How to Avoid Getting Sick After Flying: Doctor-Backed Tips for Healthy Air Travel
Seat choices and simple hygiene steps can fortify your defenses in the cabin.
How to Avoid Getting Sick After Flying: Doctor-Backed Strategies for Healthy Air Travel
Airplanes create the perfect environment for spreading germs and airborne illnesses. With dozens or even hundreds of people in close proximity and low humidity levels, the risk of contracting a respiratory infection or other communicable disease is heightened during flights. However, medical experts emphasize that it’s possible to travel safely—if you take some smart precautions before, during, and after your journey.
This comprehensive guide synthesizes doctor-backed recommendations for keeping illness at bay when traveling by air, covering seating strategy, hand hygiene, hydration, and more.
Why Flying Increases the Risk of Getting Sick
Several factors make airplanes especially conducive to germ transmission:
- Close quarters: Passengers sit near each other in confined spaces for extended periods, increasing exposure to coughs, sneezes, and contaminated surfaces.
- Low humidity: Air inside cabins is dry, which weakens the body’s natural defenses and facilitates viral survival.
- Limited ventilation: Although modern planes use HEPA filtration, airborne droplets can still spread near infected passengers.
Understanding these risks is the first step to meaningful prevention.
6 Doctor-Approved Steps to Stay Healthy While Flying
Experts recommend the following actionable steps for travelers intent on minimizing their risk:
1. Choose a Window Seat—Preferably at the Back
Studies highlight that selecting a window seat can meaningfully reduce your chances of being exposed to illness-causing germs. According to Dr. Mueller and Dr. Ognjan:
- Window seats involve less contact with other passengers and reduced exposure to aisle foot traffic, where sick passengers and crew typically move.
- Sitting in the back rows limits your risk of exposure from people coughing or sneezing behind you.
A window seat is especially effective if you stay put for the duration of the flight.
2. Use the Airport Restroom Before Boarding
Airplane lavatories are high-touch environments with limited cleaning during flights.
- Use the airport bathroom immediately before boarding; airplane bathrooms are often exposed to germs from multiple passengers and cleaned less frequently.
- This simple step lowers your chances of touching contaminated surfaces in-flight and keeps you away from crowded aisles.
3. Wipe Down Your Seat Area
Germs can survive for hours or even days on surfaces such as tray tables, armrests, and seatbelt buckles. Infection risk isn’t limited to airborne droplets; it includes touching contaminated surfaces.
- Pack disinfectant wipes (not baby wipes—doctors recommend actual disinfectant wipes for effectiveness) and thoroughly wipe your:
- Tray table
- Armrests
- Seatbelt buckle
- Seatback pocket (if used)
- Be sure to perform this cleaning before sitting down or eating anything.
4. Keep Hand Sanitizer Handy
Your hands are the most likely vehicle for introducing pathogens to your body—particularly after touching communal surfaces. Doctors emphasize:
- Sanitize your hands before eating, after touching overhead bins, or handling any shared objects.
- Do not touch your face (eyes, nose, mouth) until hands are cleaned; this is one of the principal ways respiratory viruses enter your system.
- Carry a travel-sized alcohol-based sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol).
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5. Drink Plenty of Water
Dehydration is common due to low humidity in airplane cabins and can compromise immune defenses. Doctors recommend:
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol during flights, as these can further dehydrate you.
- Opt for water throughout your journey; bring a refillable bottle if permitted.
- Staying hydrated helps keep mucous membranes moist—your body’s first line of defense against airborne germs.
6. Consider Wearing a Mask
Despite the presence of air filtration systems, masks offer added protection, particularly on longer flights or when seated near someone who exhibits symptoms of illness.
- Masks reduce exposure to airborne droplets, helping prevent viral spread from sneezing or coughing passengers.
- This step is crucial for immunocompromised travelers, or during flu season.
- If you notice someone coughing or sneezing nearby, move seats if possible, or ask the crew for assistance.
Additional Expert Tips: Beyond the Basics
These supplementary tips from medical experts and frequent travelers can further reduce your risk:
- Use Nasal Sprays: Some hygiene experts suggest investing in a nasal spray, such as Vicks First Defence, to help stop cold viruses in their tracks. Nasal sprays may provide a protective barrier and add an extra layer of defense.
