and then preferably remain comatose for the ensuing 11+ hours to Tokyo. Will Xanax be enough to render me emotionless and desensitized? (I understand that medical advice is not given in these forums, I'm only looking for some pointers, I need to know what works and how it feels from a personal perspective - I will seek further advice from my GP once I get some ideas on peoples experiences - hope the mods understand as this is a huge issue for me)

    I cannot stress enough the sheer horror I experience on a plane so no placebos please - I need the real McCoy. Oh, and the media coverage of the Air France flight 447 crash has only heightened my phobia to the point of frenzy.

    Really need help with this one folks as I'm contemplating not going if I cannot put myelf in a state of blissful unawareness - it just wouldn't be worth the 14 hours of hell I'd have to endure, my heart would probably cave on me.

    Thanks in advance, I appreciate any info & advice as it may just save my holiday.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭jhegarty


    See a doctor.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 504 ✭✭✭Svalbard


    My advice.......its infrequent.
    But seriously, you have a statistically higher chance of being gored to death by a bull than dying on a plane. If you're that terrified, don't go. And for the love of God don't go to your doctor demanding horse tranquilisers!


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,560 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    Xanax did the job for me, ask your doctor.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,698 Mod ✭✭✭✭Silverfish


    Howya,

    I can completely sympathise. I avoided flying for several years after a scary flight, then for a further 3 years after another one.

    There at the start of may, I went on my longest flight ( four hours! On a plane!) and then, days later, I got on a plane and flew back.

    Solution? I went to my gp. Seriously, if you are that scared, yet you still want to go / have tickets booked / HAVE to go, then really, there's no point trying anything that just *might* work, because then you'll just have the fear of the fear coming up to it.

    Go to your GP and explain what flights you're going on and how long they'll be, and especially how scared you are, and they'll help you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭chickenhawk


    You'll probably just dismiss this (and you have every right too) but KLM and Virgin do courses for people who are afraid of flying. I know you'll think it won't work for you but that's what everyone who goes on the courses say and they have a huge success rate! Can't hurt to try it can it??


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,097 ✭✭✭IRISH RAIL


    First class
    Seriously forget tablets etc go first class and they really pamper you anywhere i go now except uk flights i always go one step up and its worth it,
    from the moment you check in your not crowded with anyone no waiting for boarding and nice comfy seats and free drinks with a menu for dinner youll barley even know your on a plane.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 37,214 ✭✭✭✭Dudess


    One Air France flight being tragically hit by disaster (which it seems would have happened to any plane from any company that was misfortunate enough to have been flying in that zone at that time) doesn't mean all Air France aircrafts are at risk - the opposite I'd say in light of the tragedy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,181 ✭✭✭Davidth88


    There is a school of thought that says ' lightning does not strike twice '.

    So Air France is possibly the safest airline in the world right now.

    Would knowing how aeroplanes work, and why they are the safest form of transport you can take ( Mondays terrible events not withstanding ) ? If so
    why not post over on the Aviation Forum , there are lots of people there who would be able/happy to help, including any number of serving flight crew .


    You may not be able to see past the flight right now , but Tokyo is a incredible place , concentrate on this maybe ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,255 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    OP, I'm guessing you'd have no problem with using other forms of transport, like buses, taxis and the like? You put your faith in the people who drive and maintain these vehicles probably without a a second's thought. Aircraft maintenance engineers go through years of training and certification, so do flight crew, and the people who guide you through the skies, the ATC people, have extremely stringent training to get where they are. If you want to get to Tokyo, then flying is by far the safest way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,102 ✭✭✭RossFixxxed


    I recently flew to london to bahrain to nepal. I absolutely HATE flying. Then I had to get into a little 18 seater plane and land in Lukla airport, it's 3,000 meters up on a CLIFF FACE (youtube it seriously it's horrible)! I'm not scared of flying anymore, or else I'm so scared I don't care!

    The only 2 things you can do are:
    1) Go to the doctor if it is that bad and he may give you something for the day
    2) Live with it.

    I'd recommend 2 if you can! The thought of it is so much worse than actually doing it. Once I got up in the air I was excited, and happy to be travelling.

    Make sure you're not hungover/drunk. Get some nice natural sleep. If you can go first/business class. I was stuck for 21 hours in steerage with vomiting and... well worse than vomiting!! And the little chairs were an issue! Above all just go and get to where you're going and be excited!!

