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Originally Posted by Elsi
I'm not afraid of flying. If I were, I'd have to get another job. Turns out that I spend a lot of time in transit. Like many others have already said, the process is not pleasant. I've learned some tricks that help. First, try to fly the same airline all the time and join their frequent-flyer program. That gets you promoted to prestige status and they are more likely to make concessions or grant you some bonuses. Also, join the "club" and take advantage of the lounge. That's a much better place to wait than the boarding areas. I check my suitcase so I have less "stuff" to keep up with or tote through connecting airports. And bring books!
Pre-Kindle, I would have 3 paperbacks in my backpack and 2-6 more in my suitcase, depending on how long I was going to be away from home. And, I was not reluctant to visit Borders or Barnes & Noble (Chapters in Canada) if I ran out of reading material.
My fears -- the kind that grip you and lock every muscle in your body -- come in two situations. First is when having to ride down a long, steep escalator. I'm ok to ride up, but not down. And normal, single-story escalators are no problem in either direction. In a pinch, I cope by turning around and facing up while riding down. If you see an old lady facing the wrong direction on an escalator, it's likely to be me. My second abject fear is at railroad crossings when the train is present. My heart pounds every time I have to drive across the tracks -- which can be several times each day since the tracks are between my house and the highway! Interestingly, I have no problem *riding* in the train and find it a very nice way to travel. But, it's a mighty struggle to get across those tracks until I verify that there is NO TRAIN IN SIGHT.
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good tips. i don't fly enough to be able to get full benefit of them, but i did recently join about 4 frequent flyer programs. i do realize that that sort of defeats the purpose, but when i joined them i was not sure which air company i would be using next / most often. ironically, the next flight i took was with none of those companies. but i chose it because it was over 100€ cheaper. for my next flight i am going to try to use one of the companies i am registered with.
best company i have ever flown with (and i've had several flights with them) : Air Tahiti Nui. they are really nice and friendly, the planes seem more comfortable than most and rather recent, the food is suprisingly good, and everybody who works for them is stunningly beautiful. also, they give you a flower when you board, and once the plane is in the air the cabin crew change into tropical dresses to be more comfortable. sadly, the destinations they fly to are rather limited.
i am subject to vertigo as well, particularly in long flights of stairs (or escalators, i suppose, but i don't see many escalators so tall, or else i am going up them, not down). when i went to see the tom waits concert (TOM WAITS, BABY !!! sorry. i'm still overexcited about that) out seats were in the second balcony, which is pitched at a terrifyingly abrupt angle. this is good because it means that even from aaaaaalll the way up there, you have a good view, but it was horrible walking down the steps to our seats. i walked behind my friend so i couldn't see the full stairway and i put my hand on her shoulder to keep steady. she made fun of me, but later she went out and came back and she said at the top of the stairs there was a lady in front of her who almost panicked at the sight and put her hand on the wall to recover. she also to had to hold her friend's hand to go down the stairs. i will try the "going down backwards" trick next time. although it might be dangerous on stairs.