Flying issues with the other half..

My wife, who used to get air sick and rarely wanted to fly, is now a regular passenger. We bought a plane at the beginning of the year and have been using it religiously since. Our two year old seems to be getting some enjoyment out of the trips as well, so it's a win all around.
How did she get over the air sickness?
 
My wife is not a fan of the plane. Heights, closed space. Requires meds d
Obviously it has all worked out, and we purchased another plane. We are making our first real trip up to Lawrence, KLWN to visit with Adam and Jeanine this weekend.

My wife hates the plane. Hates heights. Hates closed spaces. Hates bumps. But likes getting places fast!! This weekend we to are going to KLWM (maybe I’ll run into ya!!) from KHZL. I’ll be in an older 182 that looks like it needs paint. It’s like a 7 hour drive plus but only under 2 hour flight. This time we are going to try some better pregame-pills the night before and day or no half pills. Only whole ones. Lol. Plus planning on leaving earlier in am to avoid the summer bump up.
She wears my hood and does crossword puzzles. Kids in back don’t care. We have done at most 1 hour in plane. So this is a big jump.
 
... This weekend we to are going to KLWM (maybe I’ll run into ya!!) from KHZL. I’ll be in an older 182 that looks like it needs paint.

We want to be in the air by 7am and arriving around 9:15ish. We’ll be in the Commander 453TC. I am going to overnight at Eagle East FBO. I have to call for a rental car, hotel is locked in.

Have a safe flight, hope to see you there. By the way, my family is from the Wilkes-Barre area and my sister lived in Hazelton for a time. I sure miss the old and now gone, Angela Park. We had many a fun family reunion there, back in the day. Good times!
 
Take her on a night flight to a decent restaurant. Make the evening fun and more about her than the plane.

For my wife's first flight, I waited for a calm CAVU morning and took her sightseeing, making sure to show her our house from the air. Afterward we went out for lunch at a nice outdoor café. I did my best to keep the whole day calm, not rushed, and focused on making it fun. "Excitement" is the last thing you want on her first flight!
 
My wife loves to fly with me - as long as there's purpose. Will choose to pass if it's just to do touch and goes.

However, she will go with me if I ask her to be my iPad holder, or just want the company.

My advice to anyone on here with a spouse or partner that doesn't like flying is the same as Half Fast's advice:

"Take her on a night flight to a decent restaurant. Make the evening fun and more about her than the plane."
 
My advice to anyone on here with a spouse or partner that doesn't like flying is the same as Half Fast's advice:

"Take her on a night flight to a decent restaurant. Make the evening fun and more about her than the plane."

I don't disagree with this approach, however, my goal was to simply get spouse in the plane. Baby steps. Hopefully, she'll go again and we can try to actually "go somewhere" next time.
 
But are you allowed to "fly with others" if she's not interested?
 
How did she get over the air sickness?

She uses a product called a reliefband... not sure how the heck it works (witchcraft?), but believe it or not it does the trick. Seems to keep her from getting sea sick as well. If you haven't tried one, I'd give it a go (can't hurt, right?). It gives a subtle electric stimulus to the wrist.

We've mainly been doing the $100 hamburger thing, but also have spent a fair amount of time using the plane for travel. I'm not IFR rated, so weather can be a pain, but I'm getting more confident while staying safe.

Most importantly, our little guy seems to like it. Maybe there's a chance of getting him hooked while he's really young?
 
Just got married Saturday

Congrats!

I’m trying to figure out how to make her first experience the best ever so she would want to do it again. I really wish it was not summer because the 100 degree heat coupled with all the thermals and turbulence are a recipe for a uncomfortable flight.

Postpone the trip to October or November. Seriously!

-Skip
 
She uses a product called a reliefband... not sure how the heck it works (witchcraft?), but believe it or not it does the trick. Seems to keep her from getting sea sick as well. If you haven't tried one, I'd give it a go (can't hurt, right?). It gives a subtle electric stimulus to the wrist.

We've mainly been doing the $100 hamburger thing, but also have spent a fair amount of time using the plane for travel. I'm not IFR rated, so weather can be a pain, but I'm getting more confident while staying safe.

Most importantly, our little guy seems to like it. Maybe there's a chance of getting him hooked while he's really young?
One of those pressure point bands? Tried it. Didn't work. Maybe we didn't have it on right. My wife is super sensitive to motion though. I think it will take some meds.
 
Just got married Saturday, wife Is terrified of flying. She has never flown on anything ever. She’s agreed to a 20 minute flight.

I’m trying to figure out how to make her first experience the best ever so she would want to do it again. I really wish it was not summer because the 100 degree heat coupled with all the thermals and turbulence are a recipe for a uncomfortable flight.

Definitely avoid the thermals and daytime heat... one sure way to make my wife hate a flight is to fly anytime between about 11am and 4pm during the summer. She can deal with turbulence, or she can deal with heat, but doesn't care for turbulence and heat (come to think of it, neither do I, and I love to fly).
 
One of those pressure point bands? Tried it. Didn't work. Maybe we didn't have it on right. My wife is super sensitive to motion though. I think it will take some meds.

Nope, not a "seaband". This reliefband thing doesn't do pressure points, it actually kinda shocks you. I'd post a link but I think the admin automatically would fry my account since I'm new. We tried the seaband thing as well, with no luck.
 
Nope, not a "seaband". This reliefband thing doesn't do pressure points, it actually kinda shocks you. I'd post a link but I think the admin automatically would fry my account since I'm new. We tried the seaband thing as well, with no luck.
Will look into that. Thanks.
 
So I'm happy to report my wife is now a fan of flying as long as we're going somewhere. This was definitely a process. It took some time to get her used to it for sure. She uses the C bands for air sickness. She actually fell asleep on the way home from a trip a month ago. My advice is to just take it slow and understand there will be setbacks. I really thought I would be faced with the decision of possibly selling my plane, but thank goodness it worked out.
 
So I'm happy to report my wife is now a fan of flying as long as we're going somewhere. This was definitely a process. It took some time to get her used to it for sure. She uses the C bands for air sickness. She actually fell asleep on the way home from a trip a month ago. My advice is to just take it slow and understand there will be setbacks. I really thought I would be faced with the decision of possibly selling my plane, but thank goodness it worked out.

You tried my drink cart idea, didn't you? Well played, my friend; well played.

https://smile.amazon.com/VINGLI-Rol...ll+drink+cart&qid=1565830809&s=gateway&sr=8-7
 
In June we did a sight seeing flight in Peru to see the Nazca Lines. I was impressed my wife didn't get sick. The pilot was yanking and banking the Caravan so passengers on one side could see the lines and then the other side. My wife said she felt a little off at times, so stopped taking pics with her smartphone and was much better after that. She only looked out her window from the beginning to help minimize the potential for getting sick.

Unfortunately our middle daughter did get sick. If she could have held out 5 more minutes would have been fine as we then headed back to the airport. Our daughter has never been motion sick before, but she does NOT like rollercoasters. I think she may have been watching me and doing what I was doing, which is not good for most people. I was looking out both sides and taking pictures; I had a DSLR with a big zoom lens, she just had her smartphone. They very explicitly told everyone not to do what I did. I don't get motion sick and it even felt a little odd to me.
 
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