A deliberate crash and an accidental crash landing- is it making you anxious about flying?

Recent news about the Germanwings crash and the crash landing at a Canadian airport has people quite concerned. Not only are there accidental crashes…there apparently are deliberate ones. This has triggered memories for some of the World Trade Center tragedy almost 14 years ago. Add to this the disappearance of one Malaysia Airlines flight and an apparent missile shooting of another last year, it certainly adds to the anxiety of people who fly. It’s amazing anyone boards a plane at all, given all the crashes and people losing their lives in these crashes.

Previous to the September 11 attacks, flying was pleasant and care-free. Prior to September 11, 2001, airports were places of joy and happiness…loved ones who were not plane passengers could go directly to the gate where the passenger was arriving, and many joyous reunions could be witnessed, right off the jet bridge! As a passenger flying to meet loved ones, you felt like a rock star with all the attention showered on you when you departed the jet bridge onto the gate waiting area. In addition to loved ones, you could meet your friend or business associate at the gate, and instantly forge and strengthen relationships, and help them to navigate to baggage claim and assist with their luggage. The only sad part of being able to go directly to the gate as a non-passenger was that you witnessed departures of loved ones being flown to faraway places, and many tears and hugs ensued. However, the gate waiting area served to ease that sadness of departures by allowing loved ones to wait with the passenger until the moment of boarding the plane. This was a comforting ritual for passengers and loved ones alike…it allowed for proper goodbyes.

Fast forward to 2015, and airports are places of misery and drudgery. Airports are not pleasant places anymore. If you are not a passenger, you can’t go to the gate anymore. So you can’t see your loved one, friend, or colleague board the plane. Also, you can’t welcome them anymore when they arrive, robbing them of their rock star welcome. Instead, the passenger is subjected to intense security checks, which also adds to the anxiety of flying. And not having your loved one with you when at the gate makes flying a very lonely experience. All you see now at the gate and airline lounges now are people tapping away on their smartphones, presumably connecting virtually with their loved one, friend, or associate. Before 2001, we didn’t have smart phones…we had real contact with people at the airport.

And now with flying, we have to worry about terrorists, people with murderous intensions, missile shootings, and plane disappearances. Before, all we worried about was accidental plane crashes…we didn’t worry about deliberate ones.

So how do you cope with all this anxiety about flying nowadays? For starters, the fact remains that flying is still the safest way to travel. And with all the security checks and nuisances at the airport, you can reframe this by thinking about it positively, as these security checks are there to ensure your safety while flying. Rest assured, the deliberate crashes will force the airlines and airports to change their policies to ensure your safety. If you continue to experience anxiety with flying, visit AnxietyBoss.com for more tips on getting rid of your anxiety.