Avoid getting sick when traveling by plane

The moment I started to avoid touching my face, nose, mouth, eyes and ears with my hands I started to have much fewer flu/cold infections. I always use a tissue if I wanted to. As a person who works for an airline and meeting a lot of passengers is a daily routine, this was a big problem for me when I started the job and I find this prevention method to be working perfectly for me.

I know that you see this written everywhere, wash your hands properly, etc.. but it really works. Most infections come from touching something and then "introducing it" to your body by touching your eyes or mouth or so on.

Also, just as an extra step, buy a mask and wear it. I see some passengers doing that from time to time. Keeping a hand anti-bacterial gel is also recommended, just don't over do it.

I personally do not believe in instant immunity boosters (vitamic C and the like), as far as I know it's not proven to work. The best way is to prevent the virus/bacteria from entering the body, not to let it in then depend on a "boosted" immunity system to fight it.

Extra steps specific to aircrafts:

• Wipe the tray table with something that contains alcohol.
• Armrests too
• If you're sitting in a window seat, wipe the window as well. Kids love to stick their runny noses there!
• After using the toilet, use a tissue to open the door and when closing it. The handle will be a good place for all kinds of bacteria.

Again, these simple methods will provide enough protection. Do not use any advertised immunity booster medicines, keeping the viruses away is the way!

According to this article the air in a plane is quite clean and it is definitely not fully recirculated. However sitting not far away from a sick passenger indeed exposes you to communicable diseases.

Also the airplane air is indeed very dry, which does make some people feel unwell. It is better on the latest planes like Dreamliner, and I do feel the difference flying on them comparing to older planes (especially @#$@ 747-400). Another major route to get sick is through germs spreading via touch - a typical lavatory in a plane could have been touched by 100+ people.

So there are few things you can do:

• Choose your flight so you're flying on better metal (and especially avoid 747-400) and better seats (business/comfort) if you can;
• Rest well before the flight. For most people flying is effort for your body, and not rest. Very few people can rest on a flight itself.
• Carry a small hand sanitizer and use it once you touch something touched by others;
• To combat dryness in the air, it is recommended to drink a reasonable amount of water and cut down on tea/alcohol (especially alcohol);
• You can also wear a mask if it helps you to feel better, but it doesn't stop germs.

It is not the cabin air that is making you sick. Only about half the air injected into the cabin is recirculated and that HEPA filtered. This means all the air in the cabin is changed several times an hour with outside air.

You are probably getting sick from the high common touch points, such as the screening process.

I had exactly this same problem. Before my flights, I run to the local drug store and grab a box of face masks. You can use gloves if you want - personally, I just wash my hands well when I get off the plane.