The issue

He didn't get on the plane. As crazy as this seems this is true. He got off it at the other end and had the time of his life.

When he had to get on the plane everyone at the airport supported his fear of flying. Half of him stayed at the airport with the support of his onlookers and the other half mounted the plane because it was his duty to. It was his duty to have a good time and he had one. Since his support stayed at the airport it couldn't have travelled with him. Whilst in Ireland the word un-supportive didn't exist. He would have shrugged it off. His supporters are still at the airport and his duty is still in Ireland. Understandably he wants to repeat the cycle. If you tell him there are more people in Ireland with a fear of flying than anywhere else his response might indicate the logic behind what I'm saying. He failed to get his coworkers to support him on to the plane and into his seat.