How to overcome flight

Anxiety in the air

It’s time to combat those flying nerves because PSA: It turns out turbulence isn’t even *that* bad

NO matter how many statistics about the unlikeliness of ever being involved in any kind of air-related disaster, the wide reporting of accidents and bumpy turbulence can be terrifying for even the most frequent flyers.

Between 33% and 40% of travellers experience flight anxiety, and for some, the thought can be too scary to even consider a holiday abroad. But that shouldn’t be the norm when we’re getting excited to hit the slopes or head off to a sandy beach, right?

In a bid to help make flying more enjoyable again (because it can actually be relaxing!) we spoke to Bayram Annakov, Founder & CEO of App In The Air, the multi-award-winning personal travel assistant app, loved by more than six million frequent fliers around the world about how to combat the jitters.

So, why do people find flying so scary?

“Aerophobia, or a fear of flying, is a very personal thing and there’s not necessarily one cause – it can come from anxiety of a loss of control or a fear of enclosed spaces, from associating a traumatic event with the process of flying, something unrelated such as stress at work, or any number of other triggers.

“There are so many wonderful things about flying, which make it all worthwhile. For me, the main is it allowing me to explore new destinations or connect with my friends, family and colleagues around the world. It’s also a rare chance to disconnect and catch up on books and films that you’ve been meaning to enjoy but never quite have the time for in day-to-day life. It’s a highly efficient mode of travel, you never know who you will meet, and, thanks to the incredible service levels offered by many airlines, it can also be a great way to enjoy top-class hospitality.”

How likely is it that something might actually go wrong?

“Flying is, without a doubt, the very safest form of long-distance transport. It is stringently monitored and scrutinised, and airlines and the commercial aviation bodies that govern them are militant about safety regulations. If you flew every day of your life, probability dictates that it would take nineteen thousand years before you might succumb to a fatal accident. By comparing that to driving, something that people do every day without anxiety, where there are approximately 130 people killed daily, it shows just how safe air travel really is.”

Are airlines themselves doing to help nervous flyers?

“The more that travellers can understand about the safety features of aircraft and the procedures in place to protect us all, and the more that the experience of flying itself can be demystified, the more confident anyone with aerophobia can become. Airlines are doing a great job of sharing helpful information of this nature on their websites, in their inflight magazines, on their social media channels, and, most importantly, onboard, so absorb as much of this reassuring content as you can.”

The good news is, if you get the jitters

at the thought of stepping on a plane, it’s not the be all and end all. In fact, it’s a lot more treatable than you’d think (or literally no one would be keeping the aviation industry alive), and it doesn’t have to involve the usual personal strategies of turning to the in-flight wine.

Some noises you might expect to hear on the plane…

While their exact meanings aren’t revealed for security purposes, here’s what we know about some of the noises you hear while on board.

Banging while boarding: This is the sound of bags being boarded into the plane! There’s always someone late to the gate, after all… One chime: There are a few variations of what this means. The first being that you might be approaching turbulence (which by the way, isn’t nearly as bad as you think, it’s just like a car going over speed bumps). The other being the pilot wants a cup of coffee.

Two chimes: This sound supposedly signals when the plane has reached 10,000 feet.

Revving engines when landing: It might sound like you’re about to take off again, but this is actually the pilot reversing the engine thrusts to slow the plane down.

naBayram’s top tips for easing flight nerves

Talmesha KeonBLUSH | SUMMER 2022 59 1. Drink responsibly: Alcohol can heighten anxiety, so avoid the temptation to manage those feelings with booze. Responsible consumption, or avoiding alcohol altogether during the flight, will help. 2. Practice breath work: Calming breathing techniques can help to overcome feelings of anxiety as they arise. Take deep, slow breaths in, hold, slowly release and repeat. 3. Download App In The Air: The app offers a range of features that take the stress out of travelling and provides reassurance to users, making the process of flying as seamless as possible. 4. Distract yourself: Downloading some of your favourite comforting shows and films will provide a welcome distraction from what’s going on around you. If you have noise-cancelling headphones those can really help you to lose yourself in what you’re watching! 5. Notify the cabin crew: Your in-flight team will be experts in helping passengers with anxiety, and there to make you as comfortable as possible. If you start to feel nervous let a member of the cabin crew know, and they can be on hand to provide reassurance. There are so many wonderful things about flying, which make it all worthwhile. It’s a rare chance to disconnect and catch up on books and films that you’ve been meaning to enjoy but never quite have the time for in day-to-day life