airline recommendation for a nervous flyer

Ruth, I would go with any of the major carriers (either European or American; Delta, American, Air France, etc). As for being nervous, I would definitely go to your doctor and request a prescription for Xanax or something similiar. It will relax you & even help you sleep but the up side is that it has a short half-life so you won't be groggy at the end of your flight (unless you really take a lot) but it will definitely take the edge off & help you to relax. Experiment with it before you embark on your trip so you know how it effects you & how much you need. I use the lowest dose possible & even then, I only take a quarter of it. Enjoy your first trip to Europe.

First, you have a great plan to fly into one airport and out of another. Second, if you really want to see Italy, you have no choice but to conquer your fear in some manner (drugs??) to get there and back. All large airlines flying to and from Europe are exceptionally safe. As for service, I would suggest avoiding Alitalia. Lufthansa, Air France, Swiss Air have great service. If you don't mind the huge extra cost, you can upgrade to business class and get really great service and more room. Next, no airline flies this route without a plane change somewhere. For U.S. airlines, Delta goes to Venice but you will change planes in New York. United will put you on it's partner airline Lufthansa (a great airline). All other choices will be the large European carriers (British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss Air, etc) who will fly you first to their home country and then to Venice. You can get some direct flights home from Rome to Seattle but you might like a plane change somewhere to break up the trip. Finally, let's see if Lola from Seattle checks in on this post. With the traveling that she and her family seem to do, she should be the best person on this site to answer the question on the better airlines.

Ruth-I am a former fearful flyer so completely understand your question. Please call your doctor right now and get a prescription for Xanax. Unlike poster above I always took my full dose (and it was not the lowest one) just before boarding. It should make you feel "normal"-not dopey, not silly. It helped me to sleep because I did not remain on constant alert, listening to engines so that I would be prepared for the calamity sure to befall me! After 10 years of taking it for each trip (even short ones), I am no longer afraid. I still get an Rx once in a while and carry them with me just in case. Besides the xanax, make sure your flight has as few stops as possible. Don't take the cheapest flight with 3 stops (and therefore 3 takeoffs and landings-that would have bee pure torture for me). One other thing-if it is at all possible, look into upgrading to something like delta business elite. It is not always as outrageously expensive as you may think. The more comfortable atmosphere, beginning with the relaxing club lounge is also very nice for a truly fearful flyer. Good luck!

Sadly, there are no nonstops between Seattle and Rome. I seem to remember a rumor that one airline might start doing them, but I can't imagine who it would be. As for Alitalia, we flew them this past year and had a wonderful time. We would fly them again in an instant. Happy travels.

Ruth All the airlines flying from the States to Europe have really good safety records. Flying is way, way safer than crossing the road, driving around the block, or taking any other method of transportation. If you still find it difficult to fly most airlines or airports run special programs for nervous flyers.

get a flight that has in seat entertainment system, that will help pass the time and keep your mind off flying.
I usually try and go with the European carriers, British Air, Lufthansa... (not Alitalia) because I find the service and amenities a little better

We have a lady friend who had a lifelong fear of flying. She finally took her first flight at age 52 - her very supportive husband, a great guy, somehow persuaded her to fly with him to Alaska. Now, he says, he "can't keep her off a plane." She wants to go everywhere and see everything and make up for all the lost time. I predict you'll do great and you'll have a wonderful time in Italy.

Thanks, Larry! We have flown to Europe from Seattle quite a bit-16 times in as many years, I think, and only on 2 airlines (British and SAS), so I can't compare others. I completely agree with the advice above to make as few stops as possible. We also only choose the flights that go direct from Seattle to Europe-no stops in the US on the way. But there are none that go to Italy, so you will have one change in Europe no matter what. The airlines that allow you to do this from Seattle are British, Lufthansa, KLM/Delta, and Air France/Delta. Used to be SAS too, which was one of our favorites, but they ped their Seattle to Copenhagen route in late 2007. Also I think IcelandAir has a route to some cities in Europe through Rekjavik, but I don't think it goes to Italy destinations. Of the ones listed above that still fly direct from Seattle, we have only used British. Their 747 service is safe, reliable, and very comfortable. (A pilot friend tells me that the 747 is most pilots' favorite plane to fly, and besides it's a local product). to be continues. . .

