Just feel uncomfortable Flying

Feelslikefar

Feelslikefar

Senior Member
Location
Nashville, TN
We have a 2 trips scheduled in May, flying both times.
I wanted to drive, but the distances are just too far.

You would think that after all the air miles I've logged in the Air Force,
flying wouldn't be a big thing.

I don't have a fear of flying per se, but I've always felt very uncomfortable every time I fly.
I tough it out, sit quietly, hands gripping the arm rest on take offs and landing.
People around me must think it's my first time flying.
I've tried using headphones to listen to my music, but gave that up.
Seems I need to hear what's going on around me.
Can't medicate, because I need to pick-up rental cars and don't need that problem.

Hoping that these trips will be different.
I even called a friend who was a pilot in the USAF for many years and we talked about some things
for me to try.

Don't want to give up traveling and exploring, just the parts of getting there and back.
 

This may sound like a strange suggestion but have you ever considered taking flying lessons? The first time I got in a small plane I had a death grip on the seat too and when arriving at our destination I felt like someone was going to have to pry my fingers loose. I was some better in large planes, but not much.

Fast forward a few years with flying lessons and lots of knowledge gained and I was flying solo cross country and enjoying it so muuch that when my mother was dying and peace was hard to find I was able to go up alone and just let the peace envelop me.

I face my fears better by confronting them head on. May not be your cup of tea, but it's a suggestion.
 
Seems like there has been a lot of issues lately. Wheels falling off and doors opening and more. Unless they are just reporting these issues more, I don't feel safe flying. That and as stated above about the issues at the airports in general, I have no plans to fly in the future.
 
DebraMae said:
This may sound like a strange suggestion but have you ever considered taking flying lessons? The first time I got in a small plane I had a death grip on the seat too and when arriving at our destination I felt like someone was going to have to pry my fingers loose. I was some better in large planes, but not much.

Fast forward a few years with flying lessons and lots of knowledge gained and I was flying solo cross country and enjoying it so muuch that when my mother was dying and peace was hard to find I was able to go up alone and just let the peace envelop me.

I face my fears better by confronting them head on. May not be your cup of tea, but it's a suggestion.
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I think he said he was many years in the Air Force !
 
MountainRa said:
I’m a nervous wreck getting to and through the airport. Once I’m in my seat, I relax. I figure I’ve done my part, it’s someone else’s responsibility now.
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I'm not nervous at all.. but now passengers are treated appallingly at the airport, it's just not a joy for me any more.. and I speak as someone who flew up to 3 times a year every year.. until 3 years ago....and yet I need to go to Spain and I keep putting it off, because the airport experience is so terrible...
 
My last airport experience was by far the best as I was flying between two of the smaller regional airports. No queues, no hold ups, plenty of space - but of course, you just can't escape the sky high prices.
When I was working, a colleague and I worked out how many flights we had made. We reckoned it was about 750 each. As frequent flyers, we had lounge access and the joy of free wine and snacks. The KLM lounges at Schiphol were the best.
 
Capt Lightning said:
My last airport experience was by far the best as I was flying between two of the smaller regional airports. No queues, no hold ups, plenty of space - but of course, you just can't escape the sky high prices.
When I was working, a colleague and I worked out how many flights we had made. We reckoned it was about 750 each. As frequent flyers, we had lounge access and the joy of free wine and snacks. The KLM lounges at Schiphol were the best.
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I always use the airport lounges.. that's the best experience of the airport... and I have breakfast there... .

the Concourse is always packed solid, people sitting on hard chairs, cheek by jowl ... and I am sitting comfortably with a drink, some wi-fi.. and plenty of space.. and a shower if I choose to have one. Problem is not in the lounge.. but through security and passport control... the staff are just appallingly rude...

Concourse packed solid at 5.00 am....
airport-luton-3.avif
...
airport-concourse-2019.jpg

I took these photos from the lounge window upstairs
 
hollydolly said:
I love flying but the Airport experience in the last few years has put me right off flying...
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Over the years flying to a destination was kind of fun. I try to arrange for assistance for my wife. If we have to walk to the last gate on the concourse she is simply exhausted before we ever board a flight. Makes travel much less attractive. Our daughter lives in Hawaii and that by definition is both good and bad. It's a beautiful destination, no doubt. If you are our age that long trip can be agonizing. I try to select a flight with one stop of at least two hours, so we can rest move about and eat in some comfort. Just have to adapt to your new self along the way.
 
