Air Travel

Question:

Miller) writes: >Several days back I asked for some help finding statistics on airline >safety as opposed to automobile / train etc. I appreciate the help in >locating said information and it seems that Airlines are, indeed, by far >safer than other modes of domestic transport. Now I have another question. >What are the interiors of most airliners like today? Are they very close >quarters that would tend to aggravate an individuals feelings of >claustrophobia greatly. If they are fairly spacious, this would help. Also >how does one deal with any fear of heights while traveling by air.

I don’t know about claustrophobia, but I understand that there is really no sensation of height when flying, and thus there would be no fear.  I have a friend with this problem, and he has no problem flying anyway.  These – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->might seem like difficult barriers to overcome, but this trip is quite >important and it can’t take place without the use of air travel. I think >that armed with some sound information, my party can work out these >details and still have our trip. Our sincere thanks to any who may wish >to lend some advice on these. >Regards, Raymond A. Miller

Response:

As long as you’re on a larger jet rather than a small commuter plane, I wouldn’t think claustrophobia would be a problem — but then I don’t suffer from it.  If possible, going first or business class might be a good choice as the seating is further apart, the seats are wider, and that might give people a feeling of space.  Certainly being in the middle seat of 4 or 5 across seating in the middle of economy class on a 747 isn’t going to help things.  If you’re stuck in ‘bear class’ and don’t want to feel like they’ve nailed the top shut on the crate without so much as throwing you a herring, ask for a bulkhead/emergency exit row seat . . . good luck! SJM in HK

Response:

Radioman asked for information on claustrophobia and on fear of heights. I can’t say much about claustrophobia, but the size of most airplanes is such that if you can travel comfortably by train, I doubt that you’d have a problem flying. I have a mild fear of heights (tall buildings, bridges, cliffs), but I don’t have any problem flying. In fact, I always ask for the window seat so I can look out. Still, it might not be a bad idea for the member of your group who is afraid of heights to get a seat as far from the window as possible, or to close the window, at least during takeoff and landing. (When you’re near the ground and can see buildings, roads, people, and such, it may feel like being in a high place: at 5 miles up, looking at a sunlit cloud layer, it feels like nothing on the surface of the Earth.)

Response:

Just a few details from my experience: Claustrophobia: Seek an aisle seat ("c" seat usually is); if on coach seek it in a bulkhead row or an exit row (though the latter may not be that great if you are very apprehensive) or one of the crossover rows if the plane is a large widebody. Hope for a widebody plane, and a carrier that does *not* pack it with 5-abreast center rows.  If on 1st class get a row a bit farther to the back of the cabin so you’re not right up to all the doors and activity on the fore lav/galley and cockpit. If the flight is extremely long you may wish to do stages instead of a nonstop (depends on what worries you more: in-flight discomfort or takefoffs/landings). Altitude: Aisle seat and avoid looking out the window.  Consider if night flight worries you more than day flight. Consult physician about measures against motion sickness. Be mentally prepared that even moderate changes in the rate of climb may feel like large lurches up or down (BTW, here the flying "style" of the pilots and handling characteristics of the planes can cause a great variance in feelings of "rising" and "dropping") Jose Diaz — -JRDelirious, San Juan, Puerto Rico, US (well, kindof) Caribbean-  –Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, y’know?–

Response:

Several days back I asked for some help finding statistics on airline safety as opposed to automobile / train etc. I appreciate the help in locating said information and it seems that Airlines are, indeed, by far safer than other modes of domestic transport. Now I have another question. What are the interiors of most airliners like today? Are they very close quarters that would tend to aggravate an individuals feelings of claustrophobia greatly. If they are fairly spacious, this would help. Also how does one deal with any fear of heights while traveling by air. These might seem like difficult barriers to overcome, but this trip is quite important and it can’t take place without the use of air travel. I think that armed with some sound information, my party can work out these details and still have our trip. Our sincere thanks to any who may wish to lend some advice on these. Regards, Raymond A. Miller

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Several days back I asked for some help finding statistics on airline > safety as opposed to automobile / train etc. I appreciate the help in > locating said information and it seems that Airlines are, indeed, by far > safer than other modes of domestic transport. Now I have another question. > What are the interiors of most airliners like today? Are they very close > quarters that would tend to aggravate an individuals feelings of > claustrophobia greatly. If they are fairly spacious, this would help. Also > how does one deal with any fear of heights while traveling by air. These > might seem like difficult barriers to overcome, but this trip is quite > important and it can’t take place without the use of air travel. I think > that armed with some sound information, my party can work out these > details and still have our trip. Our sincere thanks to any who may wish > to lend some advice on these. > Regards, Raymond A. Miller

In reply to raymond miller’s question  i would rather fly than drive heck there are millions of maniacs on the roads in cars and there are only a few behind the yoke! Just kidding in all seriousness i fly every year and have been doing so all my 30 years in life so i really have alot of confidence in those well trained pilots! Oh yhea i also work for an airline so i know basically the aircraft are maintained VERY WELL at least all the major airlines i know of have very stringent maint practices! Oh well thanx for reading this! Later Jet-Doc

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