    R


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭miss no stars


    Monday was a freak accident, I know it's difficult but do try to put it out of your mind. Air France are an extremely reliable, extremely well trained and maintained airline. Other airlines look to them to see how to do things well. You're in very good hands with Air France.

    I'm not afraid of flying so I can't empathise, but I imagine all the stats about how it's the safest form of transport wouldn't really make much of a difference to me. My advice is DON'T get drunk and don't take anything before the flight. All that does is dull your mind and make your body behave strangely. You're better off in full control of your body and mind. Sometimes tranquilisers help for some people, but some other people can end up panicking because they are out of control and it spirals downward because they can't do anything about the panick they're in. As you're flying alone, this is best left as an option to try when you're not panicking and when there are people that know you around you.

    At check in, ask them to give you a seat as far forward as possible with no view of the wing. TELL them you're a nervous flyer. A lot of the time, if you're really nervous, say it to the cabin crew and one of the pilots might come down and chat to you if you want them to. Don't be afraid to ask for this - most of them are more than willing to spend a few minutes calming a nervous flyer down.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭SarahSassy


    Aer Lingus also do the nervous passenger 'training' course.

    OP, these people operating and maintianing the flights are incredibly highly trained. On top of the training they do to become pilots, they are checked by their airline every 6 months to ensure that they are still competent to fly. They also have to pass the entire cirriculum every 5 years so they never fall short of the standard required. In fairness, a person can become a heart surgeon at 30 and never be examined again - they people are constantly assessed. You are in safe hands...

    Its more dangerous driving the M50 than flying to tokyo....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43 yeneewss


    Go to your GP and talk to them. Then GO GET ON THAT PLANE. To think of missing out on such an opportunity because of one fear is crazy. You can do something about your fear but you will not be able to do anything about the regret you will feel if you don't go. Flying myself to England on Friday but my fears are more about Ryanair and how many glitches and hurdles they can put in front of me before they let me on a plane!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Go to the GP.

    A friend of mine who works for an airline always says " the pilot wants to get there(the destination) as much as you".

    You used to get Airport tours for nervous flyers - I wonder do they still do them.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,942 ✭✭✭Danbo!


    A few suggestions:

    1) Visit your GP as said above

    2) This site looks a little ropey and out of date, but it worked for me.

    http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/

    A few years back I loved flying, and then I developed a really intense fear of flying, for no apparent reason. This went on for a few years and I tried the site above about 3 years back. Completely free, it just explains how everything works, explains safety checks and standards, and explains 'normal' noises you will hear in-flight that would usually stress you out and worry you.. (landing gear, flaps, reverse thrust, etc...) It might not work for everyone, and the only thing you have to lose is an hour or so of your time, try it!

    3) I know the next suggestion sounds completely off-the-wall crazy, but... watch Air Crash Investigation. Its on National geographic channel, and there are places you can watch it online. You will see how many variables there are and how it takes a series of problems & errors to cause any incident, which really lowers the chances of a problem. Backup systems and backup backup systems all in place to ensure safety, and everything is triple checked. You will also see from the program that after every crash, there are directives and moves to ensure a similar incident will never happen again. Therefore lowering chances even further.

    Air France have a very good safety record, and, as said above, are technically the safest airline in the world after Monday. Your flight (Dublin-Paris-Tokyo?) will also be over land 99.9% of the flight time, so also always near an airport if that puts your mind at ease.

    Whatever you do, get this sorted before you go, don't just grin and bear it. If you do, as soon as you get to Tokyo, you will relax and think, 'that wasn't too bad, now to go enjoy myself', only to realise you have to do it all again for the return trip, and spend the whole time there stressing even more.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Ive done that trip a million times (live in tokyo) and its a doodle. I dont really like flying, as in I grip the armrests with every noise/bump/glide, but in general there is very little of that on this route. I'm sure that doesnt help your fear much so go to the doc and get him to advise you on the best 'happy pill' hes got. Sleep on the Paris flight and next thing you know, you will arrive in Tokyo. Good luck.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,286 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    I fly regularly with numerous different carriers. Air France are one of the best out there- lovely staff, new aircraft, good facilities, food thats semi edible, CDG2 terminal- I could go on...... Nothwithstanding the accident- I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Air France/KLM to anyone.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭miss no stars


    Stee wrote: »
    3) I know the next suggestion sounds completely off-the-wall crazy, but... watch Air Crash Investigation. Its on National geographic channel, and there are places you can watch it online. You will see how many variables there are and how it takes a series of problems & errors to cause any incident, which really lowers the chances of a problem. Backup systems and backup backup systems all in place to ensure safety, and everything is triple checked. You will also see from the program that after every crash, there are directives and moves to ensure a similar incident will never happen again. Therefore lowering chances even further.

