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Thread: First time flying! Eeep

  1. #1
    Featured Member Vamp's Avatar
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    First time flying! Eeep

    I am usually in the Dollar Den but I love reading all the posts in other parts of the forum. But this time i have a question....

    Up until now in my life I have avoided flying at all costs. I have this irrational fear of missing buses, trains, planes, whatever and being stuck somewhere. It just seemed too much until now.

    I will be flying for my first time in a few weeks. From St Louis to Los Angeles on American. I have gotten a ton of information from websites about security, what to bring what not to, parking, etc. It is a direct flight so I wont have to worry about lay overs.

    What other advice would you give to a first time flyer?

    (yes there is a little part of me that is scared to death lol )
    Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them. ~ Mark Twain


  2. #2
    God/dess phillyvixen's Avatar
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    pee before you get on so you don't have to get up while flying.
    Take a xanax or something so you can relax and sleep
    bring an ipod or music device
    i like to fly with those around the neck squishy pillows, i got mine at target.
    And relax, cars are much more dangerous!
    Good luck



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  3. #3
    Kaylinn
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Take off is the scariest part. I hate take off. it's loud, and your not used to it and going up is scary, but after the plane levels off and hits cruiising altitude it isn't bad at all. I had a very bad fear of flying, so bad I skpped vacations growing up and choose to stay home. But really, it isn't that bad. take some headphones and watch the movie if they offer one, or take a book. I think flying is very very boring. Take stuff to do.

  4. #4
    Alaska
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Don't worry! It's as horrible as you think it is!


    I just load up on about 5 Dramamines.


    Try to follow the flight in your head in a chronological order, if that makes sense. "Okay, now we take off. In 10 minutes we'll reach full altitutude. Now we fly forever, but the point is to GET SOMEWHERE. In 1/2 hour, they will make the announcement that we will begin our final descent. That means we will be on the ground in one hour."

    I have a tendancy to think of the flight as the end-all be-all, forgetting completely about the destination, instead of a reasonable method of transportation--and that's all it is.

  5. #5
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Bring a book. Get there hours early for all the stupid hassle you have to go through. And brace yourself, because LAX is my least favorite place of all the many buildings I've ever been in - seriously, it's a nightmare. The actual flying is nowhere near as bad as going through the airport.

    Oh, and take some Airborne every day for a couple days beforehand. I always wind up sitting next to someone with a communicable disease whenever I fly, and that recirculated air is the pits.

  6. #6
    Alaska
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Also, bullying myself helps.

    "Ummm okay--you think you're special? How many amazing people, talented people, famous people, hot chicks, normal ppl do this every single day, NORMALLY????"

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Don't overthink it. Just follow what security asks you to do, don't panic, and enjoy your flight. Bring something to read. Watch videos on a portable DVD player or iPod. Or just sleep on the flight!

    If I can survive a trip from LAX to Japan, you can survive one from St. Louis to LAX!

  8. #8
    Alaska
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    ^And how was that flight, White & Nerdy, care to share?

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    ^It was one, long flight!

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Take off and landing the plane will make noises, flags, landing gears, ets....all normal.

    also, chance are you'll hit turbulance, which is just pockets of ruff-air, think of it as ruff seas, or pot-holes in the sky, it may shake the plane a little, but, the planes are designed to handle it.

  11. #11
    God/dess Bella21's Avatar
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Before getting on the plane, try to ignore the hubbub. Read your flight number, find your gate, park your butt down, and entertain yourself with whatever you brought. People will probably line up a bit before it's time to board to get a good seat. If you're flying alone, this won't be so much as a problem for you, because you can fit in where ever. Try not to think about it too much, freaking yourself out won't do you any good. Don't worry if the flight is bumpy or whatever. The biggest foul for that is that it's annoying.
    If you think school is hard, try being stupid.

  12. #12
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Firstly flying is statistically a lot safer than most other forms of transport, so you're probably at greater risk of having a problem while driving to the airport than you are while actually flying.

