Prepare for Take-Off
As I waited for my flight at Genova Christopher Columbus Airport, I had time to think about my pre-flight routine. The routine had gradually emerged over the last few years, mainly because my feelings about flying have been on a roller coaster. I’ve come to accept the routine as a slightly silly, yet necessary, part of any flight. And when I can’t do them, I worry a little bit…
The Alps, January 2007
I first flew on a plane when I was 18 and heading to Hong Kong to study abroad. I flew from Chicago to Minneapolis to Tokyo to Hong Kong. It was a long day of traveling, but I distinctly remember the night view of Hong Kong as we flew in between the buildings. It still is one of the most amazing sights I’ve ever seen. I felt very comfortable flying at the time and had no reservations about getting on a plane to fly off to new places.
Fast forward 9 years. An extremely bumpy red-eye flight from San Francisco to Chicago plus a few personal dramas affected my feelings about flying. I suddenly became scared, nervous and queasy by the thought of getting on a plane. Luckily, this didn’t stop me from flying, but I took Dramamine before flights and clung to the armrests during take-offs and landings. During an overnight flight to London, I took sleeping pills so that I wouldn’t think about flying.
Then I noticed I did the same things before every flight. Small habits gradually developed into a routine. And because I concentrated on the routine, rather than flying, I distracted myself from thinking about flying.
My Pre-Flight Routine
1. Wear two pairs of small silver hoop earrings.
I think this started even before I had a fear of flying, but I’m not exactly sure when. I never wear these earrings at other times. I usually have to dig the earrings out from my jewelry box.
2. Arrive at the airport only when I absolutely have to.
I try to arrive at the airport so that once there, every minute I will be busy. I check-in, go through security, buy a magazine and water, use the restroom, and then arrive at my gate right before take-off. Years ago, I enjoyed watching planes take-off and land. As a child, my mother, my siblings and I would go to the airport early to drop off or pick up my father from a business trip. It was one of the highlights of my childhood. Flying was magic; not so much anymore. Perhaps it’s because I know too much about the physics of flying.
3. Eat McDonald’s
Knowing that I will get exactly the same thing at every McDonald’s worldwide calms me. A Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Panama is the same as a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in London. If I have a morning flight, I buy an egg McMuffin and hash brown. The grease may also help to calm my stomach…
4. Read and listen to the emergency instructions
I don’t care if it’s the 30th time I’ve flown on a Boeing 747, I will take the instruction pamphlet out of the seat pocket and read it as the plane prepares for take-off. I will also watch the flight attendants and / or video demonstrate the correct way to buckle a seat belt. I check where the two closest emergency exits are. I suspect the other passengers think I’m a novice flyer, but I’ll most likely never see them again, so who cares.
5. Work on the flight magazine’s crossword puzzle
I need something to distract myself during take-off and I find crossword puzzles are the best. I have to concentrate on the clues and answers which distracts me from the plane racing down the runway.
As my flight at Genova prepared for take-off, I could only cross off 2 out of 5 things on my list!
The moment I entered the airport, I knew something was wrong. The airport, shockingly, did not have a McDonald’s. I didn’t see the big yellow M anywhere. Instantly, I was a little annoyed for two reasons; I couldn’t follow my pre-flight routine and I had been looking forward to an Egg McMuffin for months. On top of this, I had 3 hours at the airport because I thought it would take longer to get there. Luckily, I fell asleep for an hour of this wait. Finally, Ryan Air’s magazine doesn’t have a crossword puzzle. I had to make-do with reading the articles.
Was I little nervous about flying because most of my routine had to be skipped? Perhaps. But I had Dramamine to calm my nerves, my traveling earrings in, and I knew exactly where to the find the emergency instruction pamphlet.
