Airplane Sick

Protip:  Air flows forward to rear on an airplane.  So the further front you sit, the cleaner the air.  By the time it gets towards the rear of the plane it's crawling with every sneeze and sniffle in the place.

I like to pound airborne and extra vitamin C for at least a week before my flight and then some during/after the flight.  Also be sure to get PLENTY of sleep.  It's a recipe for disaster to be up late all week getting ready to leave...you just compromised your immune system and put yourself in a place with a ton of strangers.

Remember, it isn't just the airplane...it's the AIRPORT too.  You touched things at the airport...you touched security bins, door handles, chairs, even your ID (that was handled by the guy that just handled 100 IDs before yours).

The airplanes get the bad rap, but sometimes it's just the "perfect storm" of already immuncompromised people coming into contact with a lot of people in one place.

So, my other piece of advice (in addition to trying to start your trip with a strong immune system) is to use lots and lots of hand sanitizer all day...before security, after security, before boarding, after boarding...you get the idea.  Shoot, airports should just have that stuff everywhere...

You got lots of good advice above. Go into it as healthy, nourished, rested, and topped-up as possible. Don't touch anything; sanitize over and over again and wash hands (minute of scrubbie with soap, rinse well) whenever possible.

I also do this. No, it doesn't actually keep germs out that well, but

a) it keeps you from touching your nose/mouth

b) it keeps everybody, including sick people, away from you.

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I love this idea.  Might try it, keep other sickies away.  I try to be fastidious about it but I guess my inner OCD did not take over thinking I would be seen as TOOO ocd.  next time, forget it.  I'm full on from wiping down my plane seat, etc. ANd the lack of sleep prolly kicked in.  My pal and I shared a bed and I got NO sleep the night before the flight.  It was funny she said "Man I was up at 2:00 a.m. tossing and turning"  to which I replied "Um, I know!"  Oy.

Go into the flight as hydrated and well rested as possible.

So, I am a bit of a germaphobe and I wipe down the arms of my seat and tray table with a disinfectant wipe when I sit down. I absolutely do not touch my face, especially eyes, nose, mouth or ears during the flight (I get the occasional itch and have to touch my face). I don't feel as though I can wash my hands thoroughly enough in plane bathroom, so even after washing my hands on a plane I avoid touching my face.

I bring my own water bottles onto the planes and never get a drink from the attendant (their hands touch EVERYTHING on that plane and they always pick up the glasses from the top, so you have no choice but to put your lips on the part of the cup they just touched). I do not let my earbuds touch anything except my ears and the little bag I keep them in. (I wish I could figure out how to get them on without using my hands.) And, I don't eat any food that has touched my hands.

I wash my hands several times while at the airport and the first thing I do when I get off a plane is find a restroom and wash my hands.

I also don't use the little fan over the seat because I feel like it's just blowing everyone's germs into my face. Not sure if that's really the case, though.

Some of my stuff may be a little over the top and unnecessary, but I am about neurotic about germs.

  Commercial aircraft are sewers not too sanitary in th cabin. I won't enter a cabin to work without wearing gloves. Let me put it this way. You know those seat cushions you see being replaced when somebody arfs on one? The cover gets replaced, the cushion gets set out in the sun to dry. Once dry, it's ready to go again.