    Secondly, if it's your first time flying then get there with time to spare and check in, etc, as early as possible. Means you've got plenty of time to work out what to do. (And the airport staff will be pretty helpful if you hit problems).

    Thirdly, flying will seem a little strange to you for the first time - lots of unusual noises and sensations. After a while they'll begin to seem commonplace.

    Finally - travelling is a great way to catch up on your reading, etc. Got a book you've been dying to read? Take it with you.

    Enjoy your flight - you'll be smiling about it afterwards.

    Phil.

  13. #13
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    I dozed off during takeoff on my flight a couple weeks ago- I missed my favorite part of the flight! I always remind myself of how much safer flying is (statistically) than driving.

    Many people overcome this fear. Don't sweat it!

  14. #14
    Featured Member Vamp's Avatar
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Thanks so much for the advice
    Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them. ~ Mark Twain


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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Midway through the flight...yell out (real loud)..."THERE'S A MAN ON THE WING!"

    That usually eases the boredom a bit...

  16. #16
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    You'll be fine... My first flight ever was a cross country jaunt to LAX, followed by an 18(?) hour flight to Sydney...

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Make sure you note what boarding time is and how much earlier it is than take-off. I almost missed the first flight I ever took alone because I didn't notice how much earlier boarding time was.

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    you also may have to fight, or claim space at the luggage carosel after the flight.

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    The first time I got on a plane I was TERRIFIED. The poor guy that had to sit beside of me, lol. I had the window seat and I was sitting there almost in tremors panicking. Then we took off and I thought I was going to lose it. I finally calmed down and was like hey, this isn't bad at all. I started liking it and looking out the window at how cool the clouds looked. I had a layover and was excited to hurry up and get on the other plane. It was just really scary at first not knowing what to expect but it turned out to be a great experience.

    I will say everytime the plane landed I got a little jittery because that was the scariest part to me. I was afraid they were going to crash from landing and it was a little rough feeling.

  20. #20
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    If you haven't gotten a seat, yet...make sure you get a seat in FRONT of the wings. Behind is much, much louder. If you're afraid of heights, you may want an aisle seat. And, everyone rushes to get off the plane first. Just sit back and let them all get off and when they're all done playing jam the aisle, calmly get your stuff and get off. Chances are they're rushing to get to the carosel and it takes a while to get the baggage there.

    Keep your plane tickets and your ID together in your carry-on. I would suggest a backpack. AA does not have "free food". You have to buy everything. From STL, I would say it's a good 3-4 hour flight, so pack up your back-pack with security friendly food/snacks (ie. ham sandwhich, hard-boiled eggs, fruits). If you can take bottled water on (I don't know if you can as I couldn't when I flew, so check and make sure) take a big bottle. They have a very limited supply of water and most people dehydrate while flying...which adds to jetlag.

    If you are wanting to sleep, take a sleeping blindfold and ear plugs.

    Have a safe flight!

  21. #21
    Alaska
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Quote Originally Posted by G-Real View Post
    you also may have to fight, or claim space at the luggage carosel after the flight.
    Hehe I never understood that. I got an extra 5 minutes to wait, after waiting all damn day + 45 mins to deplane, while the majority grabs their shit. I like to kick back and watch all the pretty luggage w/ Dramamine eyes

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Try and get a seat in the EXIT ROW. There is much more leg room. It may help on such a long flight.

    Getting through security hassle-free is a good thing. Dress with this in mind. For example, I have what I refer to as my "Flying clothes": Slip-on Shoes (no laces), a shirt that can be left untucked (thus no belt), no jewelry, and I throw any change in my laptop bag (nothing metal in the pockets).

  23. #23
    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Good advice in here. I'll add mine, some of which is repetitive.

    Packing. If I can do carryon only, I do. However, when you do carryon, there are bathroom things that you can't bring unless they're 3.2 oz or less, and they have to be in a separate ziploc bag. So if you want to take your 4oz bottle of spray deodorant, do a checked bag.

