Is it common to get sick from a plane?

Dr. O'Rourke believes people are just as likely to catch germs from the air in an airplane as they are in any other enclosed space thanks to HEPA filters and air circulating, but people can still catch germs from hand-to-mouth contact, which may occur if you're snacking on the plane and don't have proper cutlery.



While many people believe they are likely to get sick from "recirculated air" on a plane, it is actually not common to catch a respiratory illness from the air itself due to advanced filtration. Modern commercial aircraft use HEPA filters that capture 99.97% of airborne particles (including viruses and bacteria) and refresh the cabin air every 2 to 3 minutes—a rate much higher than in most office buildings. However, getting sick is "common" due to fomites (surfaces) and close proximity to other passengers. Because you are sitting within a few feet of others for several hours, you are at high risk if a neighbor sneezes directly toward you before the air can be filtered. Additionally, high-touch surfaces like tray tables, armrests, and seatbelt buckles are notoriously germ-heavy. The extreme low humidity (often below 10%) on long-haul flights also dries out the mucous membranes in your nose, making it harder for your body to trap and fight off viruses you encounter after landing. To stay healthy in 2026, experts recommend staying hydrated, using nasal saline spray, and using sanitizing wipes on your immediate seating area rather than worrying about the air quality itself.

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“Research has shown that there is very little risk of any communicable disease being transmitted on board an aircraft,” the agency says, citing the high-efficiency particulate air filters that planes use on recirculated cabin air.

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You're not alone if you feel as if you're getting sick after flying: Around 20 percent of people on commercial flights develop symptoms of the common cold within one week of travel. Researchers are finally starting to gather and publish more data about the health risks associated with airplane travel.

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About a quarter of passengers get airsick, according to one study. The feeling is arguably more distressing than carsickness because, after all, an airplane passenger can't pull over and wait for the wave of nausea to pass. (Seasickness is still undeniably the worst of all, though.)

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Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder, but not temporary enough for many travelers. If you're flying from San Francisco to Rome for a 10-day trip, for example, it may take six to nine days to fully recover. That's because it can take up to a day for each time zone crossed for your body to adjust to the local time.

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Jet belly: (noun) the bloated state in which your stomach inflates post-flight. Also, a very unpleasant feeling. May also make you look like you're 3 months pregnant. So how does one prevent this jet belly? Well, it all depends on what you eat on the plane.

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Low air pressure during air travel also decreases the amount of oxygen in the air. This effect is modest and generally not noticeable for healthy travelers. For patients with significant lung disease, a small decrease in available oxygen can cause significant symptoms, especially with exercise.

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If you don't shower and bacteria and fungi do catch a ride back to your hotel with you, Tetro says you may end up depositing germs that aren't your own into your new space—particularly your bed.

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Wearing a high-quality mask or respirator is most beneficial when: You are in crowded or tight spaces with poor ventilation like airport jetways, airplanes when the ventilation system is off, seaports, or when in close-contact situations like on a train or bus.

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There is an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 when travelling in enclosed shared spaces, such as on trains, buses and aircraft, due to the close proximity of people.

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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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Eat Light. Contrary to popular belief, flying on an empty stomach doesn't help you combat air sickness. In fact, an empty stomach actually exacerbates symptoms. Eat a light meal such as crackers, fruit, and other light snacks.

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It's possible that traveler's diarrhea may stem from the stress of traveling or a change in diet. But usually infectious agents — such as bacteria, viruses or parasites — are to blame. You typically develop traveler's diarrhea after ingesting food or water contaminated with organisms from feces.

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It takes about 24 hours before your body begins to eliminate undigested food residue (e.g., waste). So, you've gained a little water weight, not a surplus of fat cells. If you resume your usual healthy diet and drink plenty of water, you'll lose that extra fluid in a couple of days.

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Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two after traveling across at least two time zones. Symptoms are likely to be worse or last longer the farther you travel. This is especially true if you fly east. It usually takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed.

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A study by MIT scholars estimates that from mid-2020 through early 2021, the probability of getting Covid-19 on an airplane surpassed 1 in 1,000 on a totally full flight lasting two hours at the height of the early pandemic, roughly December 2020 and January 2021.

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