How to Avoid Getting the Flu on an Airplane
We are in the midst of flu season, and everyone knows that there is no better place to get infected than on an airplane on the vacation you’ve been waiting for months.
You are crowded sharing air, which means there is a good chance that if someone near you flies while you are sick, you will do the same when you board your return flight a few days later.
Airplanes are always full of germs, but in the cold and flu season, these germs are even worse, and in some cases even deadly. This year alone, 30 children have died from the flu.
While a flu shot is your best defense against real flu (you got sick, right?) Travel and Vacation Notes , there are still a few things you can do to avoid getting sick in the air.
Choose a window seat
I know you always sit in the aisle to have easy access to the bathroom. The aisle seat is usually awesome, but while it gives you easy access to the bathroom, it also gives you access to the germs of every person walking down the aisle. At least you’ll run into all of these people while everyone is getting on the plane, you will also be exposed to everyone’s germs as they pass your awesome aisle seat to get to the bathroom to blow their nose in the 50s. time. A window seat reduces the number of people you encounter on the plane, which can be a decent line of defense against disease.
Wait until boarding
In a similar vein, now is not the time to aim for the best seating position in a crowded line. If everyone is waiting to board in what looks more like a crowd than a single file line, step back and sit at the end of your group. Large, close-knit groups of people are not your friends now.
Stay hydrated
The best line of defense against airborne diseases is in the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. When they start to dry out, which often happens on airplanes, it is much easier for you to catch a respiratory virus.
Try taking a small bottle of nasal spray with you and lubricating your nose before landing (and possibly mid-flight if it’s long).
Turn on top ventilation
I actually heard that you shouldn’t be doing this, but T + L suggests turning on the top ventilation when you sit down ( this NBC article explains well how air circulation works in an airplane). The idea is that a vent improves air circulation and can keep germs away from you that enter your area.
Wipe it all off
I do this on every plane that I fly all year round. This tray table is disgusting and I can assure you no one does a thorough cleaning before you board (unless you’re on the first flight of the day , which might be a good choice for a number of reasons).
The person who sat in your seat on the last flight could have used it to put everything from their baby’s dirty diapers to their snotty wipes, and now you’re going to use it for peanuts. Wipe this bad guy off. I bought a small pack of antibacterial wipes from the pharmacy, which I keep in my book bag. I always wipe down the tray, armrests, and seatbelt when I board, and suggest wiping down for my rowmates in case they want to do the same. Assume that the roughest person on the plane was in your seat on your last flight, and act accordingly.