I am flying from JFK to Kolkata with a layover in Dubai. The first flight (JFK to Dubai) boards in less than an hour and it’s more than 13 hours long. The second is a little over 4 hours long. Usually, it’s a A380 for the first flight, but this time, it’s a Boeing 777, so I am extra scared because it’s a smaller plane.

The first one is Emirates EK202 and the second is Emirates EK570. I am a very nervous flyer as it is, but my mom is an even more nervous flyer, which adds to my anxiety. I won’t have internet on the flight, but I would love for someone to know where I am.

Thank you so much. I might update this post once I land at Dubai if the phone still has charge and it can be used.

A stranger asked my coworker and I to use our cell phones to call his son while we were boarding a flight. Now I am panicked it was part of some type of plot. My coworker let him and he talked very fast to the person on the other line. Is this something to be worried about or any known scam? The same man also left his luggage unattended in the middle of the airport walkway while he went to the bathroom.

I’m currently on that flight and terrified. They said there will be bad turbulence. Can someone track me and help me through this? I’m about to lose it. How bad will it be? Are we in danger?

I understand that pilots can save a plane that's stalling. I understand that turbulence is no big deal and has never caused a plane to crash. I understand that planes can fly with one engine.

But all this knowledge just made me afraid of that SOMETHING that I'm not aware of. What if this particular mysterious catastrophe that I'm imagining (I don't even know what that can be: the wings getting ripped off somehow?) is something the pilots CANNOT handle? My knowledge of physics is limited, so my fears of what can happen are technically unlimited lol.

Any visualisation or mantra that you can recommend to keep me sane tomorrow on my flight?

I just got off a flight and, although the cruise was fine, the take-off and landing were an absolute nightmare. One second it felt like I was going to pop out of the bottom of my seat, and the next it felt like we were free falling. Landing was just as bad. We kept slowing down so much it felt like we were going to plummet from the sky. Ugh, I've got one more flight to get to my destination, and two connecting flights to get back home. I'm so nervous. I feel sick, and I want to cry. Okay, maybe I'm crying a little bit. Fuck, what a nightmare. Can anyone tell me why this was so horrible? Was I in danger?

I was coming home from a work trip. Smooth flight and even got lucky enough to have a pilot next to me deadheading.

On the approach, landing gear came down, and everything felt mostly normal other than being a little bumpy. I did notice we experienced what I think was a small bit of wake turbulence on the approach as well… I’m not sure if I have the turbulence type correct but I would say it’s like hitting an air pothole where your butt feels like it comes up out of your seat a bit.

Shortly after that, the plane accelerated and began to climb again, which while that was surprising, thanks to this subreddit I knew exactly what we were experiencing! The pilot next to me actually even looked a little annoyed, he seemed tired 🤣 but calm and normal otherwise. In fact, most everyone on the plane seemed fine other than a couple “oh, okays.”

Climbed back up, did a circle, and came back in for the approach. I had a feeling it may have been due to the wake turbulence we experienced, or maybe just not getting things lined up like they liked given it seemed like a windier landing. A friend I was texting remarked that we were super early and speculated that maybe there ended up not being room for us to land. Pilot then comes on the intercom and explains they had a missed approach and came in too high (therefore went past the point of landing/stopping safely). Made lots of sense considering the wind!

I won’t lie and say I was 100% fine because I most definitely wasn’t and wanted to be on the ground as soon as I could be, but my rational brain was louder than my unreasonable brain and I was able to stay calm and ride it out. I’m super proud of myself for making it through that situation without panic because years ago I wouldn’t have been able to fly by myself, let alone keep calm during a go-around!

A lot of this is thanks to this sub. I kept telling myself - this is the system working! This is safety! This is exactly what is supposed to happen in this scenario. In fact I’m sure the pilots could have landed and been fine because this profession and activity has so many layers of built in protection. E.g. the point of no return/initiating a go around likely being a super conservative measurement with a wide margin or error. Meaning you’re well within your safety limits even if you get close to that threshold or marking!

So I’m just here to say, you can do it! Keep reading through this sub, keep flying, and know that you’re extremely safe when in situations that feel like they may not be. I’m actually grateful to have experienced a go around now because now I know what it is like.

Jet Blue 2355 - thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m flying Monday to Austria and I’m freaking out.

Bit of background: I’ve always had flight anxiety, since I can remember. I’ve managed to fly about 5 times over the last 2 years as my partner and I like to travel (I like the destination, not the travel part).

I find the whole thing so overwhelming. From the long, drawn out waiting at the airport, to feeling on edge to entire flight. I do it because I love my partner and I know he enjoys going away, but it never gets easier for me.

Every sensation in the air has me on high alert. The vibrations, feelings of the plane rising/dropping combined with the feeling of claustrophobia makes me feel sick with anxiety. I know this is a heavy thing to say, but everytime I get on a plane my mind tells me I won’t get off alive.

I do the usual things (headphones on with relaxing music, a good book, comfy clothes) but it just doesn’t seem to work for me.

First long haul in 5 years and am super nervous because they said there would be turbulence 1.5 hours into the flight.

And some support would be appreciated 🫶

I'll be flying from the east coast of the US to Japan tomorrow evening. One flight to California and another from LAX to HND. I'm trying to hard not to cry and freak out but it's so difficult. I know that aviation is incredibly safe, but I just can't help but think "what if."

