Air travel poll

[jayem]

The holidays are a time for travel. My 27 year old nephew does not like to fly. He tolerates it if he must, but he would avoid it whenever possible. He’s not alone. IIRC, about 25% of the general public experience some anxiety about air travel, and over 6% are truly aviphobic. Claustrophobia is the usual explanation. But I think an equally, and maybe more significant reason is loss of control. When you’re driving a car, you maintain a sense that you’re in control of your safety. But when you fly, you are completely dependent on the aircraft and the flight crew. Your life and limb are totally in the hands of strangers and a machine. For many people, relinquishing control of your destiny in this manner is intolerable.

But anyway, I thought a poll (unscientific as it may be) to gauge people’s comfort level with flying might be interesting. Personally, I enjoy air travel. The far more stressful and unpleasant aspects are on the ground, i.e., crowded airports, long security lines, delayed flights, retrieving baggage, and overpriced amenities—among other nuisances.

 

[Going_Nowhere]

Never flown on a plane and probably never will.

 

[JackRT]

Air travel is just fine but airports are thoroughly hideous.

 

[Occams Barber]

The holidays are a time for travel. My 27 year old nephew does not like to fly. He tolerates it if he must, but he would avoid it whenever possible. He’s not alone. IIRC, about 25% of the general public experience some anxiety about air travel, and over 6% are truly aviphobic. Claustrophobia is the usual explanation. But I think an equally, and maybe more significant reason is loss of control. When you’re driving a car, you maintain a sense that you’re in control of your safety. But when you fly, you are completely dependent on the aircraft and the flight crew. Your life and limb are totally in the hands of strangers and a machine. For many people, relinquishing control of your destiny in this manner is intolerable.

But anyway, I thought a poll (unscientific as it may be) to gauge people’s comfort level with flying might be interesting. Personally, I enjoy air travel. The far more stressful and unpleasant aspects are on the ground, i.e., crowded airports, long security lines, delayed flights, retrieving baggage, and overpriced amenities—among other nuisances.

I agree with @JackRT. I enjoy flying but hate airports. I live in a regional area so flying anywhere often involves 2 planes. This means I'm usually trapped in Sydney Airport for a couple of hours between flights. There are only so many overpriced cups of coffee I can consume.

OB

 

[Silmarien]

I have a genuine phobia, though I'm obsessive compulsive and have always had weird issues related to transportation, so it's more complicated than loss of control. I fly regularly enough that I mostly have it under control now, but I'm always nervous during landings and prefer trains whenever possible.

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

My wife hates flying, as in grabs the seat and prays loudly if any turbulence. I also have young children, which are always a treat to confine to a small space and expect to keep still for prolonged periods. So I find flying generally unpleasant, especially as my wife will start being anxious about an impending flight days in advance. That said, I have easily flown 10 times more after I married than before, since long car trips are just as tiring and problematic, and my country doesn't really have rail service one can readily use.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Perhaps loss of control is not the issue as much as lack of control?

 

[Bob Carabbio]

I thought a poll (unscientific as it may be) to gauge people’s comfort level with flying might be interesting. Personally, I enjoy air travel.

There was a time when I lived on airplanes, had an Air Travel Card, and Cards from all the rental car companies. I was the installer for our product, and was "Out of town". Since our product was no good, the trips were always stressful. IF I NEVER see the inside of an airplane again, it'll be six years too soon.

The far more stressful and unpleasant aspects are on the ground, i.e., crowded airports, long security lines, delayed flights, retrieving baggage, and overpriced amenities—among other nuisances.

Amen to THAT. I don't fear flying, but I HATE (with heaping hunks of hate) the business of getting on, and off the plane and the system (or lack of it) involved with parking, trains, baggage, and the general confusion when stuff goes wrong (most often in the Winter). Sleeping on the airport floor is not pleasant - and THEY DON'T CARE what they put you through. I flew into Atlanta on Valujet the day that Valujet crashed in the everglades had an interesting time getting home - I haven't had to fly for several YEARS now, and don't miss ANY OF it at all.

 

[Lost4words]

No. I hate being put in the hold while the humans sit in comfort!

 

[grasping the after wind]

No. I hate being put in the hold while the humans sit in comfort!

You may not have ever sat in an airplane seat . Comfort is not the word that comes to my mind in connection with that situation.

 

[jacks]

No. I hate being put in the hold while the humans sit in comfort!

A whole crate to yourself! You are lucky not be flying economy class.

 

[grasping the after wind]

A whole crate to yourself! You are lucky not be flying economy class.

A crate? You were lucky. There was 150 of us living in a small shoe box in the middle of the road! Shoe box? You were lucky. We lived in a brown paper bag in a septic tank!

 

[Bob Crowley]

I enjoy the flying on those rare occasions we go somewhere which involves air travel.

But I don't care for (large) airports (impersonal overpriced places in my opinion), and the hassle of getting there and getting back. For a flight to Sydney from Brisbane, it takes almost as long to get to the airport and booked in as it does to actually make the air trip.

Nor do I enjoy the sardine class economy seats.

 

[JackRT]

On 9/11 37 airliners (7000 people)were forced to land in Gander Newfoundland. Because of the panic and paranoia security would not permit any luggage to be taken off. 24 hours later someone realized "What about the animals?" The local vets under heavy security were allowed to enter the luggage compartments to clean the cages, water, feed and comfort the animals (including two chimps). This went on for 3 days!

 

[jayem]

Let’s not forget the behavior of other passengers. Like the guy in front of you who reclines his seat all the way back into your lap. The screaming babies. And the kid behind you who’s constantly kicking the back of your seat. And who’s parents are oblivious.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Never flown on a plane and probably never will.

Username checks out.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I'm not old enough to remember flying like this:

But I can remember it being better than this:

Flying has become less fun for a lot of reasons.

 

[Robban]

I think before times it was more "posh" to fly,

Taking a train long distance is ok if you can get sleeping compartment on a nighttrain.

Taking a bus is not much different than Jayhems #15.

Best of all I liked ferry, but they have now gone.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Username checks out.

What is this: Reddit?

 

[Chesterton]

The holidays are a time for travel. My 27 year old nephew does not like to fly. He tolerates it if he must, but he would avoid it whenever possible. He’s not alone. IIRC, about 25% of the general public experience some anxiety about air travel, and over 6% are truly aviphobic. Claustrophobia is the usual explanation. But I think an equally, and maybe more significant reason is loss of control. When you’re driving a car, you maintain a sense that you’re in control of your safety. But when you fly, you are completely dependent on the aircraft and the flight crew. Your life and limb are totally in the hands of strangers and a machine. For many people, relinquishing control of your destiny in this manner is intolerable.

But anyway, I thought a poll (unscientific as it may be) to gauge people’s comfort level with flying might be interesting. Personally, I enjoy air travel. The far more stressful and unpleasant aspects are on the ground, i.e., crowded airports, long security lines, delayed flights, retrieving baggage, and overpriced amenities—among other nuisances.

All that and more is true. I hate the loss of control, the claustrophobia, the fact that I need to wait for permission to "move" - "You are now free to move about the cabin" - even though there's nowhere to move to. Hurtling through the sky in a skinny aluminum tube is not my idea of fun.