TennVet said:
Over the years flying to a destination was kind of fun. I try to arrange for assistance for my wife. If we have to walk to the last gate on the concourse she is simply exhausted before we ever board a flight. Makes travel much less attractive. Our daughter lives in Hawaii and that by definition is both good and bad. It's a beautiful destination, no doubt. If you are our age that long trip can be agonizing. I try to select a flight with one stop of at least two hours, so we can rest move about and eat in some comfort. Just have to adapt to your new self along the way.
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yes..I'm fortunately fit enough to get around the long corridors of airports.. it's just the cattle-market mentality which has ruined what used to be a Joy...
 
Don't fly at all, Last 2 flights were somewhat eventful & made me quite nervous. '67 & again in '95. '67 coming into SLC from Germany we were in clouds coming in from the south. Leaving the clouds the pilot had to throttle up. The mountain top looming towards us was in our path. Then in '95 flying from SLC to Seattle for training we were informed we would be circling for awhile.

After landing we were met by emergency vehicles, TV cameras and reporters. Seems our landing gear wouldn't go down (something wrong with the hydralics or lights) & they needed to fly by the tower for a look see. They also needed to dump fuel so we wouldn't cause a fireball on the runway. They had emergency vehicles lined up if needed. I figured the law of averages was finally catching up.
 
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When I flew KLM I had 'Royal wing' status so got to use the 'posh' lounge. Trouble was that it was a tad further away than the other lounges and you literally had to pick your way round and over backpackers trying to sleep in the area outside the lounge. The food and drink were just the same, but the seating was more comfortable.

Hollydolly, which airport is that?
 
hollydolly said:
I always use the airport lounges.. that's the best experience of the airport... and I have breakfast there... .
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How did you earn lounge access? The banks/CC companies have added this as one of the perks of getting their cards. The lineups to get in now are so long, it’s more aggravating than heading to an ordinary waiting area. Even frequent fliers are part of the lineups.

We just go to a restaurant and have a meal and/or a drink.
 
Jules said:
How did you earn lounge access? The banks/CC companies have added this as one of the perks of getting their cards. The lineups to get in now are so long, it’s more aggravating than heading to an ordinary waiting area. Even frequent fliers are part of the lineups.

We just go to a restaurant and have a meal and/or a drink.
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We got it from frequent flying.. also through Platinum American Express, and also from flying business class in the past...

the restaurants in the airport are all very full, overpriced canteen food .. and not relaxing at all
 
Roadwarrior said:
Don't fly at all, Last 2 flights were somewhat eventful & made me quite nervous. '67 & again in '95. '67 coming into SLC from Germany we were in clouds coming in from the south. Leaving the clouds the pilot had to throttle up. The mountain top looming towards us was in our path. Then in '95 flying from SLC to Seattle for training we were informed we would be circling for awhile.

After landing we were met by emergency vehicles, TV cameras and reporters. Seems our landing gear wouldn't go down (something wrong with the hydralics or lights) & they needed to fly by the tower for a look see. They also needed to dump fuel so we wouldn't cause a fireball on the runway. They had emergency vehicles lined up if needed. I figured the law of averages was finally catching up.
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That is scary, glad you arrived safely. On a SW flight from San Diego to Nashville a passenger saw something leaking on the wing, that turned out to be fuel. We landed in Phoenix at one of those cul de sac type gates. SW walked from one plane to another at the next gate and we were on our way. We were traveling with a group of friends, and everyone on that flight received two roundtrip tickets from SW in the mail. To my knowledge they were unsolicited by passengers, at least I know I didn't ask for anything. To me that spells customer service. I have seen other airlines perform much worse.
 
Nathan said:
I hope to never fly again, the hubub, the parking nightmare, the ever-changing check-in and baggage handling, the uber-expensive airport food,etc. all make me want it all to be over...
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When I was younger and made the trips from Phoenix to SD or the LA area I always flew. Now it is so much easier to take the six hour drive instead of putting up with everything you listed.
 

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