There are many people who refuse to step foot on an aeroplane, and many more who spend their entire flight quivering. 

Though flying is statistically safer than driving, and your odds of being killed are minute- all rationality can fly out the window when you step on board. 

While turbulence and aeroplane toilets can be equally as terrifying, you don't have to spend your whole trip clinging to your seat, or the stranger next to you.

Luckily, a frequent flier has shared advice on how you can overcome your aerophobia. 

Here is how to conquer your fear of flying and step on board your next flight confident enough to take the skies.

A clinical diagnosis of aviophobia, also known as aerophobia or simply 'fear of flying', only affects around 2.5 percent of the general population according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine. 

However a general anxiety about flying is much more common, some fliers are worried about being in an enclosed space for too long, others hate heights, while some are scared of germs and viruses and a few may be terrified of the plane door opening mid flight. 

While safety measures have been put in place from preventing such catastrophes from happening, some may need to take extra steps to make themselves feel better. 

It may be an obvious point, but frequent flyer Shreya Patel suggested bringing a good distraction on your next flight. 

The Marketing Manager has the opportunity to travel to various countries for work, but she wasn't always comfortable with flying. Shreya has a number of tips to make yourself feel better while flying. 

She said: 'Pre-download a movie or your favorite show or a podcast. It could distract you from the fact that you are flying. Start watching it instantly when you board the flight, so by the time it takes off and in the sky, you are already engaged with the movie or show.'

Travel blogger, Roisin Miller added another useful tip, she said: 'I found that one of the best things to do was to not allow too much time at the airport before the flight - enough not to miss it, but not enough to focus on what was happening.'

She agreed with Shreya that finding a distraction is always a good way to take your mind off the fear. 

Roisin always made sure she had a distraction and brought books with her on the flight. 

She said: 'I could pace up and down and enough games on my phone and would sit on my hands once on the plane to stop me scratching myself in anxiety.'

If you can, Shreya suggested to board the plane with somebody you trust and who will help but you at ease. 

In Shreya's case she first boarded a flight with her father who talked her through her 'cold feet', she said bringing a close confident can help boost morale and encourage you to get through the flight.  

According to Shreya, nervous flyers should always opt for an aisle seat and look at your calm co-passengers rather than staring outside the window.