Feeling nervous or anxious about flying? You’re certainly not alone.
A fear of flying affects many people and can turn what should be an exciting trip into weeks of worry and dread. While some people look forward to jetting off on holiday, others feel anxious from the moment the flight is booked — worrying about take-off, turbulence, being trapped on the plane, or simply not being in control.
Even though we are often told that flying is one of the safest ways to travel, this knowledge alone doesn’t always calm the nervous system. Fear of flying isn’t about logic — it’s about how the subconscious mind tries to protect you from what feels unfamiliar or threatening.
The good news is that there are gentle and effective ways to reduce this anxiety and make flying feel far more manageable and comfortable.
Simple Ways to Feel More at Ease When Flying
Getting Familiar with the Plane
One helpful step is to become more familiar with the aircraft itself. Looking at pictures or videos of the type of plane you’ll be travelling on can help your mind feel less startled by the environment on the day of your flight.
The more familiar something feels, the less your brain interprets it as a threat. This can subtly reduce anxiety before you even arrive at the airport.
At the Airport
Airports can feel busy, noisy and overwhelming — especially if you don’t fly often. Give yourself plenty of time so you don’t feel rushed or pressured.
Try to find a quieter place to sit and relax before boarding. While you wait, gently shift your focus to where you are going:
the warmth of the sun, the scenery, the sounds and smells of your destination. Creating a vivid picture of what awaits you can help replace anxious thoughts with anticipation.
Caffeinated drinks can increase feelings of nervousness, so choosing water or a herbal tea instead may help your body feel calmer and more settled.
On the Plane
Some people feel uncomfortable with the enclosed space of an aircraft. If this is the case for you, an aisle seat can feel more open and allow you to move around more freely if needed.
Listening to calming music through noise-cancelling headphones can be very soothing and help reduce awareness of engine noise and cabin sounds.
Bringing a favourite book, podcast or film can also be a helpful distraction, giving your mind something pleasant to focus on while the flight passes.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help with Fear of Flying
Many people choose hypnotherapy to help them overcome their fear of flying when self-help strategies alone aren’t enough.
Fear of flying is not a sign of weakness. It is simply the subconscious mind trying to protect you from what it believes could be dangerous. Flying is not something humans evolved to do naturally, so for some people the mind interprets it as a threat — even when there is no real danger present.
Through hypnotherapy and other gentle psychological techniques, we can help the mind learn that flying is safe, predictable and manageable. This reduces the physical symptoms of anxiety such as:
- racing heart
- tight chest
- nausea
- dizziness
- feelings of panic
- fear of losing control
Rather than forcing yourself to “be brave”, hypnotherapy works by changing the automatic emotional response to flying at a subconscious level.
Many clients notice that their anxiety reduces not just during the flight itself, but also in the days and weeks leading up to travel.
You Don’t Have to Let Fear Control Your Plans
A fear of flying can limit holidays, work opportunities and family time — but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
With the right support, your mind can learn to respond differently to flying, allowing you to travel with far more ease and confidence.
If fear of flying is stopping you from living the life you want, hypnotherapy can help you take back control in a calm and natural way.
You deserve to enjoy your journeys, not endure them.