The Seat on the Plane That Can Make You Sick

Airplanes are extreme virus hotspots. The longer you sit between sniffing and coughing passengers, the higher the risk of catching something. Whether you get sick largely depends on your seat.

The air is dry, the ventilation is on, and among the dozens of people on board, at least one is coughing or sneezing. And thanks to Murphy's Law, that person is likely sitting right next to you. On top of that, there's an abundance of germ spreaders- the biggest being the tray table in front of you. No surprise if shortly after you arrive at your vacation spot, you notice a scratchy throat.

Whether you catch an illness or not also significantly depends on your seat location. U.S. scientists recently discovered this. The latest study shows: Those who sit by the window and remain seated during the flight have the best chance of staying healthy.

However, passengers in the aisle seats are out of luck: they often have to get up and are more likely to be near someone carrying viruses or bacteria.

The team from Emory University in Atlanta examined surfaces and air in the cabins for viruses on a total of ten flights (lasting between three and five hours). They also observed how flight attendants and passengers interact.

Another result of the study: A sick individual sitting in the middle of the economy class infects about 0.7 other travelers. The risk multiplies if a flight attendant is sick. According to the calculations, they would infect an average of 4.6 passengers. 'Therefore, it is essential that flight attendants do not fly if they are sick,' the scientists write.

In addition to booking the optimal seat, researchers strongly recommend thorough hand sanitization. The transmission of pathogens can also happen via surfaces such as tray tables, seatbelts, and restroom handles. This can occur if a sick passenger coughs or sneezes into their hand and then touches a surface.

Travel Reporter