Originally Posted by themicah

NWA doesn't go to India via the Pacific, only via Europe. You could buy a ticket to somewhere in Asia and then buy another ticket on an Asian carrier from Asia to India. Going via BKK is a definite option, since BKK is a cheap place to buy tickets and you should be able to get a good price from there to India.

But flights over the Atlantic really don't cross all that much open water. I've been on several transatlantics lately (NYC-AMS and back, NYC-LON, TLV-NYC), and all have gone up the East Coast over land, and only actually go over-water for a few hours between Newfoundland and the UK, passing very close to Greenland along the way. You are never very far from an airport.

Plus the open-water portion is usually in the middle of the night, when you can hopefully be nicely asleep. There are medications that can help considerably. Ambien is a popular sleep aid, and Xanax can help with anxiety problems. Talk to your doctor, since both are prescription.

Still, that might not be sufficient reassurance if your fear is truly extreme. And it may be worth routing via Asia, even if it takes an extra day and some extra cash to get there. I hope you find a way to make it work!