How sick is too sick to fly?

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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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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The air pressure while flying increases the risk of blood clots forming, which is not ideal. Heart complications: If you've suffered a heart attack, stroke, cardiac failure or chest pain while at rest, flying should wait. The lower oxygen levels, increased air pressure, high altitude and more could affect your health.

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PLEASE NOTE: You should avoid flying if your nose is congested from a cold or allergies. In the most severe case, this may lead to a permanent decrease in your hearing, prolonged dizziness, or severe pain.

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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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Luckily, when it comes to air travel, strep throat shouldn't pose much of a problem.

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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 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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The impact being in a pressurised aeroplane could have on your symptoms. Whether you have existing chest problems which could mean flying could make your symptoms worse.

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Some of the risk factors associated with flying with a fever are: Increased risk of thrombosis. Lack of rest during a flight. Risk of infection for other travelers.

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Plus, the chances of getting caught are not particularly slim: Airlines have doctors in their ground staff because no matter what *your* doctor may say, the final word is always with the airline (this is more relevant for the opposite of your case: when your doctor says you're ok to fly but you really aren't), so your ...

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The first thing to know is that off-duty doctors and other medical professionals are not legally required to help if a medical emergency arises on an airplane; however, there may be an ethical duty to intervene, as described in a 2015 article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

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2. What is denied boarding?
  • for health, safety, or security reasons;
  • for failing to follow airline rules or instructions;
  • because a passenger does not have appropriate travel documents; or.
  • the passenger has failed to respect check-in and departure gate cut-off time limits.


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The most common reason for denied boarding is overbooking. This is when airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on the aircraft. The reason for this common practice is so-called 'no-shows'.

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