Telling Airline Staff of your fear

[Maria Chumas-Baker]

Hi there,

I always tell a steward on board that I am a nervous flyer.  I like to talk to them and it does help.  They are always very good and tell me they will look after me.  I don't feel embarrassed at all.  They very often tell me that a large number of people on the plane are probably nervous flyers but they try to hide it.

It is not a bad thing to admit your fear and it does help to talk to a steward.

Does anybody else do this?

Maria

[Phil]

Did it once and the stewardess replied, "honey, so am I, but it is all in the breathing. Anytime you need some breathing just press that button and I will cone and breathe along with you". She checked in a few times along the flight as well. 

It is funny but you never can tell who will also have your fear. She was a legend. Not all of them are, but she is. 

[Maria Chumas-Baker]

Hi there,

Yeah talking to other people on the plane is what I do as well. It does help because it takes your mind off what you are fearful about and they talk to you about their flying experiences.  A lot of the time they are sympathetic and I do thank them for having the conversation.  The main thing is that it makes the time pass more quickly.

[Maria Chumas-Baker]

Wow, she sounded really cool.  Never had that experience before.  They are always very nice though and chatting to them about how they got into their jobs etc makes the time go faster.  I don't see why anybody should be embarrased about expressing their fear, well maybe perhaps if you are a guy as it may not be very macho to admit this.  But you did it Phil so well done and what a response.  Was it a U.S. stewardess?

Phil said:

Did it once and the stewardess replied, "honey, so am I, but it is all in the breathing. Anytime you need some breathing just press that button and I will cone and breathe along with you". She checked in a few times along the flight as well. 

It is funny but you never can tell who will also have your fear. She was a legend. Not all of them are, but she is. 

[Phil]

yeah she was.  was on a flight last year from Dallas to London (the middle leg of a San Diego to Glasgow), so it was nicely timed and helped a lot over the rest of the day.  By the time we got to fog covered London I was totally enjoying the view and the flight home to glasgow seemed to last about a minute or two.

every little bit helps ;-)  I think generally most of them are awesome friendly people who are more than happy to give you that reassuring smile.  Just remember to smile back at them.  It kind of hard to be worried when everyone is smiling all over the place, right?

[Karolina]

hey, I do it everytime I fly (which is not very often)- in fact I don't have to say as you can see it on my face flooded with tears! the last 2 or 3 times (flying with ryanair) just after take off I sat at the back of the plane where the cabin crew works. It was much better as I could chat to them as see how normal it is for them, I sat with them and chat and once I even talked to the capitan through their phone. I only had to go back to my sit for landing.They were always very helpfull, just shame I can't do it this time as i will have my small baby flying with me and I don't know how i will cope... :-(

[Julie Betts-nicholson]

I always do this. And it can pay dividends. On one BA flight, knowing I was a fearful flyer, the steward took the time to come and warn me about a thunderstorm on our tail, what it would feel like and why I shouldn't worry. I can't tell you how much difference that made. Often, I've had a reassuring smile as a steward walked past when we hit a rough patch. I think it's really reassuring that someone knows this might be a bit tough for you and is supportive.