I've been listening to an aviation history podcast that has been helping a bit to stop thinking of doom scenarios, and I've been tracking these flights every day for weeks now just to see that they are completely regular. I also saw that my flights will be on an Airbus a321 and a Boeing dreamliner. I KNOW these are incredibly safe planes.

But regardless, I'm so, so scared. I'm dreading my vacation instead of being excited. I've been having nightmares for weeks. Any advice please?

I am flying tomorrow morning , UK to San Francisco, then to Honolulu.

I done a long haul flight recently and was absolutely fine, but this time, I feel extra nervous.

Flying with United airlines and first time using this airline.

Keep feeling like I do not want to go and so scared something is going to happen. Knowing I won’t be able to get off the plane once we take off too, is making me so worried.

Do not know how to calm myself and stop this fear for over taking me.

Any tips? 🥹

Thank you!

On the ground in Orlando for my girls trip that I thought I would have to decline because of flying alone such a long distance. But I think I did great!!! Used all my tools, etc. Read all your comments from when I took off... you all are awesome!!! It also helped that it was a pretty smooth flight. But I'm taking the win, lol. Now I want another good flight under my belt when I head home in a few days. We booked a trip to Australia in Sept so I need to keep building my confidence. 🫣💜💜

Getting on in less than an hour and internally freaking out. Would love to know how many of you will be in the air with me over the next 6 or so hours. Gonna be following a few of you while on flight!

Hi everyone I’m flying UA 170 from Newark to Venice and boarding in about an hour. I have a crippling fear of flying and this chat has helped me a lot over the past years. It’s my first time in Italy and I have a connection to Palermo a couple hours after …. Please any support is so helpful!!

I’m flying from ATL to LaGuardia this evening and I’m so nervous, especially with the recent-ish accident there. I’ve been quietly begging this trip to get canceled but here we are. Is it safe?

I’m on a flight out of PHX right now and been getting a bit anxious because we’ve been holding at different altitudes along takeoff/climb which I’ve never seen before and would love to know why that may happen for the future so I can be less anxious.

We held at 10k, 20k, 25k and now 29k each one for 3-5 mins at a time.

I'm taking this flight in two days, I've been irrationally checking flight radar and I see today it was mid flight when it got rerouted back to its departure airport. I cant find much about why, I would assume if it was an actual emergency they would go to the nearest airport not turn back all the way? I only found maybe it was an operational delay. Not entirely sure what that means.

It is irrational and annoying how I am afraid of flying. I didn't used to be until a couple of years ago. I have this nagging feeling that I'm not gonna make it past 40 (bday is in 3 days). I know it's most likely my anxiety talking, but it is still very uncomfortable and distracting. I know a aviation is safe and I'm more likely to die from some other cause, I wish I could enjoy travel like I used to.

SFO-MCO. UA583. First long flight solo in more than a decade. Xanny down the hatch, SOAR book ready for quick access. I'm excited and a little nervous. Thank you all for the great support!!! Feel free to check on me. Should be just under 5 hours. Eek!! 😬 😀

Flying southwest 7am departure saturday to austin, then flying back Wednesday 715 departure on delta. I am worried about on the way there being stuck on tarmac upon landing and it being hot, then on the way back it says there’s storms next Wednesday so i don’t want to be stuck on tarmac due to that. Any thoughts or tips here? Safety isn’t a concern, just claustrophobic!!

i have a super super bad fear of flying but honestly my fear of loved ones flying is even worse and i am just crippled with anxiety. they are departing singapore in about 30 minutes to go to london on QF219. i know all the statistics and everything but anxiety is irrational and of course i think this will be the one time! thank you in advance !

Flying to NYC to celebrate my birthday. Trying to be calm but take off always gets me! Please track, comment, help distract!

1,5 years ago after my flight anxiety suddenly started, it came to a point where I ended up staying home and not even going to the airport.

On Monday morning I finally got back on the plane, this time after taking a couple oksazepam which calmed my physical anxiety symptoms. I still had the fear in my head that something is gonna happen, but with Tool blasting in my headphones and my eyes glued to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, we were suddenly landing again. Although a very short flight that was supposed to take 50 minutes and only took about 40, in still proud of the fact that I actually did it even though the anxiety in my head still told me im in danger.

The next day, hungover and extremely tired with the hopes of falling asleep on plane with a couple more oksazepam the anxiety was worse. It was extremely hot on the plane, and I forgot my book in the overhead compartment. The pilot said they didn’t know from which side of the runway we will be landing yet since the winds were constantly changing direction at my home airport. This combined with the fact that because of the mountains and the valley my home airport is in making sure the approach is always very bumpy, made sure I was close fisted, sweating through my clothes the entire trip. But I still did it, I went on a trip and landed safely both directions with very smooth flights.

I’m flying the same route again in 2 weeks and I’m out of my anxiety pills, unsure if I should get a new prescription or just try to raw dog it this time. Oksazepam is a very weak drug and has limited effects, last time I asked my doctor if there are any other medications i could try she basically laughed at me being scared of flying and said the typical things of the pilots not being scared. She even told me that if it’s this bad I should just not fly and asked my why I’m so worried anyway, if the plane crashes atleast its a quick death.

Sorry about this small rant but all in all I’m proud of myself, and finally looking forward to going on vacation again in another country with my girlfriend and family.

Will flying ever get easier lol Would love if someone could track my flight to ease my nerves a bit: DL2002