At Virgin Australia, we’re in the business of experience, putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.

More than 10% of our guests experience high levels of nervousness when travelling, so whilst we love flying them from A to B, they mightn’t always feel the same way. We want all our guests to love flying as much as we do, so we’re committed to doing all we can to make travelling with Virgin Australia the best experience possible. 

Support for Nervous Flyers
We’re here to help wherever we can, so if you feel that you need some additional support on your next trip, identify yourself as a 'Nervous Flyer' 8 days prior to your day of departure, for some additional TLC.

Virgin Australia’s Nervous Flyer program

Our Nervous Flyer program is for anyone that experiences overwhelming nervousness when flying and is available on all Virgin Australia operated flights. 

To join the program, you must identify yourself as a Nervous Flyer at least 8 days prior to your day of departure to ensure you get some additional TLC, such as:

A helpful email sent a week before you depart with some travel tips for how to best manage your nerves during your flight.

NOTE: You must not be unsubscribed from Virgin Australia guest communications. To resubscribe, please complete this contact form.

An SMS sent on your day of travel with some uplifting words of wisdom to get you ready to board your flight.

Some extra care from our cabin crew, who will know to keep an eye out for you and may pop by with a friendly hello during your flight.

Once on board, you will be able to access the Smiling Mind meditations - a series of guided meditations designed specifically for nervous flyers, available in our In-flight Entertainment.

There are a number of other things we’ll be doing behind-the-scenes to make sure your trip with us is as stress-free as possible.  

How to identify as a Nervous Flyer

To join our Nervous Flyer program and receive the latest tips in making your journey a positive experience, please identify yourself as a Nervous flyer (at least 8 days prior to your departure date) via one of the options below.

 

Tips for Nervous Flyers

Before you depart

We recommend you download the Virgin Australia app - your go-to travel companion, making every step of your journey even more seamless. Keep up to date with your flight status, track your checked baggage and view your boarding pass with the tap of a button.

Techniques for managing your nerves

Breathing is closely connected with nervousness. If you find yourself starting to feel worried, focusing your attention on your body and trying to slow your breathing may help to regulate your heartbeat.

Our In-Flight Entertainment is the perfect distraction for your flight. Not only can you zone out with hundreds of hours of entertainment, but you can also access our in-flight guided meditations designed specifically for nervous flyers by our partners at Smiling Mind. Make sure you pack your headphones and charge your device!

For more tips on how to keep your anxiety at bay, check out our article below, which is full of a comprehensive list of tips for a stress-free flight.

In-flight wellbeing

We’ve partnered with experts in mental health to bring you regular research and recommendations on how you can look after yourself in-flight.

Thirsty? Drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeine will keep you hydrated and may also keep the nervous jitters in check. Regularly moving around can also help keep your nerves in check. Something as simple as stretching for a few minutes every hour will help keep up circulation and reduce the impacts of flying on your body. For more tips for staying fit while flying, check out our article below.

Turbulence

If you’re a nervous flyer we are here to tell you, you are not alone! While our crew do all they can to make your flight as comfortable as possible, it’s no surprise your palms may get a little bit sweaty when you experience some bumpiness mid-flight. As humans we generally fear the unknown – it’s natural! We recommend distracting yourself by watching our in-flight guided meditations available on our In-flight Entertainment.

Connecting flights

The second highest cause of nervousness amongst our guests relates to connecting flights. We know rushing from one flight to another can be stressful, and that’s why you can rest assured we’ve carefully calculated the time it takes to make a connection (plus some extra for good measure) – we call this ‘minimum connection time’.

 All connecting flights booked with Virgin Australia adhere to a minimum connection time, and we only offer connecting flights with a connection time that is equal to or longer than this. Depending on the size of the airport and whether you’re connecting between domestic or international flights, the minimum connection time will vary.

We have a full-time team of staff monitoring connecting journeys. If your flights are booked on a single reservation, we’ll be able to see that you’re connecting, and in the event of a delay we’ll be working behind the scenes to get you on your way as quickly as possible. Sometimes we’re able to hold a flight so connecting guests can make a tight connection, while other times we’ll try and park aircraft next to each other to allow for a quick transfer.

Despite our best efforts, in some circumstances guests won’t make their connection—and in these situations, when booked in a single reservation, you can rest assured that we’re taking care of things for you. 

Consideration of your mental wellbeing during travel is as important as your physical health. If you are concerned about your suitability to travel or are currently taking medication for your wellbeing, we recommend you speak to your doctor prior to your travel about the suitability of the nervous flyers program.

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