However,the problem with using British Airways to get to Venice is that you have to change airports, from Heathrow where you land around noon to Gatwick for a 19:40 departure to Venice. We did that once, and I would now try to avoid it. So my suggestion for you would be the Lufthansa flight, Seattle to Frankfurt non-stop, then short flight to Venice. The return from Rome leaves pretty early in the morning (6:30 am if you want to make only one stop on the return, but that it going to be true of most any return flight unless you make an overnight stopover on your way back (which we generally do as we love London). I am not a particularly nervous flyer, but other women in my family are. One flies "Air Xanax" and the other just makes do with a glass of wine (or two). Try to sleep (if you can) and bring some trip-planning material to keep you focused on the fun you are going to have. Enjoy Venice. It's our favorite city. When do you go?

Ruth, since you are worried about safety and the safety of flying, I assume you will be walking to the airport. The highest risk of injury to you will occur during the trip to and from the airport, especially if you are using a private car. Public transit is safer. Seriously, while you may be apprehensive about flying, when was the last time you heard of a major international flight having an accident? Crossing a street in Rome is less safe than flying to Rome.

People can quote all the safety statistics they want, but to a person who is truly afraid of flying it doesn't mean anything. Flying seems so unnatural. I mean, if God meant us to go hurtling through the air at 500 mph, 5 miles up, he would have given us wings, right? Actually I think for most fearful people it is a combination of fear of lack of control, claustrophobia, fear of something we don't understand (just how does that plane stay up there, anyhow?) and other things. A rational explanation of the safety statistics isn't all that helpful. But I will admit I look into safety information too. On one of the other travel boards I read that British airways and Lufthansa are deemed to have the best mechanics in the industry. That seems important to me.

I am not afraid to fly (anymore) but I have a hard time sleeping and feel drained after a flight of more than 4 hours, however, I have now found that if I watch movies with my own, very comfortable, noise canceling head phones it makes all the difference. Not only do I fall asleep during the movies, I also do not feel that tired feeling and I think it is not hearing that constant humming of the engines. It is much less annoying with the headphone on. I won't travel without them.

Ruth, You may find it helpful to have a look at This Website. Keep in mind that regardless of the numbers, any airline can have problems. I'm not typically a "nervous flyer" but I find that the usual airport hassles and sitting on the "flying Bus" for 10-12 hours is never a pleasant experience. It is however, a "means to an end" so I put up with it. I keep hoping I'll win the Lottery so that I can afford to fly Business Class, as the "Pods" look very comfortable. I'm assuming that your trip will only be to Italy? Given your location, you might find it helpful to pay a visit to ETBD in Edmonds and use their free Library of Guidebooks. If you're available on Jan. 14th, you could also attend the "Test Drive A Tour Guide" sessions, which might give you some ideas on sights to see in Italy and an opportunity to speak with the experts. Registration is required for the sessions, but they're free. Happy travels!

We took British Airways to London and onto Rome. The staff was super king and helpful and made me feel safe and comfortable. They had a tv monitor on the back of the headrest of the seat in front of you, and you had the choice of watching movies, tv shows, listen to music or watching the map of where your plane currently is. I would recommend British Airways.

Ruth, if you would like to fly British you can avoid that miserable transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick by flying into Milan instead of Venice. There is a Milan flight departing from Terminal 5, where you will arrive on your Seattle flight, just at the right time. You would arrive in Milan at 4:30 pm and could either spend one night there or immediately take the train to Venice. The travel time is quite short once you get to Milano Centrale, the main station. I'm thinking 2.5 hours but I can check to confirm.

Ruth, congratulations on your first trip to Europe! The thing that makes me the most nervous is looking at the long layovers on the return flights - I seem to end up with lots of time on my hands in places I had no intention of visiting. I agree that taking a flight into Milan might eliminate one landing and take-off (a good idea) and reduce some anxiety. Remember that on a long flight you need to stay hydrated and walk around a bit during the flight.