Follow the tips below to have a healthy and comfortable flight.
Before your flight
- Pack well in advance. If you need to take medication, find out if you can take your medicine abroad.
- If you have children, bring toys, games and books in your hand luggage to entertain them during the flight.
- If you have a history of travel sickness, read the self-care techniques explained in the Health A-Z, or you can buy medication over the counter at a pharmacy. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Get plenty of sleep the night before your flight.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing on the plane.
- Check the hand luggage restrictions with your airline, or see the Directgov website.
- Plan your route to the airport. Book train or bus tickets, or car parking. Check the travel news before you leave and allow plenty of time to get to the airport.
During your flight
- Keep hydrated. The air on planes is very dry, so it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee or cola, because they will make you thirstier.
- Move around. Sitting still is a common risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), so do some simple exercises as you fly. Bend and straighten your legs, press the balls of your feet down hard against the floor, and walk around the cabin when you can. Avoid taking sleeping pills. These can put you into a deep sleep and you won’t be able to move for a long time.
- Dehydration can make jet lag worse, so drink plenty of water. Change your watch to your new time zone when you board the plane, and try to get some sleep during the flight.
Avoid ear trouble
The change in air pressure in the cabin as the plane takes off and lands can be painful as your ears adjust. Yawning, swallowing, sucking a boiled sweet or chewing gum can help. Other tips you could try are:
- Wake up around an hour before landing so that your ears have time to adjust to the descent.
- If you’re travelling with a baby, feed them during take-off and landing.
- It’s not advisable to fly if you have an ear, nose or sinus infection, as the swelling can cause pain, bleeding or a perforated eardrum. If you have to fly, ask your GP or pharmacist about decongestants to help reduce the swelling in your ears.
- If you’ve had any type of ear surgery, check with your GP or specialist before flying.
Air quality in planes
Most planes are fitted with air filters that change the cabin air every three to seven minutes. There’s no evidence that the air conditioning systems in planes spread infectious diseases. You can catch infectious diseases, such as the common cold, simply by sitting or standing near someone who is infected, or by touching an object, such as a door handle, after they have.
Read the answers to more questions about travel health.
Further information:
