Flying for the inexperienced (and reluctant..)

In fact,the majority of passengers do survive plane crashes - the newspapers just like to concentrate on the total disasters.
I suffer from claustrophobia, except in the one circumstance when I actually am trapped in an enclosed space - in an aircraft. I have to fly many times a year, as I live in France and have daughters in England and New Zealand, and I also fly to the Caribbean or Egypt for my snorkeling holidays. For some reason, I am always completely relaxed, just bored by the hanging about. I keep a small book of sudoku with me at all times anyway, so I always have something to do in waiting rooms.

I find Easyjet quite cheap for my flights from Geneva to Manchester - so far I have not found any other carrier that flies direct. Next month it will cost me about £50. I have a fairly hectic itinerary - Geneva - Manchester - Singapore - Auckland - Nelson - Auckland- Singapore - Phuket - Singapore - Heathrow - Geneva. I am adding on a week's snorkeling to my annual visit to my daughter as I know there is still good coral in Thailand.

I googled 'aircraft seating' and found several sites that show you the dimensions of the seats and the seating layout in every commercial aircraft. I have chosen Singapore Airlines because several people recommended them. Last year I went with Cathay Pacific and it was a nightmare. Some designer had had the bright idea of enclosing each seat in a fibre glass pod, so the person in front did not recline into your space. Sounds great - except the seat inside the pod did not recline at all - the squab just slid forward. I had to sit bolt upright for both the 9 hour flight to Hong Kong and the 14 hour flight to Heathrow. Not good for a 70-year old with a touch of arthritis.

I always order the vegetarian meals on long haul - I take the view that if I was going to get food poisoning it would most likely be from meat or fish!

wheniwasyourage - marathon running, you must be joking!!
No, what I'd like to do is convince him that flying is a reasonable method of transport. He's not scared of it, just doesn't like the idea of hanging around at airports for hours, then being in a "tin box with a lot of other people". Also frightened of the diseases and germs he thinks are lurking in the air conditioning waiting to get into him

Do you mean you want your DH to go flying or marathon running, yogagran? Both seem equally silly to me, although my DH enjoys both for some reason. The best thing I found was to ask for advice and reassurance from friends and relations who fly regularly. That was a great help, even with the irrational worries at 3am.

Pity your recommended hypnotist is not in the South East Jess. I would like to suggest to my DH that a hypnotist could help but I rather think that he would not be open to the idea. I'll work on it though and hope perhaps something may happen before too long

Oh well done. Glad you enjoyed it and I am very impressed that you managed with so little luggage. (Visions of you both getting on plane, dressed in all your clothes, looking like Mr and Mrs Michelin Man and then peeling off to reveal svelte marathon running figures beneath.)
For anyone nervous I would recommend a couple of sessions with a reputable hypnotherapist. (not one of the ones that has done a 2 day course and specialises in smoking).
I did this when my kids started migrating to the far side of the planet. Previously i was not nervous but resistant to long haul flights. A few sessions with Tim convinced my brain that the flights would pass quickly easily and enjoyably. Made a huge difference. (apart from that last uncomfortable trial by virgin - must get out hypnosis recording and reinforce before my next trip...)
He sorted out some other stuff too. (A saint, situated in the south midlands/northern home counties)

Well done wheniwasyourage, you should feel very proud of yourself. Now, please tell me how I can convince my DH to do the same thing

Been, done it, husband has the New York marathon t-shirt!! I managed to hold the plane up both ways but am still not convinced that being shut in a tin at 30,000ft is a sensible way of travelling, in spite of the seat-back screen which allows you to choose your own films, music, games, flight maps etc. The security was thorough, although not the same at both ends. The little plastic bag for toiletries held enough daily lenses for a week, and on the way back I added 2 energy bars from the marathon goody bag just in case, and they were let through with no problems. We had no regrets about taking just carry-on luggage. Even US Immigration in Newark was ok - pleasant and even friendly.

New York is a great place and as soon as someone comes up with an eco-friendly way of getting there (floo powder?) I would go back!

Thank you all for your help, encouragement and good ideas.

I am not liking Virgin A. Dismal food. And if you want anything else they have sweets and crisps on sale! Token gesture service.
I was very uncomfortable last Friday. I was so wishing I was on the Air New Zealand flight - they are on top form as a result of World Cup...

Jacey, we're going with Continental or possible United Airlines (one is the operator and one is the carrier - no it doesn't make sense however you write it). Now I'm off to check about the weight they allow. this is getting beyond a joke!!

I agree with Jacey - I wouldn't bother with the faffing around with plastic bags, check it in as baggage and it's a whole lot easier. Doesn't really take too much longer anyway. I recently came back from Canada and there was a 5kg limit on cabin bags so it's worth checking with your airline to see if they have limits.

If you're taking your iPhone or any other form of "smart phone" with you make sure that your turn the data off before you leave the UK unless you're prepared for a very hefty phone bill

I'd endorse Virgin Atlantic - flew to San Francisco with them and found even economy very commodious. My sister and I managed to spend a week in Spain last year with just carry-on baggage - with Monarch. Luckily in November it was still sandal weather in Andalusia.

I managed a week in Greece at Easter with just a carry on bag and it definitely speeded up the getting out of the airport. Admittedly we were flying BA and they let you have a handbag as well, which helps. Put my daily disposable lenses in the little plastic bag, decanted shampoo into a 100ml bottle and used that to double as shower gel.

I find that shoes are the most bulky thing for the case and limiting myself to just two pairs (one on, one in the case) was a mighty challenge. Had to sacrifice style for comfort which was definitely the best option.

