People we have helped with their fear of flying.

Below are some of the many hundreds of kind comments we have received from our visitors, customers and partners. We thank every one of them for their positive and thoughtful comments, and wish them all, and you, the success in going flying without fear in the future. Please review our instant help section if you are flying in the near future and want to get help that will make a real difference to your journey. Remember, flying is safer than you think.

1st February 2012

Thanks to you I am now in Goa and have been cured to my own astonishment!  Flew for the first time since your course twice in one day and really rather enjoyed it. Congratulations! Christopher

 

23 rd January 2012

The site you can trust

Hi all

I used this forum a lot over the years as my fear of flying got quite bad. Anyways I am happy to report that it’s pretty much gone.
Just got back from a month in Europe. Took 6 flights on all manner of aircrafts and no problems have to say though changing a diaper on a plane was a first and its difficult to do!
anyways I come back and post every time I fly as many people don’t post about that all my flights were fine British airways and aer lingus… staff absolutely brilliant…landed in Toronto about 2 hours ago…if anyone has any questions for me please ask
thanks mark

 

To Captain Keith

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the huge help you have been to me. My parents live in Spain and other family live in Cyprus and Italy.

Refusing to fly has caused huge problems over the years and a huge expense and time with travelling by boat and car!

I purchased your book and CD about 6 years ago which enabled me to fly for the first time in 17 years. Since then I have managed to fly many times and will be flying to Cyprus to get married next year.

Your emails continue to help and reassure and I can’t thank you enough.

Many Thanks

Back home after 2 weeks of turquoise sea, blue skies, seeing turtles and ancient Roman and Lycian ruins and walking on Lycian Way.Flight out B757 200 cloudy-everything JUST ROUTINE. I am 5ft 4 and I found the seat pitch very cramped compared to other airlines I have flown with in economy. Homeward 757 200 again but were allocated seat on the very front row to my delight more leg room- take off 11.05 p.m again everything normal regarding all the sounds, sensations connected with the actual flight could watch the cabin crew going about their busy job, etc very reassuring to see how NORMAL everything is to them. Female captain made a superb landing and was impressed in how she kept updating us with where we were flying over- had fantastic view over the Bosphorus of Istanbul with lights twinkling from 36,000ft.

To all of you who worry yourselves about the safety aspects of flying road travel is FAR MORE dangerous-our bus travelled on the most hair pin bend mountain roads with huge drops at the sides and no crash barriers.On the coastal road an overtaking lorry clipped our bus damaging our front mirror and never stopped but thankfully that was all the damage and no one was hurt.

Thank you Keith for all your information to help normalise flying and to enable me to explore the world.

 

– October 2011

“I came across Keith’s website back in early 2000 when I was a nervous flier. I found both the book and the website to be filled with easy, understandable and useful information of the usually unknown world of flying. Keith shows a real understanding for the various worries a nervous flier has and explain things in a very pedagogically way. These days I also know that everything he says is true as I work in the communications department for an airline company answering all kinds of questions from the media and sometime from fearful fliers as well – who would have thought that back then? Buy Keith’s book, use his website and/or take part in one of his courses if your fear of flying is stopping you from experiences the world. And one more thing, knowledge is power, but you won’t get it from reading or watching airline crash investigations but from websites like Keith’s.”

 

6th May 2011  Hello Keith,

I just wanted to pass on my (and my partner’s!) huge thanks to you for helping me conquer my fear of flying. If you remember I came along to your course on 19th March. I’ve since notched up a staggering 20,000 air miles, flying to Fiji and back!

When I flew this time, I didn’t feel the crippling apprehension I have previously. I remembered a very important phrase – “live in the present” – this was such an important thing for me to remember. You also advised to “think positively” and try stop all those awful negative thoughts that have frankly chewed away for years. I “dared” to try it (!), and it was a revelation! Another thing which I found very helpful was your honesty “there WILL be turbulence” – fact! So when it came, it didn’t send me into a blind panic, I just tried to live in the moment, and remembered it was “uncomfortable, but not dangerous”. In actual fact the first flight experienced no detectable turbulence at all (and I’ve been very receptive to it over the years!). This was on an 11 hour flight! The second flight was certainly more bumpy (one of the other passengers started swearing she was so worried!), but I held on in there and tried to get used to it, and it passed eventually. You also said “frankly you need to try to change, otherwise you will never lose your fear” – it made me take responsibility for it, and I think that was the push I needed.

