In coughs-and-colds and winter-travel season, what are the best ways for travellers to stay healthy? The travel experts at Cheapflights are sharing these 41 tips, tricks and hints:
BEFORE THE FLIGHT
1. When booking your flights select the first flight of the day. The plane is likely to be freshly cleaned (although bear in mind that this varies from airline to airline). There is less chance of delays and snarl-ups and, depending on the route you’re flying, the plane might not be full.
2. If you are feeling under the weather consult your doctor. It’ll certainly be no fun if you’re sick on your holiday and it could be very costly if you have to seek medical attention overseas. See our tip on the four things your travel insurance really, really should include.
3. If you need jabs, work in enough time for them to build immunity. This should not be a last-minute appointment. The flu shot takes up to 10 days to offer full protection. For some anti-malarial tablets you should start taking them three weeks before your flight
4. Two to three days before your flight, give your immune system a boost by taking Vitamin C and Echinacea. Drinking green tea can also help.
5. To minimise the risk of deep-vein thrombosis (also known as “economy-class syndrome”) pop an aspirin (to thin the blood) the day before a long-haul flight (and for a few days afterwards).
6. Get a couple of early nights to ensure you’re travelling well-rested. This is especially important if you’re crossing time zones and expecting a hefty dose of jet-lag.
7. Check your seat assignment and, if possible, switch to an aisle seat. You’ll have a little extra space to stretch your legs and it’ll be easier for you to get up and around the cabin during the flight.
8. If you’re expecting to be fed on your flight, see what meal options are available and eat for optimum health. A vegetarian or vegan meal, if packed with veg and fruit, is likely to be better for you than the standard chicken or beef.
9. Shelve the suitcase and take a backpack. You’ll be better able to get around the airport and it’ll be a better way of burning calories and stetching your legs.
10. Exercise at the airport. Compensate for the hours when you’ll be in situ. Take the stairs where you can, browse the shops, take a look at the airport art to keep you moving.
11. Select a sensible in-flight outfit. With fluctuating temperatures, regulate your own body temperature by dressing in layers. Whip off or add as temperatures hot up or cool down.
12. Take a plastic bottle (so you can fill up after going through security) and a bag of healthy snacks. Even if you are expecting a meal service, there may be delays en route, you might fall fast asleep and miss a meal or you may not fancy what’s served. Nuts, a sandwich, dried fruit can keep blood sugars up.
13. Invest in a bottle (100ml or smaller to get through security) of hand sanitiser, especially if you are travelling with small children, and use it liberally.
14. Pack your preferred remedies in your carry-on luggage… paracetamol, ibruprofen, tea-tree oil, Calpol for kiddies…
15. Eat a healthy, vitamin-laden meal before you get on the plane.
16. Use the airport toilets before getting on your flight. For one thing they may have been cleaned more regularly than the ones on your plane (this depends on time of day) and for another you’ll have more space there (and less chance to catch germs) than in a cramped airplane toilet. Flushing the toilet transmits germs and the more space there is between you and the toilet the better.
ON THE FLIGHT
17. Use anti-bacterial wipes to clean your armrests, tray table, seat belt buckles, anything you come into contact with. Do the same for your children’s seats.
18. Have sickness bags handy. Ask the flight attendant for some if they’re not in the seat pocket. They’re great for containing used hand wipes, old gum etc.
19. Direct the overhead cool-air streams away from your face. That’ll avoid having cabin dust and germs blown into your face.
20. To minimise the chance of getting a headache at take-off (or landing) chew some gum or suck a boiled sweet.
21. Drink, drink, drink – as much water as you can. Forget about fizzy drinks as they’re full of gas and tea is a better bet than coffee.
22. Only drink bottled water.
23. Don’t drink alcohol. It can dehydrate you and changes in air pressure cause alcohol to become more potent than when you’re on the ground.
24. If your throat and mouth start to feel dry, cover your nose and mouth with a damp napkin or babywipe.
25. A tip from hayfever season, rub a little bit of Vaseline on the inside of each nostril to trap allergens and germs.
26. Some travellers experience altitude sickness. It’s usually a mild condition and symptoms include feeling intoxicated. If you start to feel a little “drunk”, sit still and close your eyes. Take small sips of water and try to relax.
27. Get up and walk around the cabin regularly. Stretch when you can. Stroll around as much as you can between meals.
28. Don’t cross your legs. Do some simple exercises, including rotating your heels and wriggling your toes. Use your carry-on luggage as a foot stool to prop up your feet.
29. Invest in a seat cover or lay your coat across your seat to avoid dust mites / allergens and in some (thankfully isolated cases) bed bugs.
30. Always keep your clothes and bags with you. Avoid storing them in the overhead compartment.
31. Take your own travel pillow, one of those blow-up ones is perfect. And having a blanket (a big scarf or shawl) is a good idea too. Headphones? Goes without saying that they should be yours…
32. If you have to use the toilet during the flight, try to do it as early as you can. Not after six or eight hours because toilets are not cleaned mid-flight.
33. In the toilet be super vigilant. Close the lid before flushing (see 16 above), flush with a piece of tissue around your hand, wash your hands well with plenty of soap and hot water and use paper towels (if available) rather than a hand dryer. Oh, and use a paper towel to turn off the tap and open the toilet door, as germs can linger there too.
34. Spritz your face often to keep it moisturised and feeling fresh. There are lots of facial sprays on the market or bring an empty spritzer bottle with you and fill it up from a bottle of water on the flight.
35. Sleep. If you can. Not only will it make the flight faster but deep rest will relax and restore you for the rest of your journey.
AFTER THE FLIGHT
36. Once you deplane, use the airport toilet and wash your hands thoroughly with plenty of soap. It’s a good idea to wash your face too.
37. Drink lots of water to flush out your system and keep immune levels high.
38. Take a shower as soon as you can and wash your travelling clothes.
39. Adjust your meal times after a transatlantic flight. Studies have shown that it may help the body recover from jet lag.
40. For a few days after landing take an aspirin to ward off deep-vein thrombosis (see 4).
41. Rest, as much as jet lag and your holiday will allow!
(Feature image by Sonny Abesamis. “Going Away, Coming Home”. The panels of Hung Liu’s 160-foot mural at the Oakland Airport.)
