Ground

[davidn]

I am still in Boston.

When we got to the airport, we found out that our flight was already delayed for an indefinite time (but estimated about an hour and a half) because of a ground order in San Francisco, and I was stressed. We sat down at the gate, I eventually decided to think of it as a reprieve as I had been advised and got my laptop out. Eventually they said that they were boardng us about ten minutes before they said they would, and that was sort of nice. We got on to the plane, and they announced that because of high winds the travel time would be close to seven hours, a record breaker for a domestic US flight, and I was upset. Then during the safety demonstration the pilot came back through and said that they were opening the doors again because our take-off had been delayed a further hour. I had a panic attack, was helped up to the front of the plane by one of the attendants, and after being given some water and some discussion, chose to leave the aeroplane.

I want to thank everyone for all their reassurances that I had had bad luck last time and everything would go smoothly... however, they were wrong. Whitney is now heading to California, I am at home, and tomorrow I will contact my doctor to ask if she thinks it would be beneficial for me to go on to some sort of anti-anxiety medicine for when I attempt to fly to see her family again in just three weeks.

In summation: Bollocks.

Comments

[ms-noone.livejournal.com]

It happens, but don't feel bad about it. I fly a lot as part of my job. This calendar year alone I've done over 30 flights, including 5 transatlantic, and 2 transpacific flights, as I have done for about 5 years now, and all but one of those were before June this year. However, I still don't enjoy flying. In fact, this year, after having checked in for a flight and gone through security, I just couldn't bring myself to fly that day, and I walked back out through the luggage collection area and went home. It cost me a lot, as I couldn't claim back expenses for the 4 flights and the hotel that I didn't use.

[davidn]

Thanks for saying... it's nice to have reassurance that it's not just me that this has happened to. And I thought that I did more flying than I would like - that's on another level entirely!

JetBlue were even very nice about this and gave me a reference number to get the reward miles we used on this flight back... though I'm aware that I was pretty far outside the usual 48 hour cancellation window.

[lupineangel.livejournal.com]

Aww man, I'm sorry things went so badly! Maybe a trip to the doctor's would be good; if flying's a part of your life, and you're planning to do it on a regular and ongoing basis (say, once a year or more), you can't be done with this terror every time you come to make a trip.

I hope they're able to help, and that things go better for you in a few weeks, man. *hugs gently*

D.F.

[davidn]

Thanks for your words - I'm not sure if something qualifies as a phobia if it had been... dormant for ten years, but... it's here now! I definitely felt terrified this time after being, well, not exactly thrilled but not likely to panic at the thought of flying before, and I'd done it at least yearly since about 2004.

I'm sure that they can recommend something to do at the health centre. And if not, I still have some oxycodone left over, and it will knock me out so that I can be carried to California unawares.