When I feel ill, I alert a flight attendant that I think I might be distressed and at risk of vomiting. (I throw up when I am too claustrophobic.) There isn't a lot she can do but when necessary she has found a volunteer to get me an aisle seat and it really helps. Just knowing I can run to the bathroom and not be stuck where I might throw up on someone else really helps!
Now that I am a Silver Elite on Northwest so far, knock on wood, I have been either first class or in an aisle seat every time. But to be honest the panic attacks, if that is what they ever were, as opposed to some sort of allergy attack, stopped a couple years before.
Try explaining your concern and see what happens. They are trained to help. They are not psychiatrists and can't prescribe medicine but if possible they can find you a place to sit where you don't feel closed in.
Originally Posted by Chabroach
Recently I was sitting on a plane in a window seat of a full aircraft and started to feel panic as the plane SAT AND SAT on the tarmac for HOURS during an unexplained flight delay. I felt so closed in and helpless. I could not get up and leave- I was trapped on that plane and no matter what I did I was not able to get away from the situation.
There was no word from the flight deck when we would take off --I started to wonder if there was another terror attack and we would be stuck on the plane for days (like the diverted passengers on planes in Canada on September 11th). The airline could legally keep us on this cramped flight for days legally!
So was it crazy to panic during a long delay? (I have been on 100s of flights but never felt this way before!)