JamieAllison
10-13-2004, 01:47 PM
Hi -
I'm back from a whirlwind long weekend trip to Paris with my partner and my sister. I decided to take notes during the flights, so here are those notes:
BOS-CDG
I'm writing this 2 hours into the flight, so I'll just back up a little. We're on American Airlines on a 767 and we're sitting in the middle section (seating is 2-3-2) in row 23, which is over the wing. Big news - I MET THE PILOTS!!! Sorry for yelling, but I am just so excited that I finally did it. It was just as wonderful and helpful as everybody told me it would be. When we got on the plane, I told the flight attendant at the door that I was a fearful flyer and had been told that it would really help to meet the captain. The next thing I knew, I was in the cockpit talking to the Captain and the two First Officers (one was a relief pilot). I felt so much better after talking to them.
I have never been so relaxed on take off (I did take .25 of Xanax, but I've done that before and I was still much more relaxed this time). On this flight, I'm the expert telling my sister what all the dings mean and why it's okay if the plane feels like it is slowing down on takeoff.
So far it has been a mostly smooth flight. Some bumps and back and forth during dinner and I almost felt annoyed that it happened then (it was mild though, so not a true test).
The seatbelt sign just went on and sure enough it is getting bumpy...up and down and side to side. So far I am okay though - keep repeating to myself "turbulence is comfort issue, not a safety issue." I still don't like the feel of it but I don't feel panicked.
We're descending and it is getting somewhat bumpy, but not horrifying. Very smooth flight for the most part.
CDG-BOS
Here are my notes from the flight back (same plane, same seats):
I met the Captain and First Officers again (same way, by telling the FA). Can't believe I waited so long to do this. They couldn't have been happier to talk to me and didn't seem anxious for me to leave at all (don't they have to get ready to fly the plane?!). Told them about my online support group. They were interested in all the kinds of things I worry about - I don't think it ever occurred to them that someone would think that the 10,000 foot ding means "warning, warning"! They reassured me about backup supports and about turb being a safety issue. I just can't believe what a difference it makes to know the people who are flying the plane. They were so friendly and funny, but most of all, so confident. I didn't know that their confidence would give me some confidence.
The captain told me we would have a steep, quick take off due to noise regulations, so I didn't worry when indeed it was a steep, quick take off. The 10,000 foot ding just went off and I am definitely more relaxed than usual. The captain (my friend Dave!) made an announcement about our altitude and arrival time and it felt nice to put a face (and personality) to the voice.
This might sound weird but now I'm feeling nervous about feeling so relaxed. They just served lunch and two flight attendants stopped by (separately) to ask me how I'm doing. Susan said she feels like she is with a celebrity!
It's getting bumpy. I wish I could say I'm completely relaxed but I'm not...definitely better than in the past though.
The seatbelt sign just went on and we're starting to feel some more bumps. Turbulence is a comfort issue, not a safety issue...I keep repeating this and I think I'm starting to believe myself. I'm watching my water and it is moving but not dramatically and I am not having trouble writing this. We're starting to descend so I'm going to put this away.
Well, that's it. I hope I didn't go on too long with this report. These were mostly very good flights and I'm still not sure how I will be on a flight with bad turbulence, but I am still very encouraged by this experience.
I want to thank everyone here for all the support and encouragement and especially for telling me to meet the pilots! If there is anyone reading this who hasn't done it yet, now I am going to be the one to tell you to just do it!
Jamie
I'm back from a whirlwind long weekend trip to Paris with my partner and my sister. I decided to take notes during the flights, so here are those notes:
BOS-CDG
I'm writing this 2 hours into the flight, so I'll just back up a little. We're on American Airlines on a 767 and we're sitting in the middle section (seating is 2-3-2) in row 23, which is over the wing. Big news - I MET THE PILOTS!!! Sorry for yelling, but I am just so excited that I finally did it. It was just as wonderful and helpful as everybody told me it would be. When we got on the plane, I told the flight attendant at the door that I was a fearful flyer and had been told that it would really help to meet the captain. The next thing I knew, I was in the cockpit talking to the Captain and the two First Officers (one was a relief pilot). I felt so much better after talking to them.
I have never been so relaxed on take off (I did take .25 of Xanax, but I've done that before and I was still much more relaxed this time). On this flight, I'm the expert telling my sister what all the dings mean and why it's okay if the plane feels like it is slowing down on takeoff.
So far it has been a mostly smooth flight. Some bumps and back and forth during dinner and I almost felt annoyed that it happened then (it was mild though, so not a true test).
The seatbelt sign just went on and sure enough it is getting bumpy...up and down and side to side. So far I am okay though - keep repeating to myself "turbulence is comfort issue, not a safety issue." I still don't like the feel of it but I don't feel panicked.
We're descending and it is getting somewhat bumpy, but not horrifying. Very smooth flight for the most part.
CDG-BOS
Here are my notes from the flight back (same plane, same seats):
I met the Captain and First Officers again (same way, by telling the FA). Can't believe I waited so long to do this. They couldn't have been happier to talk to me and didn't seem anxious for me to leave at all (don't they have to get ready to fly the plane?!). Told them about my online support group. They were interested in all the kinds of things I worry about - I don't think it ever occurred to them that someone would think that the 10,000 foot ding means "warning, warning"! They reassured me about backup supports and about turb being a safety issue. I just can't believe what a difference it makes to know the people who are flying the plane. They were so friendly and funny, but most of all, so confident. I didn't know that their confidence would give me some confidence.
The captain told me we would have a steep, quick take off due to noise regulations, so I didn't worry when indeed it was a steep, quick take off. The 10,000 foot ding just went off and I am definitely more relaxed than usual. The captain (my friend Dave!) made an announcement about our altitude and arrival time and it felt nice to put a face (and personality) to the voice.
This might sound weird but now I'm feeling nervous about feeling so relaxed. They just served lunch and two flight attendants stopped by (separately) to ask me how I'm doing. Susan said she feels like she is with a celebrity!
It's getting bumpy. I wish I could say I'm completely relaxed but I'm not...definitely better than in the past though.
The seatbelt sign just went on and we're starting to feel some more bumps. Turbulence is a comfort issue, not a safety issue...I keep repeating this and I think I'm starting to believe myself. I'm watching my water and it is moving but not dramatically and I am not having trouble writing this. We're starting to descend so I'm going to put this away.
Well, that's it. I hope I didn't go on too long with this report. These were mostly very good flights and I'm still not sure how I will be on a flight with bad turbulence, but I am still very encouraged by this experience.
I want to thank everyone here for all the support and encouragement and especially for telling me to meet the pilots! If there is anyone reading this who hasn't done it yet, now I am going to be the one to tell you to just do it!
Jamie