How To Avoid Getting Sick While Flying
Before you continue reading, let me say, I am NOT a medical professional. If you have any medical questions or concerns, consult a physician.
One of my previous jobs required 80% travel. That meant I was on a plane every Monday morning, and flew home on Thursday evenings (unless I got delayed – which is a blog post for another day). That was my life for about 45 – 48 weeks out of the year.
During my three years of regular flights, I only had to miss work once due to illness (I got a sinus infection and ear infection at the same time). With all the apprehension around coronavirus and traveling, I thought I would share 7 of my tips on how to avoid getting sick while traveling by plane. Please note, this is not meant to be a substitute for common sense: washing your hands, using hand sanitizer when soap isn’t available, drinking plenty of water, staying away from people who are sick.
1. Skip the Pretzels: Depending on the length of your flight, the flight attendant will be passing out pretzels or cookies and a beverage. Yes, flights are expensive, and you want to take advantage of everything the airline is offering. However, letting the snack cart pass you by, may just help you avoid some germs. Have you noticed that some flight attendants wear gloves while handing out snacks? Even they’re concerned about catching germs from other travelers. Think about how many people’s fingers brush up against theirs while distributing cups. Instead, purchase or pack your own snacks for the plane. If you don’t want to spend $5 for a bottle of water, courtesy of any airport vendor, get creative. I’ve seen people carry empty water bottles or reusable bottles through security, which they then fill at a water fountain.
2. Turn On Your Vent: I know there are split opinions on this one. I am of the opinion that turning the air vent on medium or high (for those that can stand the cold) and directing the airflow toward you (or just in front of you) keeps the germs moving past you. I have heard that others believe the vent is just blowing “dirty” air on you. That may be true but think about it - the recycled air on planes has plenty of germs already. Why let them stand still on your face?
3. Invest in a scarf: 9 times out of 10, I carry a scarf with me on the plane. I wrap it around my neck, and once I’m seated, I shift part of the scarf to cover my nose and mouth. A former co-worker, who also happened to be a nurse, questioned whether the scarf was actually effective. She was of the mindset that the scarf would be holding germs closer to me. As I said, I’m not a medical professional, but this worked for me.
4. Wipe Your Seat and Arm Rest: When feasible, carry a travel pack of antibacterial wipes with you. When you get to your seat, take a quick swipe across the headrest and arm rest. Let’s face it, you may not always remember the wipes, or you may run out. In those instances, simply avoid putting your hands on the arm rest. With the coronavirus, cleaning crews are disinfecting planes, but on a typical travel day, have you ever seen the cleaning crew sanitize an armrest?
5. Take A Supplement: During my traveling career, I took Emergen-C every single day, to ensure my immune system was fully functioning. While packing for the week, I placed four packets of the powder in my travel bag. I made a habit of drinking them during breakfast. By the way, the Raspberry flavor is my favorite. As a side note, I have friends who take Airborne a few days before flying, and it works great for them.
6. Keep Some Distance at the Gate: Once on-board, you will be crammed next to a stranger for at least the next 45 minutes, so why not take advantage of the space at the gate. Instead of taking a seat, stand next to a wall or ceiling beam. If you have plenty of time on your hands, but need to sit down, find a gate across the aisle that’s less populated.
7. Maintain Your Health Before You Fly: Remember to stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, and eat well prior to flying. Whether you realize it or not, traveling takes a lot of energy and can be stressful: long security lines, navigating the terminal maze, and running to catch watching for flight changes. Start out in the best shape possible.
Whether you’re a career traveler, or someone who is taking advantage of the recent drop in airfares (alleged drop, I have yet to find a great deal from my airport), I hope these suggestions ease some of your flying fears. Happy Travels!