There are many people that dislike flying. There are people who are afraid of flying. These people have phobias or have had some problem in the past, or perhaps are dealing with anxiety or stress issues that make flying impossible for them. This is totally acceptable, of course – after all, flying is a little scary. Like travelling by boat, it’s a means of transport that takes us out of our ordinary element. But while you can go out in the ocean and swim on your own, you can never really fly around for a little bit – and this makes it a little more alien.
In between people who are afraid of flying and people who absolutely love it there’s an in-between group of people who simply don’t care much for flying. I am one of these people, and friends of mine who love flying give me a hard time about it. As soon as they realize that I’m not phobic in any way, they start piling up the reasons why flying is so great. It’s either because “the feeling is great” or because “you’re well taken care of up there” or the old argument that it’s an adventure.
Some friends tell me they like the whole flying experience because it’s so different and because it means they’re going somewhere new. None of that really sticks with me: it’s not that I don’t like it and I would never let it stop me from going anywhere by plane – but just because it doesn’t scare me it doesn’t mean that I have to enjoy it!
Over the years I have had my share of airplane rides and I’ve develop a few rules that I go by whenever I have to fly. Fellow weary travelers have asked me to share them with them, and I decided I should probably share them with the world as well.
These are very broad things that I do. First of all, I like to minimize time spent doing things at the airport. This actually means getting there earlier and getting through check-in and security as fast as possible. For that I do as much that can be done online and pre-flight as possible. Online check-in, quick baggage checks, the works. I also make sure that anything that can set me back in security is either not in my carry-on or is not on me. Belts, watches, even my cell-phone are kept in the carry-on luggage until I pass security. The sooner I can get to the duty free zone and wait at my gate, the better.
People who like flying like to discuss what seat is better for them. Aisle or window? Back or front of the plane? I don’t care. I just want something to do, preferably something that will distract me from the re-circulated air and the crying toddlers. A book gives you something to engage in and music drowns out the sounds around you, so I use both – music with no lyrics while I read a book. Or anything that plays videos, so I can be fully engaged.
About the author: This post was written by Sara Woods from Mega.co.uk. Check them out for a Thomson discount code before you book a holiday.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Rick Kimpel.