subject: Getting A Grip On Your Flying Fears [print this page] You are preparing to go to the Bahamas to be a part of your cousin's wedding. You got the perfect dress, an adorable bathing suit, and you discovered your lost and stolen passports. But... you've never flown before. All you ever hear about is how small and uncomfortable planes are and how miserable security is. Just the thought of zipping through the air way to far above the surface makes you nauseous. I used to be one of you, so I've comprised a little list of the things that help me cope.
First, relax. You can't think or be rational if you are shaken up like a snow globe. Flying is very safe, even more so than driving a car. The reason so many people are scared of flying is simply the dramatic coverage that a rarely occurring crash receives. Here are some pretty amazing facts that will hopefully change your mind about flying.
- You are more likely to die from a bee sting than from an airplane crash.
- If you flew on a plane every single day, it would be 19,000 years before you would experience a crash.
- Training a pilot takes the same amount of time and money as training a doctor does.
- Everything on a plane has a back-up system, along with three autopilots and three computers.
- For every hour in the air, an airplane spends 12 hours on the ground getting maintenance.
- Airplanes fly only in designated flyways that are ten miles wide. No other airplane can fly through it.
See? There's nothing to worry about. Now let's go on to some specifics that you need to remember for your flight. When packing your bag, you need to decide whether you want to check it or carry it on with you. If you are going on a long trip and have a lot to bring, consider checking it. Having to stuff everything you need into a small bag to bring it on with you would only be more of a hassle. The TSA recommends that you arrive at least two hours before your flight in order to allow enough time for delays associated with checking your bags, getting a boarding pass, getting through security, and finding your terminal.
Try to find a friend to drop you off at the airport. Having to park is sort of a hassle, but it's really not that bad, just expensive. When you walk in to the terminal, look for your airline's front desk. This is where you will check in, get your boarding pass, and check your bags. An employee can help you with all of this, this is exactly what they are there for.