- Avoid Touching Face: Reiterate and practice self-awareness—avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after contact with any communal surfaces until you’ve sanitized your hands.
- Travel smart during peak season: If possible, avoid flying during peak cold and flu season, when the risk of encountering symptomatic passengers is higher.
How Germs Spread on Planes: The Science Explained
Scientific studies tracking passenger movements on flights have found:
- The greatest risk is to those within close proximity (same row, or one row in front/behind) to a sick person—these individuals are most likely to contract respiratory illness.
- People seated farther away, especially in window seats, face a much lower risk.
- Airplane crew moving throughout the cabin can transmit germs to more passengers (up to 4–5, compared to a sick passenger infecting 2 on average).
The data suggest that careful seat selection and limited movement once seated are practical ways to reduce your chances of becoming ill.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Staying Healthy While Flying
Q: Does the type of seat matter in reducing exposure to germs?
A: Yes. Window seats are less exposed to passenger movement and airborne droplets than aisle or middle seats, lowering your risk of infection.
Q: How often should I use hand sanitizer during a flight?
A: After touching any shared surfaces—tray tables, armrests, overhead bins, lavatory handles—and always before eating or drinking.
Q: Are airplane bathrooms cleaned during flights?
A: No. Lavatories are generally not cleaned mid-flight, so use airport restrooms before boarding whenever possible.
Q: Is it necessary to wear a mask if no one seems ill nearby?
A: While masks are most effective if someone nearby is coughing or sneezing, they still provide an added layer of protection in confined spaces, especially on long-haul flights or during flu season.
Q: What should I do if I feel sick while traveling?
A: Mask up and cough/sneeze into your elbow to help prevent spreading illness to others. Notify flight crew if necessary and seek medical care upon arrival.
Table: Quick Reference Guide—Do’s and Don’ts In-Flight
| Action | Recommended? | Doctor’s Note |
|---|---|---|
| Selecting a window seat (especially at back) | ✔️ Yes | Limits exposure to airborne droplets and passenger movement |
| Using airplane bathroom if avoidable | ❌ No | Airport restrooms are preferable as airplane lavatories are not cleaned during flight |
| Wiping down seat area and tray tables | ✔️ Yes | Surface transmission can be significant; disinfectant wipes recommended |
| Touching eyes, nose, or mouth | ❌ No | Only after sanitizing hands; main route for infection |
| Drinking water vs. caffeine/alcohol | ✔️ Water; ❌ Caffeine/Alcohol | Water protects mucous membranes and prevents dehydration |
| Wearing a mask | ✔️ Yes | Helps slow transmission of respiratory viruses and protects vulnerable travelers |
Bottom Line: Proactive Steps for a Safe and Healthy Flight
Although flying does increase your risk of encountering illness-causing germs, the probability of becoming sick is far from inevitable. By combining smart seat selection, vigilant hygiene, hydration, and masking where appropriate, you can substantially reduce your likelihood of catching colds, flu, or other respiratory infections while traveling. Doctors stress that travelers can navigate even crowded planes confidently with a little preparation and contact their physician if specific questions or concerns arise before departure.
- Pick strategic, low-risk seating and minimize unnecessary movement.
- Clean and sanitize surfaces and hands frequently.
- Maintain proper hydration and mask up during higher-risk situations.
Whether you’re a frequent flyer or traveling infrequently, these expert-backed precautions can help safeguard your health every time you board a plane.
References
- Doctor recommendations and research studies on airborne transmission and travel hygiene
- Insights from experts in infectious disease and public health
- Tips for hydration and immune defense in dry cabin environments
References
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a65280789/how-to-avoid-getting-sick-after-flying/
- https://www.prima.co.uk/diet-and-health/healthy-living/a22786664/how-to-avoid-getting-ill-plane/
- https://time.com/5207334/how-to-stay-healthy-while-flying/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/consumer-advice/car-advice/a569896/best-trick-avoid-car-sickness/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health-products/videos/a31533/motion-sickness-remedies-video-4986818001/
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