Fears of flying types

Almost half of us get nervous when sitting in an airplane. the reasons are various: fear of a technical problem on the airplane, fear of terror and fear from small and close place (claustrophobia) or other psychological reason that can lead to panic attack.

What to do to over come fear?

• Get help: Go to a course, a therapist, or get a book – like Fear of flying hand book, that promise to cure your flights fear in days. the book is sold for 37 dollar only, including an audio version
• Try to take short flights, and raise the distance gradually.
• Don’t be obsess about reading materials on flights safety, accident etc.
• If you don’t fly too often, you can take tranquilizers.
• Getting drunk by alcohol is not recommended
• Try exercises like yoga, that can really relax you before the flight.

• Dress well: you will surprise, but the airlines company think about the image of the prestige departments. You will never get an upgrade dressing like a back packer.
• Use your agent: especially when you fly a lot with the same agent. Tell him you want a flight upgrade and let him fight for you.
• Aim for unpacked flights: usually the early morning flights, but you can check with your agent.
• Get early to the check in: the early you get the better chance you have to get an upgrade.
• Use the frequent flayer card: if  you are a frequent flier, you will get better chance to get an upgrade, especially if you collected a lot of frequent flier miles. You can remind it on the check in, in case they forgot your status.
• Fly alone:  If you fly with kids, you will almost for sure won’t get upgrade. Any way  – the more passengers you are, the less your chance for upgrade.
• Ask at the counter. If there is  a place, asking might do the trick.

• Going for vacation? try to avoid leaving home on an early flight. you might get to the destination early, to “earn” a day, but eventually you will be so tired by the end of the day, and sometimes, during the all vacation.
• Need to go to work in the next morning? its best to get a flight that will get you to the destination no later then early evening. Otherwise, you will go to work exhausted.
• When booking a flight, never forget that you should wake up about 4 hours or more before – to be at the airport on time.
• When flying to small destination, make sure you will get transportation from the airport, at the arrival time
• When calculating the arrival time – don’t forget the time zone difference

• Transit time: even though it’s boring to wait 3 or 4 hours to the continuation flight, the worst thing is to miss it, and wait some times for the nest day. So – leave your self enough time – at least an hour and a half – between the expected landing time, to the continuation flight – remember that today a lot of flights are delayed.
• It is better, if possible, to continue with the same airline, or with a code sharing airlines. that way you will get the tickets and the seats, for the next flight, in the first check in, and also will have a better chance to keep your luggage.
• Confirm  the airport of the next flight: sometimes, in a major cities, the transit includes changing airport. Check before the airport and be sure that you have enough time for the connection.
• Be sure that you have a visa! in some countries, including USA, you must have a visa, even if it just for transit.
• Compare the duration, the landing port and the prices: usually, in connection flight, you will have a few alternative. sometimes the supposedly short flight can take much longer, because of a longer transit, or because of landing in a more remote airport.

There are a number of play areas at Heathrow Airport. They are unsupervised, soft play areas for children aged 2 to 6, including the one after security in Terminal 1, near Gates 35-56.

The KLM Holideck lounge in Terminal 4 also has many facilities to keep children occupied. To use the lounge it costs £17.95 per passenger, and children can enjoy toys, games, an arcade, magazines and complementary refreshments.

There are a number of shops in each terminal that have computer and arcade games available to keep children occupied whilst waiting for a flight. BAA information desks offer free a colouring book and crayons to children, and many shops offer a variety of magazines, comics and puzzle books to keep children entertained

Feeding/Changing: Specially equipped rooms for feeding and changing babies are indicated by either a ‘bottle’ sign or a baby care symbol. Other changing facilities are provided on route to the gaterooms, in the transfer area and after passport control on arrival. There are fold-down tables provided in some male and female toilets.

Malpensa Milan

At Malpensa T1 check-in floor there is also an area dedicated to the children. In these Play Rooms babies could enjoy with slides, little mattress and colored blocks while their parents waiting for check-in or boarding procedures. Be always careful at the monitor that will inform you the right time to take your plane for your final destinations.

Frankfurt airport

There are also free children’s play areas in Terminal 1 (in the corridor between Halls B and C) and in Terminal 2 (Transit Area D and E). At the Food Plaza in Terminal 2, McDonald’s provides a large play area with a slide and a bin filled with hundreds of plastic balls.

On the assumption that you are not flying first or business with kids (you were probably you would not read this post) your alternatives are quite limited but in any case few seating tips:

Sterilized zone – if you are 3 try to find tree seat row, if you are for look for the four seat row or double dual seats. It is much easier when your kids puke on the family members rather than on the grouchy woman on the right or the businessman in the middle.

First row after the toilets or business class are suitable for kids (not only babies) there is more leg room and easier movement between the sides. You will get these seats if you are flying with babies and using a cradle.

Prefer not seat in the last row before the toilets usually the seat will not go down and it is more crowded row.

Exit row, which usually counted as the best seat in economy class are not allowed to kids. If you got it by mistake replace it on the check in because the steward/ess will not allow kids to seat and will replace you and the kids with available seats

Ask for pillows and blanket as you board to the plane and try to build a warm nest for sleeping environment

Night flight: The big advantage that the kids usually fall asleep soon after take off and sometime even before. The kids can sleep most of the flight and even the whole flight if you are lucky. So what is the catch? The problem begins when the kids refuse or cannot fall a sleep. If the kids is active you will find your self praying for a short sleep, running after the kids and bagging him/her to be quite while avoiding the educational looks from the passengers. If the kids did not sleep during the flight you will start your vacation all exhausted with bad mood. So if your kids sleep everywhere, try the night flight otherwise maybe the day flight is for you

Day flight: The kids are lively which can be an advantage but this is also the catch keeping your kid busy for many hours is tough challenge. If you chose or had to take the day flight take as many games as you can, portable DVD can be a live saver.

Have a great flight

• Books, Papers
• Hearphones or earplugs
• Eye coverage
• Warm clothing
• MP3 player or MP4 player or portable DVD charged!

Optional

• Deodorant
• flight pillow