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If you can say no and are truly afraid of flying you can certainly do so.
Be aware that refusing to travel to an event your boss thinks is important is going to hold you back in your career in terms of raises, reviews and promotions.
It is your choice, and we all have a price. If your fear of flying is worth several thousand dollars, say no.
This ^ ^ ^
You gotta do what you gotta do; and you can't do what you can't do.
Work around it as much as possible.
Then, be up front about it with your boss if push comes to shove. Just say I can't do this. It is beyond a simple 'fear'. I have been to seen counseling, tried medications, whatever, and i am unable to overcome the anxiety.
You already know it might hold back your career. Being up front about it simply makes you a solid person with an issue you have tried to tackle, and for whatever reason, have been unable.
Don't get caught jetting off to the islands, Ever. You know what I mean. If you are sincere, you are sincere always.
Being a road warrior...which is not the situation you describe, is not a pleasant life style. During my career I traveled all of the time. Been everywhere. Been nowhere, really. Planes, hotels, office buildings, taxi, plane, next city.
I used to have to travel to Europe quite frequently. Went over on Concorde on Sunday morning. Scared the hell out of me. Until I tapped myself on the shoulder and said, "know what"? When this things blows apart you are going to be an instantly freeze dried particle of dust.
After that...never a problem. But I did have to say it each time that dammed thing took off.
Good luck. Give it your best. You just gotta do what you gotta do.
You're more likely to be killed driving or even walking to work than to die in a plane crash. Read up on statistics, they can be your friend.
BTW, I second what was posed above. If all else fails, have a couple drinks at the bar before hand.
You have to be careful about having a couple of drinks before boarding these days.
You can and will be denied boarding if you appear to be even a little tipsy, it happens all the time and it's not just people who are really out of it either. They will tell the passenger you have to wait a few hours for the next flight.
Imagine calling the boss and saying you missed the meeting as you were denied boarding.
You don't have to do anything. I had a fear of flying and refused to fly for my job for many years. I didn't get fired and wasn't held back from raises or promotions. I explained the fear to my managers and they understood. I didn't care if I would be fired over this, that's how afraid I was. There is always a risk that you are fired or held back. i was willing to take that risk.
Well...after almost 20 years without flying, I finally got the guts to fly. It wasn't for work. Did one flight this year and now I am ok flying again once in awhile.
My new rule is only daylight landing/takeoff and non-stop flights. It's like a whole new world has opened up to me, travel wise.
FTW, something that helped me rid the fear. I stayed a hotel that bordered an airport with commercial flights. You could stand at the pool and watch flights take off and land. You could feel the rumble at your feet as the engines roared just before takeoff. It helps you visualize being a passenger.
I might be asked to travel but I don't like flying at all. I can say no but I told them I was on the fence about it. I know it will help promotion down the road but with airplane incidents happening it seems like once a week now, I don't feel comfortable at all getting on a plane.
Before someone says it, I know it's a fact that it's safer to fly but that doesn't change the fact I do not like heights. Driving is not a option unfortunately.
Has anyone ever been in this situation? What did you do?
Tell your doctor you have an irrational fear of flying and that refusing to fly will diminish your career prospects. Then, he'll write you a script for Ativan or Klonopin.
You gotta do what you gotta do; and you can't do what you can't do.
Work around it as much as possible.
Then, be up front about it with your boss if push comes to shove. Just say I can't do this. It is beyond a simple 'fear'. I have been to seen counseling, tried medications, whatever, and i am unable to overcome the anxiety.
You already know it might hold back your career. Being up front about it simply makes you a solid person with an issue you have tried to tackle, and for whatever reason, have been unable.
Don't get caught jetting off to the islands, Ever. You know what I mean. If you are sincere, you are sincere always.
Being a road warrior...which is not the situation you describe, is not a pleasant life style. During my career I traveled all of the time. Been everywhere. Been nowhere, really. Planes, hotels, office buildings, taxi, plane, next city.
I used to have to travel to Europe quite frequently. Went over on Concorde on Sunday morning. Scared the hell out of me. Until I tapped myself on the shoulder and said, "know what"? When this things blows apart you are going to be an instantly freeze dried particle of dust.
After that...never a problem. But I did have to say it each time that dammed thing took off.
Good luck. Give it your best. You just gotta do what you gotta do.
That's a really good point. Refusing to travel for work would royally bite you if you fly for a vacation in the future. Definitely food for thought.
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