What happens if you fly with a cold?

One of the major challenges when flying with a cold is the likelihood of experiencing clogged ears. This is especially true during take off and landing. The Eustachian tube connects the inner ear with the back of the throat and works to balance the pressure between the outside air and your body.



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For this reason: If you have symptoms of respiratory tract infections, cold or flu symptoms such as a fever, a cough, the chills, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, we urge you to please stay home. Just use our rebooking options and postpone your flight - flexible and free of charge.

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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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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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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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Now, if you need to delay your trip for illness, you can usually do so without penalty. Most airlines now allow changes with Economy tickets. When you are well enough to travel, you'll just have to pay the difference in cost for an airline ticket (if there is one for your new dates).

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In fact, the Journal of Environmental Health Research says you're up to 100 times more likely to catch a cold on a plane than you are in your normal routine.

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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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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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Personal Issue - Consumers who purchase nonrefundable tickets, but are unable to travel for a personal reason, such as being sick or late to the airport, are not entitled to a refund.

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Missed flight due to illness or medical emergency
You will have to provide medical documents to prove that you couldn't fly due to illness or injury for this claim to be successful. If your airline won't provide any compensation, your travel insurance policy should cover missed departures due to unforeseen illness.

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Depending on the airline's policies, they may be willing to refund you, or at least be willing to waive the cancellation fee if you had to cancel your flight ahead of time. Check your airline's policies to see if a documented medical emergency is enough reason to waive their cancellation fee.

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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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The flight attendants will assess the situation by asking the passenger to describe their symptoms, assuming they are lucid and conscious. Depending on the case, they will administer care themselves or consult with a medical professional on board or on the ground.

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

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