Testimonials

I just wanted to drop you and your team a little note to say a great thanks for the course on Saturday.

As you may remember, I attended this course 11yrs ago and that was the last time I flew!

I was in a different frame of mind this time round and listened carefully to all the fantastic presentations and advice throughout the day.

This allowed me to go into the flight very relaxed and (dare I say it!) I actually enjoyed it!

My wife and I are hoping to book a flight to Nice very soon (I normally Eurostar it and meet her there!) but hopefully this time we can both travel together on the plane!!

Thanks again to you and your fabulous team!

Kind regards,

Stuart

Stuart Channon - Heathrow 11th February 2012

 Dear everyone,

 I firstly must apologise for not writing sooner.

 I would like to pass on my huge gratitude to all involved with the

 fear of flying courses. I took part in one at Heathrow, I believe it

 was November 2010, or Feb 2011, sorry I cannot remember when.  However,

 I have gone from a shaking wreck who would fly with a blanket over my

 head, gripping on for dear life crying,  I would avoid flying given

 half a chance.  To someone who loves to fly.  I had to do the course

 as we relocated to the USA and the only way to see my family was to

 get on a plane.  I had imagined arriving in the USA and being stuck here as I could just

about cope with the flight over, but not back again!!   Since taking park I have flown across

the  Atlantic 4 times in a year, even on my own with the kids, and

amazingly, I can read, sleep and even enjoy the meal. I am also going

 to fly across America to Seattle on my own shortly, and again i am looking forward to it.

 Just incredible that I now, and I am not exaggerating, love to fly and

 look forward to it.  My son is a little nervous, but the fact that I

am able to explain all the bumps, noises etc helps him a great deal. 

 I have even managed to help calm a nervous flyer who sat next to me on

 a recent short flight.

 So thank you all, it has changed my life.  I just hope that many more

 people who were like me have the courage to take the course, it is so worth it.

 Please pass on my huge gratitude to all.

 Gail Ison

Gail Ison

I have just been on my first flight since doing your Flying with Confidence course & i didn't cry !, i even quite enjoyed it. I'm amazed at how different i felt having learnt to have trust in the Plane & Pilot. A very big thank you to you all.
Sue Clarke
Forres,Moray

Sue Clarke

Dear Team,

I took the BA Fly With Confidence course in September and have just returned from a weekend away in Portugal. To my amazement I found myself relaxed for the duration of the flight. Knowing more about how things worked was a great comfort and having techniques to cope with the odd wobble meant that the flight passed without incident. I am so grateful to the team on the course for making this possible. I enjoyed reading the interview with Captain Allright that was in this month's in flight magazine and his enthusiasm on the course was fantastic. The friendliness of the stewardesses and their obvious love of their job was inspiring. Thank-you so much for making it possible for me to fly at ease. Only 3 weeks now until I go to Australia - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that just a few weeks ago I was strongly considering cancelling because of my fear. 

Best Wishes

Catriona

Catriona - Gatwick Course in September 2011

Dear Peter,

Please could you pass on my huge thanks to Captain Steve Allright and his fantastic team. Yesterday (Saturday 10th September 2011) I was at Gatwick dealing with my long time fear of flying. I had given myself permission 7 years ago not to fly. I had enough of putting myself through the stress and distress of flying. Even looking at a holiday brochure would give me palpitations, I would feel sick approaching the departure lounge and as for being on the flight !!! even my family did not want to sit with me. Come to think of it, I did not want to sit with me.

But yesterday, oh what joy and bliss. Captain Allrights presentations just made sense, his comments that a plane is just so happy in the air made me feel so much more confident. The statistics were helpfull, but obviously I feel a bit worried at the moment, as I am at home and I know its not the safest place to be.

Meeting the pilots was lovely, what great people, would and did trust them with my life. And the girls, were so upbeat and informed. Watching them on the plane with other passengers who were finding it more difficult than myself, was amazing, they were so in tune with what people needed, having them there made me feel so safe, thank you girls.

And as for Patricia, what a star. Her virtual tour of the airport will be replayed in my mind for a very long time. Can't tell you how relaxed I felt walking through the airport.

Great team, great day, thank you, thank you

Alison

Alison Stratford

  Hello to you all,

  I have already called and have spoken with Celestine about my experiences on your course, which I attended at Gatwick on Saturday 10 Sept 2011. I am in awe of every single one of you who helped me so much so that things have changed for good.

  From the pilot Steve, whose address to the nervous audience was simply outstanding. You do not know how much of a difference you have made to my life. You made a very difficult topic enjoyable and on many occasions humorous. If you ever stop flying planes, take up stand up about flying with confidence. You will go far my friend!!

  My first fear was claustrophobia, from planes to tubes to buses and lifts. In fact, anything I felt was an enclosed space that I could not get out of when and if I wanted to. Control was the second issue directly linked in with the first. I have not been on a tube or bus for so long and lifts filled me with fear and if I am being honest, I didn't ever think I would be comfortable in one, but there are always stairs.

  However, the techniques we were given to understand and confront out fears and anxiety will remain with me evermore. If I ever have any doubts, then I will return to another course, just to refresh my memory.

  The explanation of how a plane works, the weight, the noises, the 'imminent disaster' that we all hold dear when we hear a bing bong noise in the plane, were put into simple, no nonsense terms and I realised that this is something that makes me feel safe and secure and normal.

