Flying from New York to Shannon, Ireland sometime around the end of July to the beginning of August. Never been before. Anyone know how that flight usually is?
Very nervous flyer! It's just the turbulence that gets me every time! Thank you 
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0 Kudos
Ireland anyone?
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 Alex |
Ireland anyone? |
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Posts: 1 (06/15/09 16:12:11) |
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2605 (06/15/09 16:22:10) |
There is usually some light turbulence going up the coast of Canada, and then again about an hour from landing in Shannon.
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2606 (06/15/09 16:22:19) |
There is usually some light turbulence going up the coast of Canada, and then again about an hour from landing in Shannon.
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2607 (06/15/09 16:22:22) |
There is usually some light turbulence going up the coast of Canada, and then again about an hour from landing in Shannon.
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Katt |
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Posts: 8 (06/15/09 18:40:43) |
Yay! Ireland! I'm going, too! I'm leaving the beginning of July and returning in early August, flying from BOS to SNN! Cannot wait!!! I've always
wanted to see my "homeland." : )
As I've written elsewhere on these boards, I have SOAR to thank for my ability to get on a plane, happily and (relatively) calmly, with my two kids. I am a walking advert for how well SOAR works because I used to sob--literally--during boarding. It was embarrassing. I even chose not to fly, once, out of fear. : ( That's not to say that sometimes I don't have an occasional set-back, an occasional bout of mild panic, but I have many miles post-SOAR (China, Japan, around the US). Thanks, Captain Tom, for the info on turbulence en route. Anyone ever flown Aer Lingus, by the way?? Good service?? |
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Alex |
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Posts: 3 (06/16/09 06:21:54) |
Thank you everyone that has replied so far! I've never been to Ireland. And thank you for the turbulence warning. I sob on board, the night before, and on
the way to the airport. It's horrible. I'm flying Aer Lingus, and would also like to know how they are.
We're supposed to be taking a night flight...any better with the turbulence? Turbulence is my biggest fear...I actually don't mind flying, except for the bumpiness. |
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Liv |
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Posts: 11 (06/18/09 14:19:29) |
Hey Alex, I'm from Ireland. I'm actually going to be working in SNN for the summer. Aer Lingus are a great airline, or at least they seemed to be any
time i've flown with them. My friends fly with them from SNN to the US the whole time and there's never been any problems. And if it's turbulence
you're worried about make sure you go back and read up on what Capt. Tom said about it. It definitely helped with me anyway. Best of luck with your trip
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Alex |
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Posts: 4 (06/21/09 13:03:19) |
Hello! How is Shannon? I've never been to Ireland, and I can't wait to go! I'm spending a few nights in dublin and then heading out to the
countryside. It has made me less afraid to fly reading all these posts. I did some reading on aer lingus-they seem to be a great airline. and the airplanes are
green! never seen a green airplane before
thank you again!
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janeflyingagain |
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Posts: 13 (06/21/09 18:43:47) |
You also might experience some turbulence around Greenland. I know on every flight I ve been on to and from the UK we always hit turbulence when we were close
to Greenland.
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Alex |
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Posts: 5 (06/23/09 06:27:38) |
I'm so glad that everyone is responding with information on turbulence. What I'm wondering is...the turbulence that is being mentioned-bad turbulence
or just a little bumpy? You can see the fear coming out here. But I am so grateful that everyone has been so responsive! It's really been so comforting to
read
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2622 (06/23/09 08:19:45) |
Look. It is like this. When there is difficulty regulating anxiety, even the slightest uncertainty drives people up the wall. So they try to get control to
remove the uncertainty. On a plane that doesn't work. And the other thing done on the ground is to get away from the uncertainty, or to always have a way
to escape.
The way people escape once on the plane is to try to block out awareness. That is a form of distancing - or dissociation - from a "problem". Where doesn't that work? On takeoff and in turbulence. This is nothing more than an inability to keep something out of mind. Turbulence is too intrusive. And there is no way to get a handle on this other than to build inside yourself the emotional strength to regulate feelings. If you want more emotional strength, get "Complete Relief" at www.fearofflying.com/relief/ That trains you mind to NOT react and cause these feelings. |
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TCL90 |
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Posts: 3 (06/24/09 09:46:18) |
I take the Aer Lingus flights to Shannon or Dublin several times per year, and I agree with Captain Tom. Light turbulence over Canada, but other than that,
it's a fairly smooth journey. I often can sleep (at least for a while) on the way over. And I hate turbulence.
