How To Avoid Getting Sick on an Airplane

02.22.23 by Travelex Insurance

Image credit: Getty Images

You’ve been carefully preparing for this vacation all year. You put in hours of research finding the perfect hotel, restaurants, entertainment, and excursions. You purchased travel insurance to help protect you from the unexpected, you prepared your pets for your absence and even downloaded the best travel apps to help you get the most out of your trip.

But there’s one more step of preparation left: taking precautions to help you avoid getting sick on an airplane. An airplane is a hotbed of germs and the last thing you want is to arrive at your destination only to come down with a cold. The following tips will help you stay healthy on your next flight.

Sanitize your hands

If applied liberally and rubbed thoroughly, hand sanitizer can kill 99.9% of germs. Use it before eating and drinking and after washing your hands in the airplane bathroom.

Use the air vent

Keep those airborne pathogens away from your face. Position the air vent so you can feel it on your hands in your lap.

Boost your immune system

This includes eating healthy, supplementing with Vitamin C, and making sure you’re getting plenty of sleep. Follow this practice before, during, and after your flight.

Get up and move

Sitting too long can lead to a host of problems, including chronic pain and spine injuries.

Bring your own food and drink

Don't eat airplane food. If you’re not going to listen to us, listen to the FDA.

Avoid touching your face

Even with all the hand-sanitizing you’ll be doing, avoid touching your face at all costs. Bacteria and viruses enter the system, most easily, through the eyes, nose, and mouth.