Did also read about someone who said you just put on lots of layers of all your clothes because they only weigh the bag, not the passenger! Not sure I fancy that unless desperate.

I love Virgin Atlantic at the moment; OK, you have to buy extra legroom, but at least you can! For the States, I do like American Airways too. Easy jet is appalling; by the time you pay for all their extras you might as well fly BA or something.

Yes ...I tend to only take a back-pack into cabin with me due to the 'miles' one has to walk and the fact I have great difficulty lifting anything into those over head compartments.

Curious ...and slightly (?) off thead ...[sorry] emocion ...have discovered that the amount of leg room does seem to vary from airline to airline (even if same type of plane) ...so which is the best long-haul airline to try to travel with??

Carry on bags may be strictly weight limited. When flying out with Virgin Atlantic recently the limit was 6KG. This just about allows for my light laptop and its charger in a flight bag. I like taking a proper flight bag as it doubles as a footrest.
They were strict and made me go away and reduce the weight even though i was only a kg or so over. This involved stuffing the other things I needed for the flight in my pockets, round my neck etc. Which of course did not make a jot of difference to the overall weight on the plane. However do check the carry on baggage limit for your airline carefully (it will be on the website somewhere) and don't assume they will be lenient.
(In contrast i did an internal flight in the US where people were dragging on extraordinary amounts of cabin baggage to avoid the $20 fee for checked in luggage.)

Unless i am just going to ireland for a couple of days i would always rather check in a bag and consequently have a very light bag to drag around the airport with me. Some of those walks to the gate can be a kilometre or so.
Dont forget that you can only take very small bottles of cosmetics, medicines etc in hand luggage - less than 100ml per item and all of them have to be put in a small resealable transparent sandwich bag... ANything liquid or gooey goes in the little bag and that includes things like lipstick, facecream, vaseline.

I'm with your daughter, absent. I find turbulence exciting (though I'm not normally an adrenalin junkie) especially over the Himalayas. The first time I ever flew long haul to Kenya in an old Comet, I had no idea how I'd react and surprised myself by relishing the turbulence over Italy, despite the Comet's track record. I can't explain this, but I certainly don't have a death-wish!

I, too, tend to hold up the plane by the arms of the seat – quite a problem when flying to New Zealand. I think my fear is almost entirely to do with the fact that I am not in control, not that I have the slightest idea how to fly an aeroplane. I am better behaved these days, although still nervous, as a result of the first flights I did with my daughter when she was seven years old. I was determined not to pass on my fears to her so concealed them to the best of my ability. Coming home from Nantes, a small airport in France, ours was the last flight to leave the airport before it was shut owing to those terrible gales we had some time in the 1980s. I swear that the plane took off sideways and then we hit massive turbulence. When it was all over, DD said, "That was fun. Can we ask the pilot to go round again?".

The statistics (like all statistics) can be interpreted in different ways. True, the deaths per mile travelled are very low, but the deaths per accident are virtually 100%.
You are more likely to have an accident in a car, but less likely to die.
You takes your pick!
It is not just fear of an accident that keeps me out of planes, it is the whole sensation - I feel grimly giddy the whole time (I have a problem with my balance anyway), and deeply convinced that what I am doing is so unnatural that I should not be there!
I have a problem of giddiness and vestibular migraines triggered by movement - e.g. subtitles going past on the TV screen - so being in a plane is truly the last straw for me, and my holiday is ruined by the knowledge that I have to do it again in order to get back home!

I don't understand the physics but I do trust the statistics and I know I am far more likely to come to grief on the road than in the air. And I've been driving over 50 years.

I understand the physics - just hate the whole sensation - and lack trust in the mechanics who service the planes!

"I will be holding the plane up by the seat" ...love it!!

Who are you flying with?

Travelling independently. We're so used to going by train and carrying everything that we normally travel light, and I don't need aerosols, perfume or makeup. Wearing tough shoes and winter clothing. Taking a small camera but not my phone as it is far too primitive to work outside Europe (much like myself). Going from Edinburgh. Yes, Mishap, I think I can fly (just like my 2-year-old grandson) and I do have some grasp of and trust in the physics involved, but I will be holding the plane up by the seat!

wheniwasyiurage ...to be quite honest I'd get a medium sized case to put in the hold ...in it you can put all deodorants, toothpastes, perfumes, aerosols that you would normally use ...and all things to do with lenses!! As well as heavy shoes and winter type clothing! Put in all over the counter medications.

If you're going from LHR ...they only like a couple of items per plasitc bag! So all easily seen!! Still didn't stop them testing a hand gel ...which was in its original container and well below the capacity limit!!

Not sure why you're reluctant to do this ...never seems to take long to get hold luggage delivered ...pretty much matches the time it now takes to clear immigration!

I'd put all cameras etc into cabin luggage ...put the chargers etc into hold luggage.

Yes they do have shops to buy every day items ...but do you want to spend time finding one? using your money to buy these things rather than on special items? use your credit card and incur the currency exchange costs and for using the card abroad? Does your flight arrive at a time when you could buy needed items?

Are you travelling independently or with a tour company? ...if the later, they will help you.

Have a lovely time!!

Not myself but my hubby, he just can't and never will and thats an end to it.. I've tried for 20+ years to help him overcome it but nothing helps.. he misses out on so much..

At least you can fly! I cannot get near an aeroplane - I simply hate every second of it all: the airport, the take-off, the flight, the landing. The last time I did it I vowed that I would never ever do it again! - and I haven't.
Anyone else in the same boat/aeroplane?!