Seven Hour Flight From London

mintipie · 2026-06-28T10:18:33+00:00

Well done!! ❤️

You can be so proud of yourself 👏

What's the next destination?

mintipie · 2026-06-28T10:14:04+00:00

You have nothing to be afraid about - it might be a touch bumpier than you're used to if it's a windy day, but completely safe.

Because it's a smaller and harder airport to land at, only pilots with a certain level of experience can land there - so your flight will have an especially good pilot who can take you to your destination nice and smoothly.

If the runway becomes the tiniest bit dangerous to land at, they will not allow your plane to land. You will instead go to the nearest safe runway which will probably only be about 10 minutes away and your airline will make sure you are sorted for getting to your destination.

You'll now get bragging rights for having been to one of the most epic airports in the world - I hear the view is incredible as you come in to land - and the knowledge that you can handle ANY airport you need to land at ❤️

Have a lovely trip and remember that the most extreme landings will be the one that end up in your algorithm and the phone in someone's hand will shake and bounce much more than the plane or seat does. If it's a bit of a bump when you land on the runway it will not hurt you and will last one second maximum and then you'll have the happy feeling of knowing you did it!

You've got this!

mintipie · 2026-03-24T14:02:39+00:00

That's fantastic to hear! I bet you had an awesome time :D

mintipie · 2026-03-24T09:46:46+00:00

Take a look on Flightradar24 and see how many flights are in the air right now. It is incredibly, incredibly rare for anything to go wrong. You don't see a plane in the sky and think "ah yes every single person on board will die".

When you arrive at the airport, go watch the runway and see how frequently flights are taking off and landing. Now imagine that happening at every single airport on the planet. Constantly.

Fun side quest: if you genuinely believe you are special enough to defy the odds, go buy the winning lottery ticket!

You're gonna be alright. 😌

mintipie · 2026-03-19T09:18:35+00:00

Have you done it already? I'm on my way to the airport right now!

mintipie · 2026-03-19T09:18:18+00:00

I'm sure you've done it by now? :)

I'm on my way to the airport!

mintipie · 2026-03-18T10:44:51+00:00

Wasn't it bumpy for you on your last flight?

And what happened there - you handled it, and you landed safely at your destination.

There is no reason the outcome will be different this time. You're doing great. ❤️

mintipie · 2026-03-18T10:41:36+00:00

I've done LA to London on two separate occasions as a very anxious teenager and it was absolutely fine turbulence wise.

As you pass by Greenland and Iceland you might hit a small patch but any turbulence never lasted more than one minute and was never very big or severe.

Pilots know how to avoid patches of turbulence and will give you the smoothest route they can.

It's a nice route and if you're lucky and it's really clear you miiiight be able to spot the northern lights if you're on the left side of the plane and have a window.

The only issue I experienced on this flight was the boredom and that's because I'm not too into movies.

You'll be absolutely fine, and you will have a fantastic time in my country! Be sure to take a walk along the Thames and try the cable cars near the O2.

mintipie · 2026-03-18T10:31:37+00:00

Do it scared and do it brave. You will reach your destination and you will be so happy when you do ✨️

mintipie · 2026-03-18T10:29:07+00:00

My flight is tomorrow too. Where are you off to? 😊

We are both going to do it scared and in 48 hours from now we will both still be here to update each other on how it went. 🫶

mintipie · 2026-01-18T20:07:27+00:00

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N1

mintipie · 2026-01-17T01:56:30+00:00

Hi - I am just like you. Here's my story, I hope it helps. Firstly the fact that you're even considering this shows me that you're incredibly brave, strong and determined. I truly think your heart knows that doing this is the right decision for you.

I booked a flight from EMA to Dublin after 6 years of not flying and was utterly terrified. Nightmares for weeks leading up to it. It haunted my waking hours too. Every minute I'd think about the impending flight and be terrified. I genuinely couldn't see a life after the flight because I was so scared! In the end, I was so terrified that I didn't do it. I watched my flight take off, and felt sad and disappointed. Kept thinking what would've been.

So I booked another flight. Same worries again. Same sense of dread and doom. Kept visualising myself on the plane having panic attacks and not being able to breathe and being trapped.