  Patricia, the physcologist, was equally amazing and her experiences of having feelings like I have, was a tonic and she gave relaxation techniques, which I have already stamped on my memory, and have practiced and utilised on my flight last Friday and Sunday

(HOOORAY!!) when I went to Krakow, Poland for a friends wedding. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed my flights, although I was a little nervous before take off, sitting in the seat, wondering if I should panic, so I could put my new found knowledge to the test. I did use the breathing techniques, which worked like a dream and I sat back and enjoyed the time I had.

  I must have bored my lovely wife to death explaining about all the noises and how to breath to control my anxiety.

  My fears were coming between us and were having an adverse effect on our relationship and I was literally at my wits end. I had to do something about it and fast. I did not want to go to Poland, I was scared and I was feeling quite wretched every day, thinking about it and about how I could not travel by anything other than a car driven by me!! I wonder how many others feel this way.

  Anyway, you guys have absolutely changed that. I went on two coach trips, a bus and a train in Poland. Wow!!.

  I thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart for your help and understanding. As a 48 year old copper, whose supposed to be rough and tough, I can assure anyone else who feels like I did to confront your demons, enlist on the course and you WILL NOT REGRET IT.

  I will always remember the course with great affection and all the staff who were there, I thank you so much.

Andy Miles

 Last Saturday (10th September) I attended your Fear of Flying course in Gatwick, and even though I really wanted it too be successful never thought I would actually get in a plane.

Well, it's unbelievable to me, but at the end of the day, I was in the air and even though I went through a rollercoaster of emotions, from being petrified to euphoria, it was brilliant. I'm still on cloud nine and it feels so good to have faced this fear that has controlled my life for so long. 

I would love you to pass on my gratitude and thanks to all the team involved but a few people in particular were very special on the day. Without Lois I don't think I would have seen it through. Lois sat in between me and another girl and literally held my hand and talked me through on the way up and coming down, she was just lovely. Thanks so much Lois. x  The Purser on the plane ( I'm sorry I can't remember his name) but he helped me when I was, let's say, a tad emotional and couldn't even see my way to my seat, he was very kind and funny and kept coming back to check on me. Thanks so much. Another air stewardess, who works with Lois and is blonde and very tall, was just great to me and again sat and talked to me during the day, when I became upset by something someone said about a difficult flight. She comforted me and eased my mind about flying with her experience. 

Finally, Steve who talked about airplane safety and stats. Took time out to explain some things to me, and most of all make me laugh with his cheeky humour which lightened the mood. Also for sending my jacket back by post with a thoughtful note inside.

It sounds a cliche, but it really was a day I will never forget and I am so happy that I attended. I have been looking up holidays and I know now that I will be able to go on a plane and take my adopted son on his first trip abroad.

Thank you again and best of wishes to everyone involved.

 Jenny xx

Jenny Russe - Thank You

I write to send you and your wonderful colleagues some positive feedback.  I took part in last Saturday’s Fear of Flying course (9 July 2011 at Heathrow) which was extremely helpful.

I thought the technical and psychological presentations were well put together and extremely informative, as well as entertaining due to the sense of humour and enthusiastic attitude of those presenting.  It was lovely getting to know the Black family!  I was very impressed with Dr Keith Stoll, I learned a lot from him.  Having so many staff there to talk to over lunch and in the breaks was a huge help – they were all so helpful, not at all patronising, even at the most ridiculous of our fears.  

I felt strongly that I wanted to forward praise for the way things were handled.  Kindness, patience, understanding and professionalism were the qualities that shone through.  

I for one am very pleased that I did the course – I thought it was excellent.  I’ll have a chance to put my newfound coping strategies to the test with a flight to Vancouver next week and then another to Washington to see my children who are starting university there (one of my silly fears is (or rather, was) flying across the Atlantic).  But no sleepless nights for me, with my notes from the course and a rubber band for my wrist at the ready,  I’m looking forward to it all!  So, thank you to British Airways for setting me on the right path. 

Warmest regards,

Tamsyn Keen

I would like to thank everyone for getting me flying again. I had flown all over the world with my job up to 3 years ago, when I started having panic attacks and could not go in lifts, car washes or aeroplanes. I had started to suffer from claustrophobia for no reason at all.

In those 3 years I lost out on work in Mexico, USA and Saudi. I tried to go out to Dubai but could not board the plane. I thought I would never fly again.

But going on one of your courses has got me back flying again. I would recommend your course to anybody.

My partner and I had a brilliant day at Manchester Airport and I would like to thank you all for your hospitality on that day.

Thank you all very much.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Robinson

I am just writing to say a big thank you for all that you did for me on the 15th October at Gatwick Airport to get me flying again.

Every aspect of the course was excellent, from the presentations to the general support given throughout the day. Everyone's positive attitude and understanding made me feel like a ‘normal’ person again who just disliked flying.

I have been trying to board planes for the last 8 years, and each time I got to the departure gate or beyond, I have fainted and been unable to board. My husband has had to go on holidays alone.

At the start of the course my goal was to at least get on the plane, so to actually fly was a big achievement. Although I found it difficult inhaling once I was in the sky (!) I thoroughly enjoyed it - even the landing.

Would you please pass on my thanks to Patricia Furness-Smith, (the phobia therapist) who sat next to me on take-off. I would never have done it without her. Her words of wisdom about flying and relaxation will always stay in my mind. There was also a guy from Air Traffic Control who sat next to us and was really supportive throughout the rest of the flight.

I know the next few flights will remain difficult, but I know I can do it now and will persist. Failing that I will do the course again! Or be in touch for some words of wisdom!

Once again, many thanks for opening up a world of travel.

Mrs Rachael Collins and Dr Anthony Collins