Some people simply do not do well with flights.  There are several different types of issues you may have with an airplane.  It may be that the entire concept of flight seems unnatural to you, causing you to stress over crashing or experiencing some form of disaster.  Still others are bothered by the claustrophobic cabins.  However, there are some things you can do to help you get over your airplane anxiety.

First, you have to work through your fear of flying.  If you look up statistics, you’ll see that flying is actually almost 20 times safer than driving somewhere by car.  Think about it this way: nearly every plane crash is mentioned on the news.  They’re that rare that every crash is mentioned.  Thousands of people fly every day without getting hurt.

Security is also incredibly tight now.  In fact, there is more security in airports than at train or bus stations.  There is very, very little chance that someone is going to be able to smuggle any sort of weapon on board a plane.

For your first flight, it may be helpful to fly with someone else.  This way, you have someone to talk to during takeoff, which is typically the most stressful time.  Your friend can help remind you that flying is perfectly safe and that nothing horrible is going to happen.  You may also want to take some anti-anxiety medication to help you through take off.

Generally, the first time you fly is going to be the worst since you don’t know what to expect.  Before the plane takes off, you can chat with both the airline attendants inside the airport and with your flight attendants about what to expect.  They meet people who are flying for the first time nearly every day, and they will have a lot of advice for you.  Once you have a successful flight under your belt, the next time will be a little easier since you know exactly what will happen.

Many airlines, especially those flying in and out of the United States, have passed new regulations regarding baggage.  These regulations aren’t popular, but they have helped many airlines avoid bankruptcy.  The most unpopular new regulation is that checked bags are no longer free—the price depends on the airline, but it’s usually between $15 and $25 to check the first and second bag.  After that, the price jumps to $50 or more.

However, there are some ways to get around paying extra fees.  One of these is to use collapsible bags like a duffle bag that can be folded up and put inside another bag.  Most rolling suitcases that come in a set are designed to fit inside each other for storage, but you can take two suitcases stacked inside each other as a way of having an extra bag on the trip home.  This way, you only pay for one bag going to your destination and then you can pull out the folded up bag and use it for your souvenirs and other purchases.  This saves you a few dollars.

Another way of saving money is to take advantage of carry-ons.  Many don’t realise that some airlines allow you to have two carry-on bags—one that goes in the overhead compartment and a small backpack or laptop bag that goes under your seat.  Of course, there are strict size limits to these bags, and if your carry-ons don’t meet them, you will not be allowed to take them on the plane.  Check with your airlines to see how many carry-ons they allow and the maximum sizes.

Carry-ons can often be used to carry a good number of items.  You may find that you can use your overhead carry-on for your underclothes, shirts, toiletries, and more.  That gives you a lot more space in your checked bag.  For women, hand bags often do not count as a carry-on at all.  Large hand bags will most likely be flagged as a carry-on, but small hand bags are fine.  You can often use a hand bag for your toiletries or other small items, giving you more space in your bags.

Finally, if you’re traveling with someone else, you may want to consider combining your luggage.  Instead of the two of you taking individual bags and each paying a checked-bag fee, think about taking one larger bag for the two of you.

These ideas are just a few ways you can get around the new costs associated with flying yet still have plenty of bag space.