I ain't getting on no plane, foo'!

Since it's not my $$. Make sure you're flying first class. If you aren't comfortable with flying it'll be worth it. There's more legroom and the air crew will pamper you and treat you like you're special. Hell, for a flight of longer than 8 hours first class is the way to go anyhow.

Beyond that, I'd say with commercial flight the process of getting on the plane is more bothersome than the actual flight; shuffling along in your socks, holding your trousers up while you load your belt, shoes, change, watch, cellphone and anything else remotely metallic into trays, farting around with the baggie of liquids and taking out your laptop; dealing with idiotic gate guards and bored stewardesses can be infuriating.

On a completely unrelated topic Marso, is there something somewhere that actually states that you must be gay in order to be a male flight attendant? Because that's the only way I can comprehend of it.

That sounds like the best plan... at least I'll be a little familiar with what to expect (plus I get to go to mainland Yurp )

I'm also looking into the Virgin courses, they do them near me at Leeds Bradford airport

Of course I'm good at planning stuff and finding good excuses why not to carry them out... so we'll have to see.

along with the rest of the advice, take along pills against motion sickness, they'll dull your sense of balance and ensure the occasional 'bump' won't make you throw up. They only last a couple of hours, so take one every couple of hours. It'll probably help to watch movies as well.
In decent weather, apart from taking off your really don't feel like you're in the air -of course you did say that doesn't help.. anyway, statistically, it's still safer than driving to work.
Make sure to tell a stewardess of your fear before you go, maybe you'll get some extra attention. Or tell your other half to flirt with the stewardess, to ensure your anger takes your mind off the flying

Those bumps and turbulences and generally accepted unpleasantness are what I like in the air. Feeling weightless there for a second - always cool. Additionally, my obviously unique attitude towards dying makes it fun to watch pale, sweating people praying for their lives in really bad weather

But yes, statistics are on your side there, Summer. Do you get seasick? And, have you ever flown before?

[action=phantomofthenet]bites tongue so hard that now its flopping around like that of Jar Jar Binks. [/action]

I think the Flight Attendant's union snuck in a genome test with the flight physical to make sure only gay men can be male flight attendants. They sure as hell have taken over.

On a serious note, I've met two pilots who started out life as male, straight flight attendants. And both guys said they have never gotten laid as much in their entire life as when they were FA's. Overnites, crashpads, you name it. If you can stand the stigma, apparently the pussy is endless. Note that it wasn't enough to keep these straight guys from eventually moving to the manly end of the airplane. I guess some things are too heinous to be borne forever.

Hell yeah! Male hair dressers, nurses, and interior decorators are surrounded by tons of women who only work with gay males. You can't beat the ratio for upping your chances, that's for sure.