Airports, airplanes, and crowded terminals mean spending hours around a lot of other people. There’s no way to avoid every germ you come across while traveling, but a few simple habits can lower your chances of coming home with a cold, flu, or another illness.

Frequent flyers tend to have their own routines for staying healthy on the road. Most are inexpensive, take very little time, and are easy to work into a travel day.

seating on airplane — Image Credit: Pexels

Wipe Down Your Seat Area

Your tray table, armrests, seatbelt buckle, touchscreen, and air vent can see plenty of use throughout the day. Before settling in, give the surfaces you’ll touch most with a disinfecting wipe.

It only takes a minute and gives you a cleaner surface to work with during the flight.

Keep Food Off the Tray Table

Tray tables can look perfectly clean while still having plenty of contact with hands, food, and other items.

Rather than placing snacks directly on the tray, keep them in their original packaging or put them on a napkin or plate. It’s a small habit that can help keep your food away from the surface.

Drink Plenty of Water

Cabin air tends to be dry, and several hours of flying can leave your mouth, nose, and throat feeling dry and uncomfortable.

Keep a bottle of water with you and take regular drinks throughout the flight. Staying hydrated can help you feel better during a long travel day and keep your body working as it should.

Think Twice About Coffee and Tea on the Plane

Some travelers skip the coffee and tea served on flights and stick with bottled water or another sealed drink instead.

Aircraft water systems are subject to cleaning and safety requirements, but travelers who aren’t comfortable drinking beverages made with onboard water can choose a sealed drink instead. You can also bring an empty reusable bottle through security and fill it once you’re past the checkpoint.

Keep Your Hands Away From Your Face

Touching your face is an easy habit to forget about, especially during a long flight. Your hands come into contact with seats, luggage, door handles, kiosks, and other shared surfaces throughout the day.

Try to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth until you’ve washed them or used hand sanitizer. It takes some awareness, but it can help cut down on unnecessary contact.

Get Enough Sleep Before Flying

A late night before an early flight can leave you feeling worn out before your trip even begins. Lack of sleep can also affect how well your body handles the demands of travel.

Getting a decent night’s sleep before you leave gives you a better chance of feeling rested when the travel day starts. If you have a long flight ahead, make rest part of your plans instead of treating it as an afterthought.

Keep a Mask Handy

A mask can be useful in crowded parts of a trip, particularly during busy boarding periods, packed airport gates, or crowded shuttle rides.

Some travelers prefer to wear one for the entire flight, while others use it only in crowded areas. The choice is personal, but keeping one in your carry-on gives you an option if the airport or plane feels especially crowded.

Bring Better Snacks

It’s easy to grab whatever is available at the airport when you’re hungry. A few snacks packed from home can save you from relying entirely on airport food.

Nuts, fruit, granola bars, sandwiches, and trail mix are easy options for many travelers. Having something you enjoy eating can also make long layovers and travel delays a little easier.

Consider a Window Seat

The aisle seat makes getting up easier, but it also puts you closer to passengers walking through the cabin.

A window seat gives you a little more separation from people moving up and down the aisle. It also lets you settle into one spot without having to get up for every person seated in your row.

A seat choice won’t guarantee that you avoid germs, but some travelers prefer the window for the added distance from foot traffic.

Give Yourself Time to Recover

Arriving at your destination doesn’t mean your body has instantly recovered from a long travel day.

After sitting for hours, dealing with airport crowds, and possibly crossing time zones, give yourself some downtime. Drink water, eat a decent meal, and get some sleep before filling your schedule with activities.

If you’re already feeling run-down, taking an easier first evening may be a better choice than pushing through a packed itinerary.

A few simple habits can make travel days more comfortable and may lower your exposure to germs along the way. You don’t have to turn your trip into a complicated health routine. A clean seat area, regular hand hygiene, enough water, good sleep, and a little rest can go a long way toward helping you feel your best while you’re away from home.