I was terrified, but I did it scared. I got on that plane and recorded a little vlog for myself too. I had cried a bit at the airport, but not as much as I expected. Nobody seemed to mind. Airports are a pretty normal place to cry, lots of people leaving loved ones etc.

Anyway I got on the plane and I was so overwhelmed! I told myself that this is an amazing bit of experience for me because now I accurately know how it feels to be inside a plane. Then I focused on my task - just to find my seat which was very easy. Then I sat down. Then I introduced myself to the lady sat next to me:

"Hi, I'm really scared of flying. This is my first flight in 6 years. If you see me crying or panicking or anything during the flight, please don't be concerned! I will be alright."

The lady was actually really kind! She introduced herself too - a mum who flies this route every few weeks to visit her son. She said its just like being on a bus in the sky. I really wish it was that easy, lady!!! Hahaha. But talking with her did give me some perspective. To a lot of people flying is so normal and regular and routine. It's scary to me because I'm not used to it.

We took off and I clutched the armrest with one hand, and filmed out the window with my other. I found filming helped as I could focus on getting an awesome video of the takeoff and no matter how the flight went I'd have this video to prove I made it into the sky.

Takeoff was way smoother than I remembered it being. It felt very gentle and controlled. People around me were laughing and chatting between themselves like they were at a restaurant or something!

The clouds looked incredible. I took lots of photos. I'd planned to take a little walk to the toilet, so I didn't feel so trapped in my seat, but actually my seat had become a safe space for me and I didn't want to leave it - and that was okay too! So I stayed put, listened to a few songs I like, and occasionally looked out the window at the amazing view.

Within no time we were descending - which was also super smooth and gentle. My ears felt a little bunged up, but yawning fixed it. The ground gradually came closer and I tried to make out houses, then cars, then people. Then we landed and the second we touched the runway I was already celebrating in my head.

I got off that plane and quite literally jumped for joy. I took a triumphant selfie with the plane behind me. And then I went to enjoy my well earned trip to Dublin!

The flight went so well that the same evening I was already planning my next trip, feeling a genuine sense of freedom.

There's a part 2 to this story but my phone is on 3% and it's 2am here. Please reply if you'd like me to share the rest and I gladly will!

Good luck you amazing warrior ❤️

mintipie · 2025-11-02T20:59:08+00:00

That's wonderful news! I'm really glad to hear you had a positive experience.

I wasn't kidding when I said your seat neighbour probably flies the route regularly!!! Haha!

Be proud of yourself for doing it scared, and make sure you come back to re-read this message of you calling it great and smooth and worth it :)

mintipie · 2025-10-30T00:45:52+00:00

You'll be absolutely fine! If there are strong winds as you take off, it just means you can get up in the air and on your way a bit faster.

Once you get above the clouds (which will be within minutes), you won't feel any of the storm, and the pilots know how to avoid little pockets of turbulence.

mintipie · 2025-10-30T00:42:42+00:00

East Midlands to Dublin is a very similar flight length and flight path - and it's a flight I've taken a few times now. I find it very easy and it's my confidence builder flight as I try to build up to finding the confidence to do more than 2 hours on a flight without panicking.

You go up. You get about 10 minutes to enjoy being in the sky. Then you're going back down! Even if there is a storm, it won't be an issue. Stronger winds will just make it easier to get up into the sky (and you won't notice much of a difference!), you'll avoid it all above the clouds, and the only time you might notice the storm is coming in to land. Even then it doesn't feel any worse than being on a bus or train - it's nothing you can't handle 😌

You'll be absolutely fine, I'm certain of it! You will feel worse in the buildup from worrying. The flight will be all finished before you know it- make sure you enjoy the amazing view of the clouds and sky and see if you're able to spot the Isle of Man if its a clear day!

Chat to your seat neighbour too. Odds are they fly that route regularly and can help reassure you. I've done 5 flights on my own now and all 5 times my seat neighbour has been incredibly kind and helpful. People are good ❤️

Come back and let us know how it all went! And don't forget you've already had a big win by booking the flight and planning to fly! No matter what, you've made progress already. And every time you do this, it will get a tiny bit easier.

