|
When you can't stay home
|
 |
February 20, 1998: 2:23 p.m. ET
Travel can be hellish when you're sick, but there are ways to ease the pain
|
NEW YORK (Biztravel.com) - It's bad enough nursing a cold or the flu while lying in a hotel-room bed watching television. But how about sniffling and coughing 30,000 feet in the air, sandwiched between a crying baby and a salesman who knows a million knock-knock jokes?
Among travel cognoscenti, the verdict is unanimous: If you're sick, don't fly unless you have to.
"When you're sick, do everything you can to avoid getting on a plane," says Laurie Berger, president of Content Inc., a New York-based consultant and a former editor of Frequent Flyer magazine. "I've boarded with what felt like the beginning of the flu, and landed hours later with a full-blown illness -- fever, chills, head pain."
But what if you don't have the luxury of being able to cancel your trip? If you are feeling lousy but must fly, take the following measures.
Before take-off
"When you board, tell a flight attendant that you're sick," says Paul Turk, a spokesman for USAir. Generally, cold or flu symptoms are not grounds for an airline barring a passenger from a flight.
Keep warm by wearing heavy clothing and request a blanket if necessary. Wear loose-fitting clothing to help yourself stay comfortable in those cramped airline seats, and always remember to bring your own medicines - airlines often don't have their own supplies.
Get as much sleep as you can before the flight, as well as during and after it if possible.
During the flight
Prevent dehydration by drinking lots of water and avoiding beverages containing caffeine. Bring your own 32-ounce container so you're not at the mercy of the beverage cart, recommends Martin Blaser, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Especially watch out for airline-meal fruit or dairy products, which Stephen DeFronzo, M.D., an infectious disease specialist in Springfield, N.J., says "tend to have a very high bacteria count, which can aggravate any digestive problems." If you have diarrhea and an appetite, try eating a banana or some saltines; these foods tend to slow intestinal motility, according to DeFronzo. He also recommends an over-the-counter medication like Imodium.
For aches and pains, take aspirin, which is usually slightly more effective than aspirin substitutes, according to Blaser. For colds, bring antihistamines. For a cold with congestion, bring an expectorant and decongestant.
When to stay grounded
How will you know when you're too sick to fly? "If your temperature is over 101 degrees," stay home, DeFronzo says. "But if you have a high fever, over 103 degrees and you fly anyway, ask the flight attendant for a cloth soaked in cool -- not cold -- water and sponge yourself with it."
Head colds, sinus troubles and headaches are also good reasons for staying on the ground. Air cabin pressurization can only make headaches worse.
If you do cancel your trip because of illness, call the airline and explain your predicament. Even with a discount-priced ticket, most airlines will allow you to reschedule for only a $50 penalty -- although you may also be required to submit a note from your doctor. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
About the common cold
|
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNNmoney
|
|
|
|
 |
|
