Where is the best place to sit on a plane to not get sick?

Scientists analyzed your risk of getting sick when sitting in a window, middle, or aisle seat on the plane — and there's a clear winner. Data scientists have investigated how germs travel around on planes, and discovered sitting in the window seat is the best way to stay healthy.



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Scientists analyzed your risk of getting sick when sitting in a window, middle, or aisle seat on the plane — and there's a clear winner. Data scientists have investigated how germs travel around on planes, and discovered sitting in the window seat is the best way to stay healthy.

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Avoid taking in a lot of calories, and skip salty foods. Salty foods only aggravate dehydration, which also happens on flights where the air is drier (pro tip: drink lots of water). Also skip any greasy foods that would regularly upset your stomach.

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Usually, it's best to pick a seat toward the front of the plane for several reasons: It's usually quieter, and you can get on and off faster. There's a balance between choosing front/back and window/aisle.

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The wings are the point of lift vs gravity so sitting above them ensures a smoother lift off, flight, and landing. Avoid the rear of the plane. Turbulence is much more pronounced at the back of the plane – the further back the worse it can be.

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Logically, the safety of these seats makes sense. Seats at the back of an airplane are close to exit rows while providing more cushion from any collisions that may impact the front of the plane first.

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Airplane passengers have an 80% chance of getting sick on a flight if they sit in the wrong spot, scientists have found. Data scientists traveled across the US on 10 transcontinental flights to investigate your risk of getting sick on a plane.

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The cabin crew are here for your safety and wellbeing, so do feel free to approach them if you're feeling peaky. They have a variety of overthecounter headache pills, bandaids, and other things you might expect to find in a first aid kit.

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The culprit is a compromised immune response due to the bodily impacts of flying. The increased exposure to pathogens + a weakened immune system = your body unable to fight off infections. Your immune system is suppressed when you fly due to the very nature of being on an aircraft.

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Choose a seat between the plane's wings or closer to the front of the airplane, where the ride tends to be more stable. Avoid sitting in the back of the plane.

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The best seat on the plane to avoid turbulence is either over the wings or towards the front of the aircraft. The wings of the plane keep it balanced and smooth, whereas the tail of the aircraft can bounce up and down more. The closer a passenger is to the front of the plane the less turbulence they would usually feel.

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It's a prime location for viral transmission. “If you wear a mask, that is at least one protection you can keep constant, as well as other easy mitigations, like keeping up to date with Covid vaccines, wiping down your seat and tray area, and keeping your hands clean,” says Wallace.

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Airlines have the right to refuse to carry passengers with conditions that may worsen. If the crew believes a passenger may have serious consequences during the flight, the passenger can be stopped.

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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. Gross. Nothing puts a wrench in your holidays like coming down with a cold.

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So, in order to help you stay on your journey, here are some quick tips to keep cough at bay while travelling.
  1. Warm water for instant relief.
  2. Moist cloth can go a long way.
  3. A blanket to keep you warm.
  4. Don't forget your OTC cough syrup.
  5. Read our top 10 cough articles.


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However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate.

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Are small planes less safe than larger? It might seem that way, but there are other contributing factors. In a nutshell, the size of an airplane is not in any way linked to safety, explains Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StretegivAero Research.

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The top 10 safest airlines 2023
  • Qantas.
  • Air New Zealand.
  • Etihad Airways.
  • Qatar Airways.
  • Singapore Airlines.
  • TAP Air Portugal.
  • Emirates.
  • Alaska Airlines.


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Some recent studies do in fact suggest that traveling, especially flying, can have a negative effect on your immune system, thus making it easier for you to get sick.

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Motion sickness is a common problem for pilots. It can cause them to feel sick and dizzy, and it can even lead to nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, it can be so severe that the pilot has to stop flying.

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You'll definitely want to bring your own masks. Any masks available for folks at airports or on board are likely to be paper masks; the CDC recommends high quality masks or respirators during travel. Respirators are masks labeled as N95s or KN95s, which provide a tighter fit and better filtration.

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