Cure your fear of flying. How solo travel makes you stronger.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. For every purchase made through one of these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

I believe that the fear of flying is a perfectly rational fear. It’s not sensible at all to hurtle through the sky in an aluminium tube. However, if you want to travel and have incredible experiences and adventures you’re gonna need to get your butt in that aluminium tube and face your fears.

I’ve always been a nervous flier, as a child air stewardesses placated me with chocolate cake. I switched to alcohol (not too much) as an adult, but the best way to cure your fear of flying? Travel alone.

I know it sounds crazy, right? Surely being by yourself would make it worse? But no I have found that since I started travelling solo my fear and anxiety has decreased! Here’s why:

Control, Strength and Independence

• Solo travel puts you in charge. When you travel with family often your parents take care of everything, if you’re travelling with a partner the burden is shared. Travelling alone means that instead of thinking about the flight your brain will be pre-occupied with everything you need to remember about your trip.

• The stress of dealing with an airport alone makes you relieved to be sat down on the plane! Your job is done – now you can sit back and (almost) relax!

• Having no-one to talk to is actually a good thing. Yes usually a problem shared is a problem halved but I have found the reverse is true when it comes to flying. Instead of rambling on about how nervous I am and making anxious small talk solo travel forces you to control your emotions more. Strangers don’t care if you’re nervous, you just have to get on with it.

• Travelling solo automatically makes you feel more confident and adventurous! You are an intrepid explorer! You can handle a little zoom through the sky.

• There’s no one there to hold your hand. This is a good thing. You become a much stronger person in all areas of life when you rely on yourself and not others. Travelling and flying solo makes you strong.

Fly Solo, Fly More

There is another way to cure your fear and it’s a very simple one: fly more. Ever noticed you’re much less nervous on the return flight? It’s because you did it a week ago and survived! You’re not scared to get in your car every morning even though this is far more dangerous! Make flying normal, commonplace and your anxieties will fade.

If you usually take one long holiday it might be worth trying more frequent short breaks if you can. Get into the mindset of flying as a casual oh I’ll just pop over to Italy or Greece experience.

If you’re scared of flying you will probably always be anxious to a certain degree. I will never relish the experience! But the combination of flying solo and flying more frequently is the best antidote I know.

Final Thoughts

When a flight lands I get a huge rush of adrenaline and relief. I always used to assume I was excited to reach my destination and be on holiday. However, I realised that the experience of flying itself and of facing my fears is a massive adrenaline rush.

I cannot imagine a more incredible feeling than that moment when you land and find yourself waiting to step on the earth of another country. Flying might be scary but scary gives us highs that comfortable cannot. Don’t let your fear of flying keep you grounded. Go on, get scared, it’s worth it to see that big, beautiful world out there.

Interested in knowing more about the benefits of solo travel? Check out  My top five reasons to travel solo.