Having a young child with me definitely helped – I didn’t have time to be permanently fearful, my focus was on her. I also travelled on fantastic airline (Air New Zealand) part of the way. I found their approach very refreshing, professional, but extremely warm, and “human”. The fact we managed to get upgraded really helped as it made the flight more of a “pampering” experience, than being made to feel squashed in, something that I think has been a problem in the past. Their safety videos are so light hearted and funny – it just took away that sense of dread I’d had before. Air Pacific had a fairly ancient jumbo, but again their customer service was just excellent – what a difference that makes. For the first time I fell asleep on a plane… unbelievable! It feels like I’ve been given the key to go and enjoy the world – it’s a massive relief and I realise how incredibly draining the fear has been for me and people close to me. I know that for sure, turbulence will never be my favourite thing, but feeling terrified just doesn’t help anyone, and now I know I can do it!!

Thank you so much yet again (and do feel free to reproduce any of the above if you think it could help others).

With very best wishes and a sincere thank you.

Lisa

 

Hi Keith,
Really good to talk to you again, I can’t believe just what a difference you have made in less than 12 hours! Hearing such a reassuring voice at the end of the phone is such a help.
I’ll continue to put all you’ve said into practice – and well, within 48 hours, I’ll toast you a beer in Lanarote.
Speak soon, but in the meantime, thank you very much!!

Hi Keith,

Hope you’ll remember me.

Just over three years ago I was staying at Lewis Child’s Earth Terminal Studio in Odiham and our band NOSFERATU had a concert in Leipzig, East Germany.

I remember that you gave up nearly an hour of your valuable time persuading me to fly to Germany and helped to alleviate any fears that I had.
I did make that flight to Leipzig in June 2006 and met up with my girlfriend A (whom I met for the first time in Austria in May 2006, we travelled by road). We got on well and A moved to England in July . Last December our baby daughter was born, so I would like to say a big “Thankyou” to you Keith. If I had not got onto that plane, the baby would probably have never been born.

I have flown several times since then, I must admit that I missed a couple of flights in XXX but I last flew in May 2009 with my son, girlfriend and new daughter.

You really are kind Keith.

Thankyou so much for your detailed explanations which gave me the confidence to fly again !!

Best Regards

A

Dear Keith   (March 2010)

I just wanted to drop you a quick e-mail to let you know that I am home in one piece!!

I did find the outbound flight a little stressful, but mainly because there was quite a big delay….I did find myself thinking the worst (i.e. problems with the plane etc) but when we eventually boarded the pilot apologised and said that the delay was caused by the previous flight being held up by a missing passenger – so no major drama!!

After take off I did manage to settle and I actually listened to some music! On the way home my anxiety was far less and I managed to sleep and watch a couple of films. There was some turbulence but i was not unduly troubled by this, in fact both flights were pretty boring, save for a lady having a fit on the way to Dubai (a passenger lying in the aisle and the cabin crew plugging in a defibrillator at my laptop plug made me a little uncomfortable!!) and a bit of movement on landing at Heathrow (it was pretty windy!!) although none of this really phased me!

I feel really pleased with myself – it was by far the calmest I have ever been on the flight and I am convinced that attending your course, and speaking with you on the way to the airport, have really helped me. I now understand that this whole thing is routine, and planned and not left to chance….this was reinforced by the pilot on the return journey who told us that the flight path would be a little different than the usual route to avoid bad weather….I don’t know what the usual route is but I found it comforting to note that they had planned things!!

Anyway, I just really wanted to thank you for everything that you have done for me. I can’t say that I am cured and i expect that I will be in touch again but, for now, I feel very brave and I am looking forward to my next holiday!! I had such an amazing time in Dubai and I am looking forward to my next destination!

Kind regards,

Hello Captain Keith,
I made it through two transatlantic flights a couple of weeks ago, heathrow to washington dulles, and back again. I must say, your book was tremendously helpful, and I think that I must have worn away the words in the book about ‘turbulence’, because I read them so much! I was lucky to be sat next to some kind passengers on both routes, both of whom talked to me throughout the take off and landing, calming me down a bit. I even managed to have a tear free return flight! All in all, thanks very much for your wonderful book and forum, and I am so glad to have finally found something that whilst it has not yet ‘cured’ my fear of flying, has helped enormously.
Thanks so much!

I’VE DONE IT – I’VE DONE IT – I’VE DONE IT!!

