Hubby to Attend the Fearless Flyers Course in Sydney 1[SUP]st[/SUP] September.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ssion/my-freakin-flyer-hubby-can-40636-2.html
The obvious problem was HOW to get to Sydney !
Situated in the Far North it’s a bit of a long drive to Sydney so we decided after some advise and the help of a bit or a lot of Xanax it may be enough to help get him there.
Hoped to fly on the 30[SUP]th[/SUP] August, a week prior we decided a ‘trial run’ to the Cairns airport was necessary, a 240 km round trip. 2 nights before hubby took Xanax each night as the anxiety was already building, then on the morning and probably some more.
He arrived at the airport and sat in the waiting area practicing some breathing tips he was given then he thought it would be a great idea if he could walk onto an aircraft!! What was the worst that could happen – a big fat NO !
First lady said no, so he found “ Jeff” a Qantas Supervisor and explained his plight and that he was booked in for the Fearless Flyer course.
Jeff was astounded that he had done this ‘trial run trip’ and was sympathetic to his problem & was happy to go about organising for John (a bushy banana farmer under the influence of Xanax ) to go and sit on an aircraft. I was surprised I have to say !!
He met the Manager, had a bit of a chat about the anxiety problem then proceeded to escort him on to a Qantas aircraft. Jeff’s advise on which aircraft and which seat was given and left him to sit for 10 mins (the aircraft just disembarked and the cleaners were working already). The Pilot had a chat to him also and they both thanked him for making the effort so they would do whatever it took to help him. They sat down to a coffee after and a chat and John left feeling confident that he would be able to board the plane.
Jeff advised he was on a day off for his scheduled flight to Sydney but offered to come in and sit with him and escort him on to the plane, to which John said no it was your day off.
Thursday morning came with the same plan of pill popping 2 nights prior and on the morning. I could tell he was still a bit stressed ! Driving to Cairns John got a call from Jeff the Qantas Supervisor to tell him he has come into the airport and was going to meet with him and escort him to the plane (John responding with a no its your day off). The recommended seat in economy wasn’t open to no status so I used points and booked him in J. Jeff met with him, walked with him, put him on the plane last, the Captain introduced himself, the Cabin Manager promised to look after him. I received a call from Jeff to advise me that he had left and they were in the air.... ! He made it , phew !! $950 for the course not wasted..
We cannot believe how much assistance Qantas staff went to, to enable him to get on this aircraft ! I think he felt like Qantas Royalty with the treatment he received. I rang Sir John on arrival, all ok but very tired. A very big THANK YOU to JEFF at Qantas and feel that the service and attention was simply unbelievable.
Now the course begins..........!!!
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ssion/my-freakin-flyer-hubby-can-40636-2.html
The obvious problem was HOW to get to Sydney !
Situated in the Far North it’s a bit of a long drive to Sydney so we decided after some advise and the help of a bit or a lot of Xanax it may be enough to help get him there.
Hoped to fly on the 30[SUP]th[/SUP] August, a week prior we decided a ‘trial run’ to the Cairns airport was necessary, a 240 km round trip. 2 nights before hubby took Xanax each night as the anxiety was already building, then on the morning and probably some more.
He arrived at the airport and sat in the waiting area practicing some breathing tips he was given then he thought it would be a great idea if he could walk onto an aircraft!! What was the worst that could happen – a big fat NO !
First lady said no, so he found “ Jeff” a Qantas Supervisor and explained his plight and that he was booked in for the Fearless Flyer course.
Jeff was astounded that he had done this ‘trial run trip’ and was sympathetic to his problem & was happy to go about organising for John (a bushy banana farmer under the influence of Xanax ) to go and sit on an aircraft. I was surprised I have to say !!
He met the Manager, had a bit of a chat about the anxiety problem then proceeded to escort him on to a Qantas aircraft. Jeff’s advise on which aircraft and which seat was given and left him to sit for 10 mins (the aircraft just disembarked and the cleaners were working already). The Pilot had a chat to him also and they both thanked him for making the effort so they would do whatever it took to help him. They sat down to a coffee after and a chat and John left feeling confident that he would be able to board the plane.
Jeff advised he was on a day off for his scheduled flight to Sydney but offered to come in and sit with him and escort him on to the plane, to which John said no it was your day off.
Thursday morning came with the same plan of pill popping 2 nights prior and on the morning. I could tell he was still a bit stressed ! Driving to Cairns John got a call from Jeff the Qantas Supervisor to tell him he has come into the airport and was going to meet with him and escort him to the plane (John responding with a no its your day off). The recommended seat in economy wasn’t open to no status so I used points and booked him in J. Jeff met with him, walked with him, put him on the plane last, the Captain introduced himself, the Cabin Manager promised to look after him. I received a call from Jeff to advise me that he had left and they were in the air.... ! He made it , phew !! $950 for the course not wasted..
We cannot believe how much assistance Qantas staff went to, to enable him to get on this aircraft ! I think he felt like Qantas Royalty with the treatment he received. I rang Sir John on arrival, all ok but very tired. A very big THANK YOU to JEFF at Qantas and feel that the service and attention was simply unbelievable.
Now the course begins..........!!!
