Having been a nervous flyer for as long as I can remember, I have taken and attempted advice from every source imaginable, from friends, air hostesses and TikTok. Here is a list of the coping mechanisms I have found most effective.
The purpose of the on-flight crew is to ensure you have as comfortable a flight as possible, this includes reassuring nervous flyers. Not to mention that it’s not entirely unheard of to be given a free upgrade as a way of comforting a nervous passenger. You’ll be less likely to be contemplating the possibility of disaster when you’re sitting in business class.
While it is hard to rationalise with yourself when in a state of panic, one of the greatest comforts I have found on my various journeys has been to consider the facts. Travelling by car is 100 times more likely to be fatal than travelling by plane, yet how many of us are concerned as we set off for a road trip?
Whether it be familiarising yourself with the in-flight entertainment, watching pre-downloaded episodes of your favourite series or reading the book you’ve been meaning to start, have something to focus your attention on. For some, a glass of wine is also often paired very nicely with these distractions.