Planning a trip to Europe soon. Which is the best airlines for a claustrophobic flyer. We have oodles of air-miles and don't mind spending some for a comfortable flight. Both want to face forward, windows are nice, but main feature has to cope with my sardine phobia! More important to have space around the cabin than to lie flat! Thanks!

Does "oodles of air miles" refer to mileage in the only program in your profile, Alaska? And thus you're looking for award flights that are available through Alaska partners by redeeming Alaska miles?

Or does it mean "miles from some air miles credit card scheme" which means you'll be calling the credit card company's mandatory-use travel agent to "buy" a ticket with miles?

Finally - are you talking about:
Economy Class?
Premium Economy or similar (only a few airlines offer)?
Business Class?
International First Class? (many oodles required)

Advice would depend largely on your answers. As well as "where in Europe?" and "where are you flying from?"

Especially if flying Economy, I'd avoid any of the flights on airlines that use 757 single-aisle planes on some of their routes. Those include Alaska partners Delta (DL), Continental (CO), and Northwest (NW), though DL, CO, and NW all have two-aisle widebodies on other routes. You also can use British Airways with Alaska miles. I don't know if you can redeem awards on their Premium Economy product World Traveler Plus, but if you can get BA WT+ that might be worth it. If you're in economy on a widebody, I'd look for flights on planes that have 2-3-2 seating (most 767s), 2-4-2 seating (most Airbus 330/340), or 2-5-2 (some airlines' 777s), so that you and your companion can get seats in the 2-section with your own control over aisle access for whomever's in the window, and nobody on either side of you. That means no Continental 777s, which are 3-3-3.


If you're "buying" a ticket with some credit card scheme air-miles, in economy, and have choice of carrier purchased, United offers Economy Plus (E+). Which gives more legroom than most regular economy seats. UA 777s in E+ are pretty nice in terms of space: large aisles, roomy enough cabin, large lavs, 2-5-2 seating layout. The only way to confirm E+ in advance is if you purchase E+ Access from UA for $349/year covering all UA flights for a year, and allowing you to bring one guest into E+ with you, so that would be your cost. They offer buy-ups at check-in if available, but those are likely to be scattered middle E+ seats. Of course if you have at least lowest-level Premier status with UA, you get E+ for free.

likewise if purchasing an economy ticket via a card miles scheme, avoid Lufthansa coach. I personally like LH's service on their flights, but the seats are very crowded with minimal pitch. Somehow they feel even closer together than most other airline's supposedly equal 31" seat pitch.

If you're in Business or higher, I'm not sure you'll have anything to worry about. Especially if you don't particularly care about lie-flat or not.

Thanks so much for the reply. We have many points available in Alaska as well as Starwood & Memb. Rewards programs. Plan on flying business or first class, most likely from the West Coast, or Chicago into Western Europe, most likely Italy. A bit concerned about some of the "pods" or "suites" that I hear about. Looking for comfy, spacious, open, wide, cabin where I can sit with my companion, preferably by a window. Thanks again.

For as often as I fly (which is all the time, I am waiting in the airport now for a flight) I am the BIGGEST claustrophobic there is, I swear!! I do my best to avoid flights that use MD-80 aircraft.(Which is kind of tough on Alaska, but they are phasing them out) They have very short ceilings which add to my issues (although Valium works wonders).

When I have flown overseas, I have flown in 747's in business or first class which allows me plenty of room. I will also do my best to find flights on the big aircraft with very few stops or non-stops. I have been very comfortable flying British Airways to England and Qantas to Australia. Any other flights once I get to my destinations, I just look for flights using a wide body plane and will stick with first class as often as I can.

I will also go look on the Seat Guru to see what the seat configuration looks like before actually booking the flight. A lot of places will tell you the type of aircraft for the flight so you can check it out and pick the seat best for you.

Between that and the Valium all should be well

Follow the link below to see a short video I made last month in the Lufthansa First cabin at Frankfurt. 2 x F award seats on LH from USA to Europe would set you back 195k SPG (xfer to LH) or 240k Amex (xfer to AC or SQ), but you would be able to use the First class terminal at FRA (see link) and be driven to plane in a Mercedes (see link).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y5GxJJRQ5NY

http://youtube.com/watch?v=riVwcISBGas

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rYTqRDVVByQ

"pods" or "suites"


I understand your problem!!! I've found 'pods' OK. The height of the cabin and the feeling of space above ones head is helpful. Both the 747 and 777 do it for me.

For years I carried a small hand towel and dampened it onces on board. This I could place on the back of my neck if the fear factor of being closed in became serious on take-off and/or during the flight. Just carrying medication that would help was help in itself. Another tip I've learned over the years is keeping you feild of vision small. Do look up and around when nervous...keep your focus on the seat in from and eyes down....or read! Ear phones to take away the aircraft noise are also useful. The best is sleeping pills....once the safety belt sign is off I pop a pill and knock myself out for at least 5 hours. That gets me almost half way through the flights I do.

Good luck!

Wow!

I'm somewhat claustrophobic (or so I thought) but never had a problem with flying. The BA and AA F "pods" do not have covers on them (as the name implies) - and they also have plenty of space around them.

Sitting in Coach triggers more of a pain-in-the-butt reaction than being-closed-in panic.

I have my own triggers that set off claustrophobic reactions (being buried upside down anyone?) but I got over any plane-related issues long ago. I think it was because I really wanted to fly.

Wow! I never realized how many other people suffered from claustrophobia on planes. I always thought I was the only one! I can't tell you how much better that makes me feel. I never sit at the window, even though I'd like to, in case I start to panic.

I guess it goes to show you that we all seem to manage to keep some semblance of control most of the time, and we've all developed strategies to cope.

But, case in point. Even in business, a window seat isn't safe. Not if you're surrounded by people who all put their seats back as far as they'll go. I made that mistake recently, on a flight from Kiev, and had a hard time till the person on the aisle agreed to swap.

I always, always, always take the aisle seat, as that seems to help more than having a window to look out of.

or I start feeling stressed. I hate the middle seat and if there end up starring out the window..."for air". I do better in the business or first class. I am THE IDIOT WITH THE WINDOW BLIND UP just a little so I don't get claustrophic even at night on a 10 hr flight. Sorry in advance.