Airline ticket help? Wife will not fly now.

[rockydek]

Same thing happened to me ....with my son. He refused to go ... the night we were heading out. He said he would try again in the morning. So........ I paid to change the tickets.
After a finacial loss of 600.00.
We now take the Auto train in Lorton Virginia.
We put our car on the train. It leaves Lorton at 4 pm and arrives at 8:30am 1/2 hour from Disney.
We eat dinner on the train and sleep.
I actually like it. Its not the fastest way...good for those who refuse to fly.

[KAT1811]

Honestly, not much about the refund but try to focus her on the number of flights that come off without a hitch. Thousands and thousands of flights every day and hour and they all take place safely. I have a similar uneasiness of flying, have real tension leading up to the flight(I hate not being in control) so I understand the feelings but I focus on the safety of flying and I go.

Actually, driving in a car to Florida is statistically far more dangerous than a plane. That's what to focus on, how safe planes are compared to other forms. If we wanted no risk at all in our transportation we would never go anywhere. There are bus crashes, train crashes, ferry sinkings, taxi cab incidents and thousands of car accidents. Its about how likely things are and planes aren't likely at all to go down.

May not help but got to focus on the positive if at all possible.

You may want to speak with your family Dr. and see if he/she can prescribe something to take the edge off of her anxiety before the flight.

A doctor can give her something that will take a huge edge off which may help her.

Good luck! I feel for you.

[dnickels]

1) Tell that to us crash survivors.
2) If she is too afraid, then just drive.
3) You will lose the ticket price.
4) But, shew will be happier on the vacation.

1. At some point.
2. We've all had.
3. A near death experience.
4. It's no reason.
5. To start making.
6. Irrational decisions.

[blabbermouth]

I have another take on it.

I tell myself that 'hey, a plane just crashed in spain... what are the chances that one will crash two weeks from now when I'm on it!'
(except for the one in kyzystan (?) that doesn't count). They are very rare and even more rare in North America, so the odds are that one won't happen again soon.

It's kinda like 'well my neighbour won the lottery last week, what are the chances I'll win this week?'

[crazypoohbear]

1. At some point.
2. We've all had.
3. A near death experience.
4. It's no reason.
5. To start making.
6. Irrational decisions.

No we ALL have not had a near death experience.
Until you have walked a mile in the shoes of someone that has been in a plane crash don't make comments that may come off as flip or down right rude.
Why is it an irrational decision?

It's no more irrational than I don't like green beans and I am not going to eat them, Ever, for any reason. I don't have to, there are other things I can eat.
The same hold true for this woman she doesn't HAVE to fly, she can drive, she can take a train, she can stay home.

The OP asked if we knew of anything that would HELP
him out.
calling his wife irrational is not helping.

As for getting money back on the tickets that is not an option. Unless you know someone who is going at the exact same time you could pay for a name change on the tickets but I think that is about it.

[dnickels]

No we ALL have not had a near death experience.
Until you have walked a mile in the shoes of someone that has been in a plane crash don't make comments that may come off as flip or down right rude.
Why is it an irrational decision?

It's no more irrational than I don't like green beans and I am not going to eat them, Ever, for any reason. I don't have to, there are other things I can eat.
The same hold true for this woman she doesn't HAVE to fly, she can drive, she can take a train, she can stay home.

The OP asked if we knew of anything that would HELP
him out.
calling his wife irrational is not helping.

As for getting money back on the tickets that is not an option. Unless you know someone who is going at the exact same time you could pay for a name change on the tickets but I think that is about it.

Relax.

I was just playing with Rusty's style of posting. My main point was earlier in the thread that driving is an order of magnitude and then some more dangerous than flying.

What flight were you on that crashed by the way Rusty?

[jonahbear2006]

I hate flying too and this thread kind of creeps me out. I am thinking about it now, and not sure if I can get myself on the plane. It is scary. I haven't been on one since I was 12-13. So about 15 years ago. My husband loves flying but my daughter and I are both very much full of anxiety people. I hope the dr. can give us both something to take before the flight. It would make things a lot easier. I agree though. If she is scared you probably cannot talk her into it. Have you thought about ebaying the tickets for a bit lesser cost or craigs list. You could at least make some of your money back on them if not all or more.

[mouseketeer mom]

I'm just the opposite. I feel safest on a plane, and have really begun to feel anxiety with big highway driving..when there's lots of cars, lots of lanes and high speed and cars weaving in and out. I've never been like that before, but I force myself to do it anyway. Flying on the other hand feels safe and wonderful to me. Too bad I only get to do it two or three times a year!

[chick20679]

As for getting money back on the tickets that is not an option. Unless you know someone who is going at the exact same time you could pay for a name change on the tickets but I think that is about it.

Most tickets are NOT transferrable.

What you could do is cancel your itinerary (paying any applicable change fees) and then use the leftover credit to pay for someone elses ticket (or your own at a later date) within a year.

[DisneyDudet]

I'm just the opposite. I feel safest on a plane, and have really begun to feel anxiety with big highway driving..when there's lots of cars, lots of lanes and high speed and cars weaving in and out. I've never been like that before, but I force myself to do it anyway. Flying on the other hand feels safe and wonderful to me. Too bad I only get to do it two or three times a year!

I feel the same way you do. I was in a pretty darn bad accident in Feb. While I didn't have any injuries, I have to drive by that place every time I go to work. If there weren't slow traffic around and I finally realized my foot was not on the brake, I could have fallen off the drop off and died. Its scary to think about. Driving is very fearful for me.

Flying is so relaxing to me. I know there are people who have fears. I have fears. While it may not be flying, it is something just as important to them. It doesn't mean they're crazy or irrational, just fearful.

I would suggest some stress reduction techniques and therapies. Some psychologists and psychiatrists have great techniques for stress reduction. We used them for tests in nursing school. A lot has to do with breathing techniques, but there can be mantras said to calm the person. Sometimes, you can find some information at book stores and CD stores.

Even as a nurse, I would take medication as a last resort. I know many many people where medication is the only thing that helps. That's great! I'm sure those are the people that want to do something so bad, but their body will not allow them to. This helps them become functional and to do what they want to do. That being said, anti anxiety medications will not help you do the things you really really don't want to do. On my floor in the hospital, we tend to hand out anti anxiety medications as if they were candy on Halloween. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Most of the time, it doesn't help the ones that really don't want to do something (like a special test or something).

I would run the statistics by her, in a calm way. Don't push her, and tell her you aren't judging her. You understand that she is fearful, and tell her that. But also, be factual. Show her the money numbers and other things like that. I would also call the airline and learn, for sure, what you can do.

Ultimately, if she doesn't want to fly, she won't. And most likely, she never will. That is just the way she is programmed!

I would try to save as much money on the airfare as possible, and drive. While it won't get you there faster, and you may lose some money, everyone will probably be happier.

Best of luck!