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Iberia Airlines

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Lesley Ann	Iberia Airlines	Lead	[-]
Posts: 2 (07/10/09 00:15:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Hello Everyone, I have been a member of this board for quite some time now, been reading the posts for a lot longer, I cant tell you how much better I feel about flying now. Although I was scared, I still flew, at least twice a year, I live in the UK and America is my favourite country, I have Aunts Uncles and cousins there, so in order to see them I have flown across the Atlantic a good few times now. As I said I am better now, before I started reading the board, I would sit in my seat, the whole journey sometimes, gripping the arm rests as if letting go of them would cause the plane to crash. I can do the take-off now relatively relaxed, still hate turbulence with a passion, because it feels so horrible, but I get through it OK without anyone noticing ( I think) don't enjoy landing at all, although I'm relieved to have the journey over, my brain wont allow me to believe that such a massive piece of machinery can land so easily on such little tiny wheels. Anyway I'm side tracking here, just wanted to fill you all in on my background. On Monday I am going with my husband and grown-up daughter to one of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura to be exact and the flights (we have to change at Madrid) are with Iberia Airlines. I am feeling more uneasy than normal now, and I know it is only because it is an airline I am not familiar with. I need some reassurance. My husband and daughter have no idea I'm feeling this way, as I play down my fof, particularly with my daughter, I don'twant her to worry, at the moment flying means nothing to her and I want it to stay that way. I've looked on Flysafe.com but the stats mean nothing to me. This is a weird thing to ask I know, beacause if anyone said "Oh no, don't go with Iberia", I'd freak out, I have no choice, its our summer holiday and we're all looking forward to some sunshine. It will only take one of you to say we'll be fine and I'll feel better. I know its a bit silly to ask this so close to the day but its slowly crept up on me and I have felt much worse this past week so decided to post. Thanks so much for listening Lesley
yayinski	You will be fine	#1	[-]
Posts: 1 (07/10/09 10:45:39) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Leslie, You have nothing to worry about! I have flown Iberia many times, coming in and out of Spain, both domestic and international travel. They are reliable and, as a matter of fact, are members of the One World Alliance that includes other prestigious and VERY SAFE airlines. Go out, have fun and think that while take off, turbulence and landing are a bit rough all transportation (even walking) requires movement..have fun, summer time is great time of the year to fly. If pilots (who all have families) did not feel safe, they wouldn't put themselves at risk. Bon Voyage, Eduardo
Capn Steve		#2	[-]
Posts: 602 (07/10/09 16:35:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Lesley Ann -- Eduardo is absolutely correct. Iberia has been flying safely for many years. Decades, even. They are affiliated, via the OneWorld Alliance, with airlines such as American Airlines and British Airways, as well as others. None of whom, I might add, would have any association whatsoever with an airline they perceived to be substandard in any manner. As far as your husband and daughter go -- well, sometimes family members are sympathetic with FOF, and sometimes they are not. I can't speak to your particular situation. You said that your daughter is grown, so I wouldn't expect your FOF to necessarily rub off onto her. However, many people develop FOF during young adulthood (late 20s, especially), even though they have flown numerous times before with no problem, so she might be at, or nearing, the age when she could be vulnerable. (But -- this would not necessarily have anything to do with you, and your FOF.) But, then again, she might be totally unaffected. I'd suggest the SOAR course. Right now, you have only a couple of days until departure, so it would probably be impractical to do the entire course. But you can still call Capt. Tom (phone number is listed elsewhere in this website) and get some reassurance. Then, when you return from your trip, you can order the SOAR DVDs and view them at your leisure. Have a good trip. You'll be just fine on Iberia, rest assured. Cheers. Cap'n Steve

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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.

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-
storms. Keep in mind, however, that we can either fly above the storms when cruising or fly through gaps between storms. During landing, we cannot fly above them, but fly through gaps, or through the area of the storms where the turbulence is least.

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.

For questions on aviation or the psychology of aerophobia, click here to e-mail Capt. Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW.

To contact the SOAR business office (media contacts, brochures, replacement tapes, billing, shipping), click here to e-mail Lisa Hauptner, MS.