    Air France have a very good safety record, and, as said above, are technically the safest airline in the world after Monday. Your flight (Dublin-Paris-Tokyo?) will also be over land 99.9% of the flight time, so also always near an airport if that puts your mind at ease.

    Just a couple of things about the above - if you do watch air crash investigation - don't forget that technology on board and quality of materials used in the aircraft have improved quite a bit since any of the incidents, making those scenarios even less likely. Not to mention the fact that if some major incident does happen, how to deal with it correctly is then included in pilot training for the future. Flying is getting progressively safer - don't forget that!

    Also, no matter where in the world you're flying to the route MUST be within I think an hour and a halfs flying time (that figure might well be wrong, but it's something around that) of a qualifying alternate - that means that if you're in an airplane, no matter how big it is it will always be within that hour and a half of an airport that has a runway big and strong enough - with sufficient fire facilities - to allow that airplane to land. ALWAYS.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45 aibby


    Hi,

    I'm looking for some advice on the following: basically I'm flying alone to Tokyo by way or Paris in a number of weeks with... wait for it... AIR FRANCE.....!!!!!!!!! (heart sinks..) My issue is this - I haven't flown in several years because I hate it, in fact it scares the living bejaysus outta me and that is an understatement. No amount of alcohol, chirpy expressions, back pattings or suggestions of hypnosis are going to change how I feel. Trust me.

    So, I'm wondering what can I take to completely numb myself but to the point of still being functional to make the change in Paris and then preferably remain comatose for the ensuing 11+ hours to Tokyo. Will Xanax be enough to render me emotionless and desensitized? (I understand that medical advice is not given in these forums, I'm only looking for some pointers, I need to know what works and how it feels from a personal perspective - I will seek further advice from my GP once I get some ideas on peoples experiences - hope the mods understand as this is a huge issue for me)

    I cannot stress enough the sheer horror I experience on a plane so no placebos please - I need the real McCoy. Oh, and the media coverage of the Air France flight 447 crash has only heightened my phobia to the point of frenzy.

    Really need help with this one folks as I'm contemplating not going if I cannot put myelf in a state of blissful unawareness - it just wouldn't be worth the 14 hours of hell I'd have to endure, my heart would probably cave on me.

    Thanks in advance, I appreciate any info & advice as it may just save my holiday.

    I know how you feel, I have the same problem. I can sympathize with what you are going through. I usually just drink to get through flights. The doctor would prob give you xanax, having said that I have never tried it. And statistically flying is the safest form of transport, as everyone keeps telling me. I hope you will go and enjoy your holiday.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,909 ✭✭✭✭iguana


    I'm not the worlds best flyer, I have a number of tricks that I use to get me through a short flight and they help. But for long haul I prefer to get some chemical help with it.

    When I went to Chicago in March my gp gave me a couple of diazapam for the return flight. It was pretty good. I was still aware of what I was going on, and intellectually aware that I was nervous without actually being nervous, iykwim. I have to say that I'll be doing that for long-haul flights in future.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Any kind of benzodiazapine will do the trick (xanax is one). Just make sure you get enough from the doctor, a flight to Tokyo and back is looooong. Also, dont expect to be top of your game whenever you arrive, esp if you need to take a couple


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭sunnyside


    Not intended as medical advice but about the Xanax, have you taken them before? If not it would help if you take one before bed some night (Xanax is not a sleeping pill by the way, it's a tranqualizer like valium) just to check how you react to it because it comes in different strengths and the day of the flight isn't the best time for working out how much you need. A sleeping tablet might work better for you. Discuss with GP.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 920 ✭✭✭elvis2002


    If you take a xanax when you get on the 2nd flight in France you will be out of it for about 10 hours. Your speech and movement abilities will be very slow so probably you won't get the food or anything. If your going for Xanax make sure get a window seat as you won't be capable of moving if someone wants to go to the toilet.