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2623 (06/24/09 13:38:58) |
Hate turbulence! Of course. It messes up your strategy of keeping stuff out of mind. Much better to have a strategy of training your mind to NOT react to it.
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Alex |
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Posts: 6 (06/29/09 07:20:51) |
My strategy is just going to try and fall asleep for as much of the trip as I can. we're landing in the morning. If I can just not psych myself out during
any turbulence I think I'll be just fine. I'm trying to have as much of a positive outlook on this as possible.
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MeghansNerves |
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Posts: 227 (06/29/09 18:05:21) |
Jumping into this conversation late, but I also hate turbulence. Lately, though, I've found that calming strategies like 5-4-3-2-1, watching a glass of
water, or just counting or meditating not only calms me and focuses my mind on the "what is, not what if", it also can oddly work WITH turbulence.
Almost like how babies almost always get lulled to sleep in a stroller or in a car.
Not sure if this would be the case for anyone else, but if nothing else knowing this is possible (i.e. you won't necessarily by panicked but possibly calmed instead) might help some anticipatory anxiety! Meghan |
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Alex |
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Posts: 7 (07/05/09 17:01:07) |
The more people that join in this conversation the merrier!
I love hearing everyone's story-it makes me so much more relaxed. I did have a question that
maybe someone has the answer to...when flying over water, I've always had this idea that you're in the middle of nowhere with no land nearby. I know
that pilots are always in contact with the control tower, but when flying over water (such as the atlantic) do they fly certain distances from land so that if
there was a problem they could land? I'm not sure if I'm phrasing this correctly. I believe I heard someone once say that pilots always flew a certain
distance from any part of land when flying over water, but they could have been wrong. Thanks to anyone who knows the answer!
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MeghansNerves |
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Posts: 230 (07/05/09 19:17:58) |
You are right, Alex. If you look at the flight paths, it is not usually directly across even a large body of water like an ocean, but much more tightly hugging
the land lines of the continents, etc. There are always many contingency plans for planes should they encounter trouble and need to land, and a safe airport is
always nearby. So many layers of protection and contingency that we passengers can only begin to appreciate, I think!
Hope this helps a bit. Meghan |
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Alex |
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Posts: 8 (07/17/09 07:53:41) |
Thank you! That helps so much. I kind of figured that, I just wanted to hear it from someone who actually knew the correct answer. Ok, I feel better about
flying over large bodies of water now. 2 weeks until Ireland...I can't actually believe it.
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Note from Capt. Tom I know everyone worries about weather, but pilots really do not worry about it. We simply - instead of worrying about it - completely prepare for it. Before going to the plane, we review the weather at the destination. If it is not 100% sure to be within legal limits when we arrive at the destination, we must specify an alternate airport in our planning documents, and load on plenty of fuel for going to the destination airport, and then if need be, diverting to the alternate airport. The legal limits are conservative. Even when weather is slightly outside the legal limits, any airline pilot could still land safely. You can rely on the captain never to land when the weather is not legal, and legality limits are reached prior to safety limits. If you are still anxious, call me and we can talk it over. I'm at 877 332-7359 from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern time. For effective help, even if you are flying in a day or two, sign up now at www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack and call me when you finish Clip 9 so I can make sure you are all set. |
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Using Weather Information If you enter your ZIP Code or City at the top of the weather presentation, it will give you weather for your area. Or, you can enter your destination ZIP Code or City.
Click on the "LOCAL RADAR" button to see whether or not there are thunder- Turbulence, though it may cause anxiety, does not mean anything is wrong. Turbulence does not mean danger. The plane can handle far more turbulence than Mother Nature can dish out. Though flying in turbulence is safe, it doesn't feel safe. And here is where the SOAR programs come in. We can help you feel as safe when you fly as you actually are. You can see these programs at www.fearofflying.com/store. |