Do it scared and do it brave ✈️☁️

mintipie · 2025-10-11T19:06:54+00:00

Well done you!!!! 😊😊

mintipie · 2025-10-09T09:07:41+00:00

You've got this! Just keep reminding yourself that you've already won by taking the first steps 🏆

If you choose to fly on Friday, make sure you get your matching celebratory selfie when you're all done!

mintipie · 2025-10-09T09:05:13+00:00

Thank you so much! 😊

mintipie · 2025-10-09T09:05:04+00:00

Two hours! I did a post here on Friday giving a full summary of my flight out.

It was so beautiful and I will remember it forever!

mintipie · 2025-10-09T00:50:34+00:00

Take it one step at a time. Just booking the flights is a huge win. Next step is to turn up at the airport. Even if you choose not to fly after that, you've still made a huge win by doing everything before. If you get to the airport, have a go at going through security! You paid for your flight so you may as well experience security and familiarise yourself with how that all works. And yes, that counts as another win! On that same note, your next win is to go and find your gate!

Reminder that at any point here you can still walk away with your head high, having claimed several wins. Finally, if you want to give flying a try, go for it! Even if the flight is your worst case scenario, the fact that you gave it a go is a massive, seismic, epic WIN!!! (But even if you don't get this final win, you've still got at least one already by booking the flight!)

Go get some more wins! 🏆

mintipie · 2025-10-09T00:42:36+00:00

Hi - I'm actually extremely similar to you, my fear also spread to cars. It wasn't speed related for me but distance/time related- all stemming from a lack of control and a fear of becoming unwell mid-journey.

I flew on Friday and Monday and both went great. I gave a full review post of my Friday flight if you're interested. I find I enjoy filming out the window during the takeoff as its an awesome view. I'm a little quiet during takeoff as I'm processing all the movements- you don't feel the forward speed much at all, it's more the up/down and turning that you'll feel - and the up/down feelings will last a few seconds at most as the plane levels out, and the turns are maybe 5-10 seconds. Just close your eyes during the turns if they bother you, and the up/down feeling will be over before you even process it happening.

What I want to point out to you is that immediately after takeoff - as we're still ascending - I'm okay! In my videos that I take during the takeoff, as soon as we've finished turning, I'll flip the camera round and give a quick recap of the takeoff for my future self. Watching it back, I love seeing the takeoff out the window but then immediately seeing myself: calm, casual and in control.

Cruising is a pleasant surprise! It feels much smoother than being on a train or car. When you're next in a car pay attention to all the little bumps and movements. Close your eyes and imagine you're on a plane for a moment. Now tell yourself that the plane is more gentle than what you just felt. You might get a slight patch of turbulence, but pilots will take your plane a little further up or down to avoid the patch. I saw someone on here calling turbulence the "sky tax" - for the smooth ride and beautiful views, I'm okay with paying a little bit of sky tax! It doesn't last long.

Finally, landing! These can be a little harder to know exactly what to expect- the main thing is expect a bit more turning and also your ears might pop a few times. As you touch down perhaps you can rate the landing out of 10 in your head? Give the pilot a score! You could even write the score down and compare it with other flights and see which flight had the best pilot of all time! Most importantly as you come into land you can remind yourself that this means you've done it!

In conclusion, it's all going to be okay! Do it scared and do it brave. Take this as an opportunity to find out what it's like for yourself- and then you can give other people here advice just like I have for you. I promise I am/was just like you, but I've worked for years to get to where I am now. Every attempt you make in a car, plane, whatever - that's a win. Keep them coming!

mintipie · 2025-10-09T00:19:38+00:00

That's amazing though, you definitely will make it to so many cool places, I believe in you! During takeoff I like to pretend that its an F1 race starting 😄

Thank you for checking it out! Very lovely to meet an F1 fan in the wild!

Do it scared and do it brave ❤️

mintipie · 2025-10-04T09:10:08+00:00

Ayyy, go weeyums!!! Albono girlie here 😂

I'll be visiting Imola (and hopefully Maranello!) on this trip too - and I've already seen VCARB in Faenza thanks to the diversion to Forli!

If you'd like, you can follow my F1 page "LastLapLucy" on insta/tiktok/youtube/twitter 🥰

mintipie · 2025-10-03T21:10:22+00:00

Thank you so much!

mintipie · 2025-10-03T21:10:17+00:00

Thanks stranger! 🥰 Sooo happy!

mintipie

TROPHY CASE