10 Priceless Hints to Keep You Safe and Sound While Travelling by Plane
Even the most experienced tourists and travelers might get stressed because of a plane journey. Apart from all the problems frequently occurring due to customs clearance, delayed flights, yelling kids and angry crowds, we may simply get unwell. What can we do to prevent that nasty feeling we get after we land?
3:05 PM EDT, July 10, 2024
It’s not just the problems we face when the plane is airborne. Some of the issues begin the moment we land. Why do we start to sneeze and cough?
The plane is a kind of confined space where the air gets recycled. Due to the altitude, the humidity also drops. As a result, our nose and throat get drier, weakening our immune system. As a result, we fall prey to bacteria and viruses.
Approximately 20% of passengers complain about feeling bad after landing.
#1 Wash your hands frequently
If you don’t want to use the tine plane bathroom or the ones at the airport, you can always get some antibacterial gel that eliminates even up to 99% of bacteria. If you wash your hands, make sure it takes you at least 20 seconds and the spaces between fingers and under nails are well taken care of.
#2 Avoid unfolding the food tray
I know it is difficult to resist the temptation to unfold the tray in front of you to watch something on laptop or read a book. Still, you need to remember that this place rarely gets cleaned properly and there are plenty of microorganisms that can trigger a cold or stomach flu.
#3 Drinking warm water
As the humidity aboard differs a lot from everyday conditions, you need to stay watered appropriately. The best way to do it is by drinking warm water. While cold water is certainly refreshing, it is the warm water that will help you keep your respiratory tract intact.
#4 Never use the blankets or cushions offered by the plane crew
If you want to sleep comfortably on the plane, you’d better take your own blanket and cushion. The ones available aboard may not be washed in between the flights, so there are plenty of bacteria and viruses. You can learn more about it here.
#5 Window seats
If it is up to you, go for the window seat. It means that you won’t be exposed to as many people as seating by the aisle. That means you will pick up fewer microorganisms. On the other hand, these seats are always more expensive and there is less legroom.
#6 Use the ventilation system
You might think that the stream of air will transport more bacteria towards you. Wrong. The ventilation system makes the air travel faster keeping other bacteria away from you.
#7 Don’t be ashamed to ask for another seat
If you notice that your fellow passenger coughs or sneezes and there are some free seats on the plane, you can ask the flight attendant to let you sit somewhere else.
#8 Don’t eat meals if they are cold
The food most airlines offer (perhaps apart from the ones discussed here) is not mouth-watering to say the least. If you decide to have something to eat there anyway, make sure the dish is warm. The colder it is, the more bacteria is likely to be there.
#9 Get enough sleep before the flight
I know this could be hard for those who are afraid of flying, but if there is anything you can do for yourself is to sleep long enough before departure. Sleep will make you feel less stressed and you won’t feel that bad.
#10 Use toilet paper to open the bathroom door
Half of the passengers use the plane toilet during the flight. If you want to keep away from all the bacteria they spread, use a piece of toilet paper to grab the door handle while leaving the toilet.
Do you happen to know any other tricks that could help us prevent any flight-related illnesses?
