Sandra Brown of Chapel Hill, N.C., founder and co-instructor of American Airlines’ AAir Born program, a weekend fear-of-flying seminar consisting facts on flight safety, relaxation techniques, visualization exercises, group interaction and fear management strategies, offers these tips:
– Passengers bothered by the surge at takeoff probably will feel it less toward the rear of the plane. “Sit back, relax, go with it, not against it. . . . Put your hands in your lap.”
– Those afraid of heights should sit by a window and pull the shade down.
– Claustrophobic passengers should sit by the aisle or possibly in the second of two-deep seating areas. They should avoid middle and third seats in three-deep seating areas.
– Passengers bothered by turbulence should sit over or near the wing, because there’s less bouncing there.
– Drink plenty of water. Dehydration tends to increase nervousness.
– Bring lots of things to occupy yourself. Write postcards. Read. Or listen to music or audio books. Take your watch off so you don’t keep checking the time.
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The AAir Born program costs $365. For information, call 1-800-451-5106.