Try a very short flight first to a city very close to yours. Just make sure you can fly on a larger jet. JetBlue has decent size planes that fly to close destinations. NYC to Boston is approx. 45min. There are air vents above each seat and you can open them to full blast if you have to. Bring activities that relax you. I like to bring my ipod (you'll have to turn if off for take off and landing but can have it on during the flight) easy crossword puzzles, gossip magazines, a deck of cards etc. You can bring your own snacks. Pay your bills. Whatever helps you with anxiety at home may work on the plane provided you can bring it on the plane. I also bring my Rosary beads and pray. You can talk to your doctor and get anti anxiety medicine for flying. Fly with someone you're comfortable with and have an interesting conversation. Use the time to come up with mental lists. I have a large family and do mental challenges like try to remember each ones' birthdays, ages, what age order they are in the family. I group them by age, birth month, first letter of names. It sounds nutty but I turn it into a game and it makes me focus on that activity and not what makes me anxious. I have suffered from anxiety and panic for years and these things help me. I am also very claustrophobic but the plane looks smaller as you're walking in but once you sit you see a lot of space around you and the cabin is usually cold when you're in the air. I hate turbulence (I always pray for a safe flight) but I truly enjoy traveling and refuse to let my fears stop me from enjoying life. Fly during the day so you see a lot of light. I know a few people who have to be medicated with anti-anxiety pills before flying. I also bring antacids and chewing gum helps a lot. I use a product called Earplanes which are rubber and go in your ears to help relieve pressure, especially when landing. Chewing gum, along with wearing the Earplanes, really helps with pain and pressure in your ears.