    Food is good. I always pack trail mix and/or a food bar or whatever. No water, no liquid. See below. Pack your food in your purse or whatever you're going to have within reach on the plane.

    Seat assignment. As Venus said, you'll like up front better. If you get an aisle seat, it's easier to get to the bathroom if you have to.

    Airport.
    1) Get there two hours early. So what if you're waiting for an hour? You can eat, read, walk, whatever. And you just might see the security line from hell that makes you think you're glad you got there that early. Plus if you have a laptop or want to plug in your cell phone, the earlier you get to the gate, the better chance you have to bogart an outlet.
    2) Once you get your boarding pass, keep it and your ID handy. You're going to have to fish out the boarding pass two more times (the ID once more) when you're in a line and people behind you are impatient and waiting.
    3) As criz said, slipon shoes.
    4) If you have liquids, make sure they're 3.2 oz or less and in an easy to reach plastic bag. You'll have to take the bag out of your carryon.
    5) Put your metal stuff (cell phone, change, whatever) in your purse or jacket to put it through the Xray. You don't want to set off the metal detector and start getting flustered.
    6) If you've read the security stuff, good. Don't try to bring in a long sharp nail file or a pocketknife. They don't like that.
    7) Don't bring your own bottled water, or anything liquid. It won't survive security. Buy yourself some water when you get past security and are on the concourse.

    At the concourse and gate.
    1) If you want water or pop or coffee, get it now.
    2) At the gate, if you have something to plug in, look for an outlet and get it now.
    3) The flights that I'm on start boarding 30 minutes early. At about 35 minutes ahead of time, I pack up my electric stuff, gather up my belongings, and hit the bathroom.
    4) If you have motion issues, it wouldn't be a bad time to make sure a little food is in your stomach now to help keep it settled.
    5) Unlike Venus, I do like to get on as early as I can. Sometimes, especially if you're in the front of the plane, the overheads get full, and your carryon turns into checked baggage. I like to claim an overhead spot as quickly as I can.
    6) You got that boarding pass handy..... right?

    On the plane.
    1) While people are getting arranged, take out your food, your water bottle, your book/magazine, whatever, and put it in the seatback pocket. That way you're not rummaging for it later.
    2) If you've never been on a plane, the speed of the takeoff might surprise you. You might wonder how such a monstrous thing picks up speed so dang fast. I like takeoffs (although like maxie, sometimes I sleep through them).
    3) Relax. The plane is a car on the highway, a boat on the water. There arre bumps in the highway, there are ripples in the water, and we just hit the bump and ripples and move on. The plane is the same. Sometimes it's smoother, sometimes bumpier. But it just rolls on. It's fine.
    4) Once you land, lots of jostling of people getting up and wanting to leave. The common courtesy is to let the rows in front of you empty first. Don't get too fired up until the emptying is about two rows ahead
    5) Good luck. Yek's right. LAX is about the worst airport around. Apologies to any LAX fans, if such people exist. It's just bad.

    TMI, wayyy TMI. Sorry. Got me on a roll.

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    -For problems with ears during takeoff and landing, pinch your nose shut with your fingers and try to blow air out of your nose and the pain/stiffness in the ears will go away.
    -Bring a book or laptop.
    -If possible pack a days worth of clothes on your carryon in case your luggage gets misplaced.
    -Domestic flights really don't serve food so eat at the airport.
    -Make sure you have a frequent flier number and use it.
    -If you are afraid of being stuck somewhere carry a credit card or cash and that should get you anywhere you want or at least a hotel

    -If you really are nervous go with some alcohol to calm down.

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    Default Re: First time flying! Eeep

    Another thing that helps with ear problems is chewing gum. Have some handy. The ears will probably plug up a bit on ascent and descent.

    I am with Jay Z...I like the take offs. It is a rush. That big hunk of metal picks up speed real quick. Very cool.

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