Studies suggest that up to 20% of passengers on commercial airplanes may develop respiratory infections within a week of flying.

Below are general tips to help protect yourself from the risk of getting sick following a flight:

  1. Ensure you consume enough water to keep your respiratory tract moist, which can help protect against germs.
  2. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If not available, carry hand sanitizer.
  3. Carry disinfectant wipes to wipe down hard surfaces in your seat vicinity including table trays, entertainment screens and seat belt buckles.
  4. Consider wearing a face mask to protect yourself from any airborne particulates.

Additionally, high traffic areas may expose passengers to higher risk of encountering germs. Apart from obvious areas, such as washrooms, choosing an aisle seat may also increase your exposure due to the number of people passing the area when moving around the cabin. Window seats may help avoid unnecessary contact with other passengers.

More tips for healthy flying can be found on WebMD. We hope these tips will help reduce the risk of in-flight viral exposure, so you can enjoy your destination.

References:

https://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/spreading_more_than_cheer_holiday_fliers_100_times_more_likely_to_catch_germs_on_a_plane.html

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21155643/ns/travel-travel_tips/t/how-avoid-airplane-cold/#.W6JrZMxMFPB

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-december-21-2017-1.4458465/germs-on-a-plane-how-to-stay-healthy-while-travelling-1.4458761