Stay hydrated… Her top tip? Drink “a ton of water” while flying. “It's dehydrating to fly, and if you're dehydrated, your body's a little weaker, which makes it harder to fight off the germs you're encountering,” she says.

Flight attendants maintain their health through a combination of rigorous hygiene habits and physiological adaptation. Their primary defense is obsessive hand hygiene and the use of high-quality hand sanitizers, as they frequently touch high-contact surfaces like galley latches and passenger seatbacks. To combat the extremely dry cabin air (often less than 10% humidity), they stay hyper-hydrated, drinking significantly more water than the average passenger to keep their mucous membranes moist and effective at trapping pathogens. Many crew members also utilize saline nasal sprays and take immune-boosting supplements like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc. Additionally, their frequent exposure to a wide variety of germs from different geographic regions often leads to a highly "trained" immune system over time. Rest is also critical; they prioritize sleep during layovers to prevent the cortisol spikes associated with fatigue, which can suppress immune function. In 2026, many also wear high-filtration masks during boarding or in high-risk regions to further reduce the chance of respiratory infection.