Can you fly while sick with COVID?

Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Take additional precautions if you were recently exposed to a person with COVID-19. Don't travel while sick.



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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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It is important to note that an airline has the right to refuse a passenger if staff believe that the passenger meets the following conditions: if the passenger could be considered a potential safety hazard, might require medical attention during the flight, has a condition that might deteriorate during the flight, or ...

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When shouldn't you fly? If you have a fever above 100 degrees… Fevers are a rule breaker for flights. A mild fever isn't cause for alarm, but anything over 100 degrees should have you calling the airline pronto.

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It is important to note that an airline has the right to refuse a passenger if staff believe that the passenger meets the following conditions: if the passenger could be considered a potential safety hazard, might require medical attention during the flight, has a condition that might deteriorate during the flight, or ...

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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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What to do before you fly with cold symptoms
  1. Take decongestants. Medicines like Sudafed work to reduce swelling around your Eustachian tubes, giving the ear more of a shot at equalizing, says Linder. ...
  2. Try nasal sprays. Really stuffed up? ...
  3. Pack lozenges. Keep hard candy to suck on or gum to chew in your carry-on as well.


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If your ears feel full and blocked or you keep getting the sensation that they aren't able to pop properly, then flying is probably going to make this worse. It is especially important for children to avoid flying with an ear infection as they are at higher risk due to having narrower Eustachian tubes.

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If suffering from a sinus infection while flying, you may experience severe sinus pressure and pain. We recommend avoiding air travel when possible if you have a sinus infection. By treating the root cause of your sinus pressure and pain, you can avoid a lifetime of painful flights.

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The answer to the question “Can I fly with pneumonia” is in many cases 'No'. Flying in a commercial airliner when you are infected by pneumonia is not possible because of the risks associated with the flight. As a general rule, doctors do not recommend flying commercially.

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If you had a mild case of COVID-19 but stayed at home and haven't been hospitalised nor treated at intensive care, you are welcome to travel on our flights if you don't have a fever, you feel well and haven't had any respiratory symptoms for 48 hours before your flight departure.

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Do not travel if you are sick. 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.

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Flying with a pre-existing ear infection or other ear, nose, or throat condition could even lead to complications in some cases. For this reason, many doctors will recommend avoiding air travel when experiencing a severe infection in the ears, nose, or throat.

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Two common recommendations: 12-hour or 24-hour Sudafed or Afrin nasal spray. If you opt for the nasal spray, give yourself a spray 30 minutes before takeoff and again about 30 minutes prior to descent.

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