Overcoming the Fear of Flying: Tips from a Seasoned Flight Attendant
Cierra Mistt, a flight attendant with a unique background as a former professional dolphin trainer, has recently gone viral on TikTok for sharing her top tips aimed at helping anxious flyers overcome their fear of air travel. With a massive following of 3.3 million on the platform, Mistt regularly uploads content filled with airplane hacks, from guides on how to score a free upgrade to first class to quirky bits of advice on why she never boards a plane without wearing sunscreen. This time, however, she’s zeroing in on a more pressing issue for many travelers: the fear of flying. By combining her professional expertise with a dash of creativity, Mistt hopes to reassure nervous passengers and make air travel a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
One of Mistt’s most compelling pieces of advice revolves around the concept of turbulence, which she acknowledges is a major source of anxiety for many flyers. To help her audience visualize the stability of an aircraft even during bumpy skies, she resorts to a unique analogy involving water and jelly. In her TikTok video, she holds up a glass of water and a jar of jelly, using a small prop plane as a demonstration tool. When she drops the prop plane into the glass of water, it quickly sinks to the bottom, much like how people might imagine turbulence affecting a real plane. But then she contrasts this by dropping the same prop plane into the jar of jelly, where it wobbles but remains firmly in place. This, she explains, is a much more accurate representation of how an aircraft behaves at 30,000 feet. The air pressure at that altitude is far thicker and more concentrated than it is on the ground, making the plane incredibly stable even when turbulence occurs. “It would take a lot to swoosh you down,” she reassures her viewers, “so just picture flying around in jello.”
Another tip Mistt shares is to keep an eye out for off-duty flight attendants or pilots on board. These individuals, she explains, are often either commuting to work or heading home after a long shift, and they use their time on the plane to relax. If you find yourself feeling anxious during turbulence or at cruising altitude, Mistt suggests looking over at these aviation professionals to gauge their reactions. “Flight attendants will typically be asleep or on their phone,” she says with a smile, “while pilots will typically be on their iPad, sleeping, or flirting with the other passengers and flight attendants.” The only time you should really start to worry, she jokes, is if you notice them looking out the window with a concerned expression. This lighthearted advice not only helps passengers feel more at ease but also humanizes the people who are there to ensure their safety during the flight.
Mistt’s approach to addressing flight anxiety is both reassuring and relatable, and her personality shines through in every piece of advice she shares. Originally from Florida, she now calls Salt Lake City, Utah, home, where she met her boyfriend—a Korean Mormon. Despite their vastly different lifestyles (Mistt openly admits to enjoying things like drinking and “doing the dirty,” which she playfully notes are not exactly aligned with Mormon values), the couple has found ways to make their relationship work. This personal touch adds a layer of authenticity to her content, making her more than just a flight attendant with tips—it makes her someone her audience can root for.
In addition to her myth-busting about turbulence and her advice on observing off-duty staff, Mistt also emphasizes the importance of understanding how planes are designed to handle various conditions. She explains that aircraft are built to withstand even the most intense forms of turbulence, and that the bumps passengers feel during a flight are normal and not a cause for alarm. By reframing turbulence as a natural part of flying rather than something to be feared, Mistt aims to help her audience feel more comfortable and confident when they take to the skies. Her ability to break down complex concepts into simple, easy-to-understand explanations is a hallmark of her content and a big part of why her followers love her.
Ultimately, Cierra Mistt’s tips for anxious flyers are more than just practical advice—they’re a testament to the power of empathy and understanding in overcoming fear. By sharing her own experiences and insights, she creates a sense of camaraderie with her audience, reminding them that they’re not alone in their fears. Whether you’re a nervous flyer or just someone looking for a few extra reassurances the next time you step onto a plane, Mistt’s advice is sure to make your next flight a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable. So the next time you’re soaring through the skies, just remember: you’re flying in jello, and everything is going to be okay.
