For most of us, the month of August means that the summer holidays are coming to an end. Many may have traveled during the holidays, and we are left with the memories of a holiday that was hopefully nice and much needed. But for many, the flight has been a challenge. If the statistics are to be believed, it is actually a great many of us (10-15% of the population) who are not happy to fly. Every year, Ask A Pilot is also contacted (in periods almost flooded) in connection with inquiries about the fear of flying process. Typically, it happens quite shortly before departure that “help” is shouted. And we really want to help. In fact, one of the reasons why you don’t see so many posts from us in the months of JUN, JUL (this year, for example, we have been completely shut down and haven’t published anything at all) is that we prioritize helping with fear of flying requests. Of course, it is not the case that we can say “we can help everyone”, but to date, we have not had cases where we have not been able to make a difference. It may not be the case that the fear of flying disappears completely, but perhaps it will be at a level where flying does not become an unmanageable challenge.
Start early is our top tip
Our plea to you reading this now is that if you are either not fond of flying yourself or know someone who is not fond of flying, then it would be sensible to act on it now, when there may not be travel by plane which must be completed in a short time. It is also our experience that the sooner you get started with the positive work, the shorter the process will be. Many times it is the many negative thoughts that are allowed to settle and that we have to work on getting processed.
How can you take some of the pressure off?
If you start at a time when you don’t have a flight in a short time, there may also be less pressure from yourself (I MUST fly), or pressure from others (who will be on the trip and may be dependent on you going along). This does not mean that we will NOT help if you have to fly soon. Of course, you are always welcome to contact us regardless of when your next flight is. With this post, we are simply trying to motivate you to get out in good time. What is it so we (Ask A Pilot) can do? Well, that is very easy to answer. We can first of all listen to you, and then offer a course that suits you. We typically start with a 15-minute introductory conversation (free of charge) just to meet each other and for us to get to know what your challenges are. The conversation can be done over the phone or as an online meeting. You will then receive a home training package consisting of audio files (mental training program) and 3 booklets which you can go through at your leisure. Depending on your individual course, we meet online a few times to ensure that you experience progress with the exercises and that you have the opportunity to get answers to any questions.
How much does it cost to get help?
If you are thinking about what it might cost, the answer is here – FROM GBP 28. This is the price for the home training package and includes the 15-minute initial conversation. Coaching online takes place as needed and is billed per half-time at a rate of GBP 45. We always guarantee that there is no payment if you are not satisfied with the coaching. Concerning the total price of a course, it is difficult to answer, as it depends on how many coaching hours you feel you need and how else we assist you. Most people feel progress after 4-5 hours of coaching and many will already feel after 1-3 hours that they can continue on their own, and then we are more or less only used to answer questions. If you are one of those who need more time, there are no problems with that. You decide when it is good enough for you. To date, we have never given up.
I’m interested – how can I get started?
You can buy the flight anxiety course here on our webshop. It is possible to give the course as a gift to someone you care about. You will immediately receive a download link, which you can forward if it is to be used by someone other than yourself. There is no waiting time and you can start the course immediately. Most people would probably need some help/input to get started, which is why we include the 15-minute conversation. The conversation is set up immediately after you have purchased access, and when it can be done depends on our respective calendars. We typically find a date and time for the interview within 7-10 days.
We often find that it is the personal stories that help with motivation in relation to getting started. So here comes one of the summer’s fear of flying stories without editing. That is to say, what you read are the person’s own words without us having been doing any editing (apart from translating from Danish to English).
Happy Landings
Review from Stephanie one of many we have helped this summer (2024)
A few weeks before I was due to go on summer vacation this year, the anxiety about the flight started knocking. I have flown many times in my life – including alone. I have never had a fear of flying as such. It has arisen in the last few years. In an attempt to get rid of the anxiety 3-4 weeks before departure, which also affected my sleep and appetite, I bought Ask A Pilot’s “from flying anxiety to flight joy package”. A really good investment if you ask me. However, I had one question that I didn’t quite feel I had answered, so I wrote an email. Shortly after, I get an email back from “Søren” who offers to call me. The next day, Søren calls and we talk for half an hour – for free. Søren answers my questions and gives me other useful facts. The day after the conversation, Søren follows up with me and offers me to contact the airline I will be travelling with. During and after my holiday, Søren is also aware of me and continues to offer his help. Thanks to Søren, I get a cockpit visit where I meet the captain and the first officer (on both flights). This helped me feel more secure about the journey. I do not regret contacting Ask A Pilot and investing a little money in myself. The course has been a gift for me and I have felt seen and heard.