Can I fly with a cough and cold?

It's important to check with your doctor before you fly whether it's safe for you to travel. If you have a flare-up of your condition, with increased cough, sputum and breathlessness, your doctor may well recommend delaying travel until your symptoms are back to their normal level.



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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines who might be too under-the-weather to fly—namely, anyone with a fever of 100° F (38° C) or higher and a severe cough, or difficulty breathing, or the kind of stomach sickness that makes a hangover look like a picnic.

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if you suffer from or have had:
  • angina or chest pain at rest.
  • an infectious disease (e.g. chickenpox, flu), including COVID-19.
  • decompression sickness after diving (sometimes called 'the bends')
  • increased pressure in the brain (due to bleeding, injury or infection)
  • infection of your ears or sinuses.
  • recent heart attack.


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Generally, you should also bag a trip if you have a fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and symptoms such as coughing or sneezing, says William Schaffner, M.D., a professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

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As a rule of thumb, you should avoid flying if you have: A fever of 38° C or higher and a severe cough or. Difficulty breathing or. Chest pain or.

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Flying whilst infected with a cold increases the risk of physical damage to the inner ear and sinuses.

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Infectious Diseases
An airline can deny boarding of any passenger who looks unwell, especially if they suspect the passenger might be infectious (infect other passengers).

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If you fly with a head cold or seasonal allergies, Dr. Pinkston said it's possible you may significantly stretch your eardrum because your Eustachian tubes wouldn't be working properly to equalize pressure. If the stretching of the eardrum is considerable, these problems may occur: Capillaries in the ear break.

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Keep your coughs at minimum by either popping cough drops as needed or taking cough medicine before you take off. Decongestants are also a good idea for that runny nose. Little Kleenex packets are available at most airports and could save your nose as well.

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If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, do not travel.
Stay home until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without using a fever-reducing medicine, such as acetaminophen. Flu symptoms include: Fever (Not everyone with flu will have a fever.) Cough o Sore throat.

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Bronchitis is a contagious disease, which means that commercial flights can refuse to have you on board. There are several other conditions linked to bronchitis that prevent flying commercially because the change in air pressure is risky for patients.

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Flying after a chest infection is only advised if the patient is no longer contagious. If they still feel vulnerable after recovering or if they need to travel urgently, an air ambulance is their best bet.

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The most important thing you can do if you feel yourself getting sick before setting off on a trip is rest. When you sleep, your body is more able to fight off infections – so get as much sleep as you can!

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Airplane passengers have an 80% chance of getting sick on a flight if they sit in the wrong spot, scientists have found. Data scientists traveled across the US on 10 transcontinental flights to investigate your risk of getting sick on a plane.

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