    I fly easily 100 plus flights a year with work and one of my colleagues brought some Xanax back from Thailand for long haul flights. It's a knockout within about 30 minutes I'd say. You'd wake up in Tokyo dazed and confused not knowing where you are. If you are that scared then go the GP and tell him and he'll give you some stuff.

    Sleeping pills do nothing imho,then again I'm not afraid of flying as what'll happen will happen.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,252 ✭✭✭✭Madame Razz


    smccarrick wrote: »
    I fly regularly with numerous different carriers. Air France are one of the best out there- lovely staff, new aircraft, good facilities, food thats semi edible, CDG2 terminal- I could go on...... Nothwithstanding the accident- I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Air France/KLM to anyone.

    I completely agree.

    Air France/KLM are absolutely superb to fly with.

    Talk to your GP OP, they can definately sort you out with something.

    It is good to trial them before you go tho; as a previous poster suggested.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,558 ✭✭✭netwhizkid


    A person I know had a morbid fear of flying and never flew, instead of trying the usual solutions like medication, getting drunk onboard, hypnosis etc. She actually went and took flying lessons & liked it so much that she went ahead and even go herself a pilots licence (which is no mean feat phobia or otherwise).

    It sounds very "thrown in at the deep end" but as the saying goes you must tackle the bull by the horns and confront this head on, no amount of xanax or anything will beat this you must get over whatever psychological fear you have of it yourself. I fly regularly like everyone else and had a few scary moments myself as the plane flew into thunderstorms over Nebraska and Iowa. However when you land on the ground and get into your car it is then that you are in danger not on the plane.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,382 ✭✭✭✭AARRRGH


    Pherekydes wrote: »
    OP, I'm guessing you'd have no problem with using other forms of transport, like buses, taxis and the like? You put your faith in the people who drive and maintain these vehicles probably without a a second's thought. Aircraft maintenance engineers go through years of training and certification, so do flight crew, and the people who guide you through the skies, the ATC people, have extremely stringent training to get where they are. If you want to get to Tokyo, then flying is by far the safest way.

    That isn't going to help the OP. It's a phobia. And anyway, you can't compare a bus crash with a plane crash, for starters, only one of them happens a mile up in the sky while travelling at 500 miles per hour...

    OP: the only solution is drugs. Talk to your doctor.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    I travelled that route myself only last month, whatever you do, don't get pissed on the plane or fill yourself with sedatives, you'll need your wits about you when you arrive in Japan, immigration there take fingerprints and photos of arriving passengers. What I would advise is bring a big warm jumper in your hand luggage as the blankets on the plane aren't very thick and I found it cool on the flight. During the entire flight the plane simulates 'night' with the blinds closed, so just keep warm and close your eyes and try to sleep. The horrible thing about that flight is the entertainment system....it's just too good to leave alone, you'll find you'll land in Japan having watched half a dozen movies.
    Just keep your mind on your destination, it is a wonderful, safe country and the people are very friendly.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,403 ✭✭✭passive


    AARRRGH wrote: »
    you can't compare a bus crash with a plane crash, for starters, only one of them happens a mile up in the sky while travelling at 500 miles per hour...

    and the other one happens a thousand times more often...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Doh! The title of my original post should have read "Infrequent Flyer" and not "Un.."!!!

    Many thanks folks, all your posts have been great, I checked out the link suggestions and took on board your thoughts. Think I'll go with Xanax from my GP, it's prob the best option for me. Cheers for suggesting a trial run of the meds before I go also - I hadn't thought of that one and it makes perfect sense. Think I might also check out the hypnosis suggestion or at least research it too.

    Your words of encouragment have helped a great deal - I really appreciate you all taking the time out to respond. I'll give it a shot but if the flight over is in anyway dodgy I'm paddling back....! ;)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭miss no stars


    Can people REALLY not see the SAFETY issue with taking tranquillizers or sleeping pills? Seriously?

    Look, if you're afraid of flying stop for a moment and apply logic. An aircraft is only certified to carry passangers if everyone on board can be evacuated within 90 seconds. That time limit was picked for a reason. If worst came to worst, do you think you'll get out in that time if you're drugged up to your eyeballs?

    Learn about flying to help you get over the fear. Get used to short trips if you can afford it, if not go to one of those nervous flyers courses. Don't dope yourself up.


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