Soaring Above Anxiety: How I got over my Fear of Flying
The first time I got on a plane I was 8 years old and I was going on a family trip to Walt Disney World. I remember being so excited to be on the plane and that it would only take two hours instead of 19 hours if we were to drive. A year later I found myself on a plane again this time headed to St. Petersburg. I’ll never forget landing in St. Pete and getting off the plane outside and climbing down the stairs. I don’t know when it all changed, but some time in my teens I started dreading flying. I’d sit in my seat on the plane bouncing my leg up and down trying to burn off the nervous energy. Every bump had me grabbing the armrests. Anytime the flight attendants were on the phone, I was thinking there’s some sort of problem I just knew it. I’ve gotten much better in recent years, and I have even grown to enjoy the airport. Here are some things that have helped me along the way to ease my nerves when flying.
1. YouTube
The biggest help to me is when I found pilots on YouTube who would record their flights and basically walk you through what happens during a flight. It didn’t matter if the pilots were flying big commercial jets or small single engine prop airplanes. Just watching their body language during flights and how calm they were somehow had a calming effect on me. My favorite pilot YouTuber is steveo1kinevo. If you are at all as nervous as I was flying, I’d recommend his channel. You will learn a few things and get to see what goes on in the cockpit.
2. Learn About Aviation
What we fear when fly is really a fear of the unknown. What do all the dinging sounds mean? How is this thing even flying? What happens if something goes wrong? A lot of this can be answered by watching pilots on YouTube. The more I learned about planes and the airline industry the less nervous I was. I learned what all the dining sounds mean, so now when it happens on a plane, I know for the most part what is going on. I even went as far as looking into taking flight lessons. I haven’t done it yet, but the more learn about the air travel, the less nervous I become. Stig Aviation on YouTube is a good follow if you are interested in the inner workings of commercial jets.
3. TSA Precheck
I already hated going to the airport and I hated standing in lines. When I got TSA precheck six years ago, it was a game changer. For the most part, there is no more standing in lines and getting through security is a breeze. I found getting through security faster and with less of a hassle would calm my nerves slightly. The faster I could get through security and the faster I could get to an airport bar; a few drinks didn’t hurt to help calm my nerves.
4. Airport Lounge Access
This is a newer thing for me as I’ve only had access for maybe a year and half. Access to an airport lounge makes the whole airport experience better. When the airport experience is better, it calms my nerves about flying. I live in a Delta hub so I have access to the Delta Sky Club through the Delta AMEX card. The Sky Clubs provide food and drinks and are more comfortable than sitting in the terminal. They even have quite rooms available if you need to work or take a call. Its gotten to the point now where if I haven’t flown in month or two, I begin to miss the airport.
5. Airline Loyalty
Find an airline that works for you and stick with them. The more you fly them the more you will be accustomed to the policies and procedures. You’ll get used to how they board and how seating works so there wont be any surprises when you get to the gate. Once on the plane you will learn how the inflight service works. I know that soon after we get above 10k feet, the flight attendants are up and preparing for service. Hearing the flight attendants up and about is something that helps calm my nerves. I must commend Delta for the service they offer in flight (not being paid to say it). After the first drink service goes through, they usually go through the cabin again with coffees and waters.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/overview
6. Keep Flying
The more I’ve flown the less nervous I become. That is true of most things, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become with them. I have gone from an all-out fear of flying to now enjoying the experience. Years ago, I could never fall asleep on a plane. Every bump would have me digging my nails into the armrests. Now its to the point where I find myself nodding off and not even noticing the bumps anymore.
Today, I no longer dread flights; instead, I find myself looking forward to the journey and even missing the airport when I’m not traveling. If you share a similar fear of flying, remember that knowledge, practical strategies, and regular exposure can profoundly change your perspective. The sky is no longer a source of anxiety for me but a gateway to adventure and new experiences. Safe travels, and may you find the same peace and enjoyment in flying that I have discovered!
