Terrified of flying for the first time, what's it like?

ja89

I've never been on a plane before and I'm terrified. It's only a 2 hour flight, but I'm terrified I'll hate it and be stuck there for 2 hours. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Thanks

fredtheguava

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleyperez/these-two-women-flying-for-the-first-time-is-wonderful

tanith

Just like sitting in a coach , don't sit near the window if you are really scared and you'll be fine..

kwmlondon

You sit down, wait for a while, have to put your seat belt on, turn off all electrical items and then you taxi to the runway. This takes a couple of minutes. Take-off is like being in a car when it accelerates very fast (personally, I love take-off!) then there's a bit of a bump as you take off and then a couple of minutes of feeling heavy, like going up in a lift. Easy.

Idiophreak

ja89 wrote: »

I've never been on a plane before and I'm terrified. It's only a 2 hour flight, but I'm terrified I'll hate it and be stuck there for 2 hours. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Thanks

You'll sit there, like a coach, put your seat belt on, read a book, in a couple of hours you'll get off. Nothing to be concerned about.

You'll feel a bit of acceleration force when you take off...and your ears might pop as you gain altitude...a gentle bump when you land, and that's it.

Although it's statistically safer than driving etc, I'm always a little aware of the danger when I fly (I don't do it much) - so I make sure that I'm wearing clean pants, I tell my wife I love her and think "if I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die" and that's that - off I go. I actually really enjoy the sensation of taking off.

fivetide

As above, as speed freak I love take off.

Take some boiled sweets with you (buy some airside) and suck one as you take off. This is because they'll pressurise the cabin and like going up (or down) a steep hill your ears can pop with the change. Sucking a sweet stops that.

After that, it is just sit back, read a book, listen to some music. Who are you flying with? Dependign on carrier you might get a drink or something. If it is budget, a trolley will come down just like a train. Beyond the take off/landing bit that's the nearest experience you can get.

warehouse

For new flyers the experience is very exciting. For old timers like me it's mind-numbingly boring. It's safe as houses though and there's absolutely nothing to be worried about.

Enjoy the new experience and have a good holiday, (I presume).

fivetide

SecretaryBird wrote: »

It is also REALLY noisy, the engines are very loud with a lot of clanging and grinding noises which I didnt expect.

Those noises are the 'flaps' on the wing being adjusted rather than the engines

HKitten

I don't enjoy flying - I get motion sickness, so it's not always pleasant. If you have any history of getting sick in cars or on boats, prepare in advance and take travel sickness pills. They have the added bonus of sometimes making you a little drowsy, which can be helpful if you're feeling a bit nervous! I normally get to my seat, buckle up and try to doze off immediately so that I'm not fully 'there' for take-off.

LandyAndy

warehouse wrote: »

For new flyers the experience is very exciting. For old timers like me it's mind-numbingly boring. It's safe as houses though and there's absolutely nothing to be worried about.

Enjoy the new experience and have a good holiday, (I presume).

^^^^ This ^^^^

I love flying but only the take off and landing are interesting once you've flown a few times. Although it can be fascinating flying over some landscapes if you like that sort of thing.

If you've never flown before then it can be noisier and bumpier than you might expect but nothing to worry about (they all do that;)).

If the flight is for anything over an hour or so take a good book.

Most of all, enjoy it.

Gra76

I'm not a fan of flying either, but I'm going on a plane again for the first time in 7 years this weekend. The only part I'm not keen on is the takeoff. Bombing down the runway has never bothered me, it's always been the sinking feeling you get in your stomach as you ascend for the first minute or two.

I go to a happy place for that first couple of minutes and once that's over it's a walk in the park.