Brainstorm your own associations with the dream. Though there are some common symbols and archetypes that human minds seem to draw on and interpret in the same way, you may have your own associations with flight or with the specific dream. Your personal interpretations offer the most insight, but thinking about common interpretations can add depth to your personal interpretation.
Notice the emotions that flight evokes. If you feel exhilarated or joyful, the dream is likely a reflection of something that's going well in your life, or a burden you've recently been released from. If you feel fearful, the dream is probably reflecting your fear of challenges, and maybe even your fear of success.
Examine your flight ability. Strong flight ability indicates mastery over a situation or a strong sense of confidence. If you're not able to fly easily, the dream may be telling you that you no longer feel in control of aspects of your life.
See what the landscape looks like. If you're flying high above a landscape, the dream might be showing you that you've risen above a former challenge, gained a new perspective on something in your life or expanded your spirit or consciousness. If you're flying close to the ground, pay attention to what's below you. What you see is more symbolic than how high you're flying.
Watch for objects in your way, such as trees or power lines. No matter what emotion flight evokes, these obstructions indicate that someone or something is standing in your way. Think about the particular obstruction to see who or what might be obstructing you in life.
Look at all of the elements you've examined in Steps 1 through 5 to arrive at a full interpretation of your dream. Attempt to determine what aspect of your life each part of the interpretation reflects, and use your intuition. Dreams are highly personal, so there's no cookie-cutter approach to interpreting a flying dream.