I just had to let you know that almost 4 years after going on the flight simulator at Gatwick with you I have at last taken to the skies. I realise I set my goal too high by making my first destination India, which just never happened. However, I had to go to Dublin on a business trip and was determined to fly there. I had a month to prepare so armed with your book, DVD and CD’s (what a wonderfully soothing voice Jasper has) I did an enormous amount of homework. It worked wonderfully. What a difference knowledge and understanding makes. In fact I really irritated my travelling companion by giving her a running commentary!! I won’t pretend I wasn’t apprehensive, but I kept in mind the bravery of the very distressed lady on your DVD.

I was rather surprised at my reaction after I arrived back at Gatwick as when I got to my car I just sobbed. The following day I felt so elated and have not yet come down to earth. I keep looking up at the sky watching the aircraft, which is particularly fascinating on a clear night. I feel now I can fly without a problem and my only regret is that I have wasted 34 years. It has liberated me, but also given me confidence in so many other ways. I could not have done it without you Keith. Your sincere concern, understanding and kindness shine through. You will always have my heartfelt thanks and admiration. Best Regards GL June 2007.

Turbulence is not an issue for me anymore!

I bought your book in January, but I just want to thank you for writing such an informative document. I flew to New York after reading it and coped very well with the turbulence – in fact, I would go as far to say that turbulence is not an issue for me any more. I was still anxious about changes in speed and noises in the cockpit, and so I will look at downloading the audio set as that sounds like it would be of interest to me – I have a business trip to Milan in June so hopefully by then I will be much more confident!

Anyway, thanks once again for the extremely useful information you give. It is a very informative book which I have recommended to all my friends, and your website is also very interesting. It’s comforting to see that many other people experience exactly the same issues as me. Thanks and best regards, T

Absolutely fantastic!

I bought this book and it really helped me learn more about aircraft. Before I was really petrified of flying and couldn’t control myself at all. I still have a bit of a phobia now, but nothing like I did before I read this fantastic book!! (THANKYOU KEITH!!)

Fantastic!

As an extremely nervous flyer, I found this book absolutely brilliant and would recommend it to anyone who worries about flying. I was so frightened last time I flew I had to shut my eyes and grip the arm rests, and I was terrified of flying again after that so I purchased this book. My particular concerns (about noise change and feeling as if the plane is dropping) were explained away in a simple and effective way even before I had read half of the book. I will definitely be taking this with me next time I fly. Thank you.

This book gets results!

A year ago, I searched Amazon in a desperate attempt to find something that would help me deal with my fear of flying. I had just bottled out on a holiday to Prague (about 5 miles from the airport) and was really frustrated. I bought this book and, since reading it, have flown on seven separate occasions! It’s well-written, engaging and addresses all the irrationalities that make flying so unpleasant for those who fear it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Thank you so much.

For anyone who is nervous of flying and belive me I was, this book will relax even the most nervous of flyers. I found the book easy to understand and informative. The book explains everything that you would need to know. Some of the facts are really interesting and it helped me to know of all the safety features in place, there is back up systems for everything, comforting eh! I have just returned from my honeymoon and can honestly say that I had a really pleasant flight I even took the book with me. Not bad considering that I held up a flight for one hour because I got off a few years back. I cant thank Captain Kieth enough.

A thousand thanks.

I read your book before taking my first transcontinental flight (Miami to Portland, Oregon on the Pacific coast). I not only enjoyed reading it, I also learned a lot. I was able to take the flight, not without minor anxiety — but I was really able to enjoy flying for the first time.I’m getting on an airplane again next week so I looked up your book and I’m going to read it again before taking this trip. Knowledge is better than tranquilizers! I doubt you need another testimonial, but if you do, please feel free to use this one. A thousand thanks. Best – George T

Brilliant Book!

Thank you seems such an inadequate phrase to use ! I have returned from my four days in Venice and my first flights in eighteen years due to my flying fear. Not only have I enjoyed the best four days of my life in the most beautiful city, I LOVED FLYING!!!!!!!! Having read through your brilliant book twice before I left, and getting reassurance from you and forum members, I overcame my initial ” wobbles ” to actually really enjoy the flying experience. I was able to explain to myself any strange noises or movements and to know everything was completely normal. I was lucky enough to have a total cherub of a cabin crew member, Henry, who reassured me throughout the journey to Venice, and apart from the airport experience (very unfriendly places) I was pretty happy and calm on the way back. The view of the Alps from above reduced me to tears of awe, and quite frankly I want to fly again and again and again forever and ever!!!!!! I had my 41st birthday last Saturday, so I’ve left it a bit late to develop a love of travelling but never mind. I intend to make up for all those wasted years. Thank you Keith, I truly wouldn’t have done it without you, I hope you know just how special you are and how many lives you have changed! C xx

Very helpful book

Are you the author of the book? I received my parcel today and have read the book this afternoon. I found the information to be very helpful, it has given me more insight to flying and hopefully when the time comes again in October I will be a lot more equipped to deal with my feelings.

