It seems that many individuals face difficulties when it comes to traveling by plane. With that in mind, I have decided to share my personal experiences related to this matter – both how I developed a fear of flying and how I managed to overcome it. Not only might it bring a smile to your face, but it could also offer assistance to those in similar situations. I believe it is a story worth telling.
During my childhood, I did not have many opportunities to travel by air. It was the early 1980s, and my first encounter with air travel occurred on a family trip to Spain. I vividly remember my sister and I enjoying juicy, black cherries from a paper bag throughout the flight. It’s baffling to think about where our mother acquired such fresh fruit, as you rarely see fresh produce at Luton Airport these days.
We also embarked on a “once in a lifetime” fly-drive adventure around Florida when I was 13. At that age, I was sulky, premenstrual, and felt too grown-up for Disney World. However, I did find solace in the Epcot Centre and indulged in the vast breakfast buffets at the Marriott – cantaloupe melon, pancakes adorned with crispy bacon, ice machines, swimming in the warm ocean… experiences that were completely foreign to someone from the Midlands.
My next flight took place when I was 17, as a member of the Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra on an orchestral exchange trip to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This journey held great significance. Our Canadian friends had visited us the previous summer, and now it was our turn to travel. Little did I know that this would eventually become my profession. It was a remarkable trip, filled with concerts, explorations of downtown Hamilton, visits to the CN Tower in Toronto, and awe-inspiring moments at Niagara Falls. However, things took a turn for the worse upon our departure from Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Due to a strike by airport workers, the security process experienced delays and cancellations. The airport was chaotic and did not accommodate the needs of a large group of tired British teenagers burdened with musical instruments. Our teachers, unaccustomed to international travel disruptions, were informed that our flight was overbooked, forcing them to split our group. Two sisters possessing Canadian passports were deemed capable of traveling separately without a teacher accompanying them.
The rest of us were left waiting at the gate. We remained there for an extended period before boarding the aircraft. I was one of the last to step onto the plane, feeling anxious and teary-eyed. I reached out to my still-best friend, Ben, to refresh my memory of the events. He texted, “I distinctly remember worrying that you wouldn’t make it onto the flight. To my relief, I witnessed you making your way down the aisle clutching your violin, tears streaming down your face.”
Source: “https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/nov/06/how-i-overcame-my-fear-of-flying-by-facing-me-worst-flight-customers”
Read more at: “https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/nov/06/how-i-overcame-my-fear-of-flying-by-facing-me-worst-flight-customers”
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