Airport Avenger: Tips and Top Secrets for Airlines, Airfares, Fees, Security and Cancelations
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Stay Healthy on High
Flying Under the Weather
There are some things you can do to minimize your chances of getting sick while you travel. Germs of course are everywhere, not just in the air but on armrests, tray tables, lavatory doors—you name it.
You’ll never avoid every single germ, but not every single germ will make you sick. Use hand sanitizer and keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth. They are prime entry points for infections.
If you can avoid being close to someone who’s hacking and blowing, by all means do. Ask a flight attendant if you can move to another seat. But don’t make too much of a single sneeze or sniff.
A recent study found that people sitting within two rows of a sick person are the most likely to catch something on a plane. Avoid touching surfaces that someone may have sneezed on or coughed on -- like armrests, overhead bins or tray tables. Tray tables can be especially germy.
Don’t use pillows, blankets, food utensils or headphones that aren’t in sanitary wrappings.
Keep the air vent over your seat turned on and pointed in front of your face to blow away stray germs. No need to open it up full force. A steady, moderate flow will do.
Airlines aren't required to disinfect their planes, so of course they don't.
Wear a surgical mask if you’re really worried about catching something. It’s no guarantee you’ll stay germ-free, but it’s a little more insurance. Get enough rest before your flight, and drink plenty of water on longer fligths to avoid dehydration. Aircraft cabin air is extremely dry.
Be sure you get required immunizations for trips to other countries and be aware of local health problems that might affect you, such as contaminated drinking water.
Jetliners are required to carry first-aid kits and emergency medical equipment, such as oxygen tanks and defibrillators, in case something life-threatening happens at 35,000 feet. When there’s a serious event like a heart attack, the pilot generally will land at the nearest airport to get the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible.
More tips and top secrets about staying healthy when you fly:
The Germ That Got Away
Do You Smell Something?