Thank you, thank you!

Apologies for not contacting you before. I bought your book in January, I just want to thank you for writing such an informative book.

I flew to New York after reading it and coped very well with the turbulence – in fact, I would go as far to say that turbulence is not an issue for me any more.

I was still anxious about changes in speed and noises in the cockpit, and so I will look at downloading the audio set as that sounds like it would be of interest to me – I have a business trip to Milan in June so hopefully by then I will be much more confident!

Anyway, thanks once again for the extremely useful information you give. It is a very informative book which I have recommended to all my friends, and your website is also very interesting. It’s comforting to see that many other people experience exactly the same issues as me.

Thanks and best regards, T

Flying Without Fear – What a great read

What a great read. I coud not put the book down until I had finished. Captain Keith Godfrey dispels some of the myths associated with flying and aviation. Written in an easy to understand and down to earth manner, I found this book both educational and fun to read. A must for anyone with reservations about flying.

This book really works!

I found the book a really interesting and helpful read. I loved every minute I spent reading it. Flying is de mystified and made normal for me. If you don’t feel like flying after you’ve read this then little else will help you!

I found it easy to read and you don’t ever feel you are being talked down to. I loved some of the put downs of airports and airlines because I agree they don’t do much to help worried flyers there are so many safety procedures in flying that I’d never imagined or thought about.

The questions and answers seemed to be exactly what I would have asked if I had chatted to the author myself. …and a couple of friends who love flying anyway enjoyed it as well because they just found it interesting.

This book is really helpful

The book has been very useful and I have recommended it to lots of people. I must confess that I do still find it a bit nerve-wracking when the engine sound changes as the plane speeds up and slows down, but at least I understand the reasons behind the noises, which definitely helps. I think take-off will always be a bit of a problem for me but it’s not stopping me enjoying my holidays, which is great.

Thanks once again, Tracy

First time Flying (without Fear)

Although the book seems aimed at nervous fliers, I had never flown before and was in search of a book that would put my mind at ease before my first flight. I found the book easy to read and covered many of the topics I was interested in, for example how does the plane take off. I enjoyed the book, and it put me in good stead ahead of my first flight which I can happily say was a success. I’m now looking forward to holidays abroad without the anxiousness I felt before I read the book and had my first flight.

Fear conquered!

This book is excellent. I have flown all more life initially without a problem but became gradually more and more anxious, until I was absolutely terrified and spent flights having panic attacks and in tears. After reading this book I have now flown to Europe, the US, and Africa (even in 4 seater planes round Kenya!) without a problem. I even take it with me on the plane to read if I start to feel a bit anxious. I thoroughly recommend this book.

An excellent book..

An excellent book. I was never going to fly again after my last flight of crying all the way home due to my fear, the more I flew, the worse I became. I decided to send for this book after reading the reviews on Amazon, and to my delight,and after reading it from cover to cover, I flew to Malta in July 05 with not as much as a second thought. The book came with me on the plane, just in case, and I never reached for it once. It worked for me.

Fear? What fear?

I have been a nervous flyer for as long as I can remember – always fearing that the engines of the plane would fail mid-flight or that turbulence would cause the plane to crash. Normally I would endure these fears for the duration of a flight which up until my recent trip to Florida was only 4 hours at the absolute maximum however I felt that for an 8 hour flight I would need to do something before hand to settle my nerves. By page 5 of Keith Godfrey’s ‘Flying Without Fear’ I was already feeling much better about enduring an 8 hour flight and by the end of the book I could even say that I was actually not that worried at all about getting onto an aircraft. Keith Godfrey covered every fear I had about getting into an aircraft and explains the workings of a plane in simple and easy to understand terms with a little humor with some amusing drawings thrown in.

I was so relived that someone who knew all about planes and had worked with them for years had written a book in a non patronizing yet sympathetic way. I now finally know that turbulence does not affect an aircraft at all and that all of the sinking feelings you experience on a plane are normal and not at all a sign that the plane is about to plummet to the earth! I really don’t think that I would have survived an 8 hour flight without this book as it is easy to refer to while on the plane if you need a little re-assurance. I feel that due to this marvelous book I can now go to places I would have never dreamed of going to before due to the amount of time I would have to spend on a plane. I never thought that I could like flying but now that all my fears are at rest I can honestly say that my 8 hours on the flight to Florida was an altogether enjoyable experience.

Buy this book if your fear of flying is stopping you going on the holiday of your dreams I can’t recommend it enough.

Changed my life!

I felt I was the most nervous flyer of all time. Fear used to build in me two weeks before my flight and I would sit in the seat with sweat trickling down my back, eyes fixed and white knuckles from holding on to the seat! I bought the book and read it – totally amazing!! It provides common sense about flying, expelling the myths that have been built up about aviation and above all gives you confidence about the saftey of flight. For fathers day this year I had an hours flying lesson in which I took the controls of a small aircraft – incredible! This book has changed me from a nervous wreck who was close to tears on every flight to a man who is training to become a pilot. Buy the book, it will really change your views on flying.

This book really helped me

I found this book on scaredofflying.com and it’s certainly helped me with my fears about flying. I particularly like the way it’s so easy to understand, clearly written and that it’s split into separate categories so you can easily find the area you are worried about.

I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who’s scared about flying.

No More Diazepam

for the last 8 years (since the birth of my child) I have been petrified of flying. Every year I trotted off to my GP for 10 little yellow pills as these were the only way I was getting on an aeroplane. I was so envious of my husband who would watch the film, sleep, eat, read and chat with our daughter whilst I sat there (even with the aid of the pills!) in petrified silence. I have no idea where the fear came from, I have been flying since 1978. I read the reviews of the book and they were all really positive so purchased a copy. Best decision of the year , I flew all the way to Cyprus and back with no pills or alcohol and even enjoyed the flight! So a great BIG THANK YOU.

LIFE CHANGING BOOK

Three years ago I flew to Spain, but only with the aid of three Diazepam and quarter of a bottle of champagne (Be frightened in style I say!). I took these measures following a humiliating flight to Paris for my tenth wedding anniversary, in which I cried when the stewardess asked if I wanted milk in my coffee. No, I do not have an additional milk phobia, I was just so paralysed with the fear of flying that I was unable to speak properly. Her ‘humourous’ “iz zat a deeficult kestion for you?”, tipped me over the edge.

I announced to my husband earlier this year that I was going to conquer my fear of flying, before our planned trip to Corfu in August. He supportively said “Oh yeah! How are you going to do that then?!” For me the gauntlet had been thrown down.

I chose ‘Flying without Fear’ because I couldn’t really justify £600 for the weekend course at Heathrow, that I would have loved (“You could get a couple of flights to Italy for that much”, my husband quipped!).

This year having read Captain Godfrey’s wonderful book, I flew to Corfu without the help of any kind of drug. I was fine! I found myself explaining all about flaps and aerodynamics to my children. A great experience for us all, as I have never sat with them on a plane. Previously I had been fearful of transmitting my phobia to them.

On our return flight, it was too hot to fly straight home to Bournemouth. We had to make an unscheduled stop in Italy to refuel. That meant two take-offs and two landings. Before ‘the book’ this would have killed me, but I had no problem.

Since returning, about a month ago, I have booked flights for the whole family to go to Florida, next June. This is something I could never have done before, not a nine hour flight!

I would seriously recommend this book to anyone with a true terror of flying, as I had, though my fearless husband read it because it is a ‘good read’. Captain Godfrey has changed my life.

Flying Without Fear

What a great read. I coud not put the book down until I had finished. Captain Keith Godfrey dispels some of the myths associated with flying and aviation. Written in an easy to understand and down to earth manner, I found this book both educational and fun to read. A must for anyone with reservations about flying.

Skywise – very good

Really helpful book, and very informative. No psychobabble, just easy to follow explanations of wht’s happening when you hear funny noises, or get funny sensations whilst flying. Very reassuring.

Great book

I am also an extremely nervous air traveller. I always worry about the changes in noise from the engines and the “dropping” feeling. I feel much better about flying now I have read this book. It is very easy to read and had all the questions, and more importantly, the answers to my main concerns. If you hate flying, buy it, it WILL help!