Traveling by air can be pretty exhausting, so no wonder a lot of people choose to sleep
through it.
And while doing so is simply inevitable if you have a long-haul flight, you can actually
put your health at risk if you doze off during take-off or landing.
You see, when a plane is taking off or landing, there's a rapid change in air pressure inside
the cabin.
And this affects the air trapped in your ears since there’s not enough time to equalize
the pressure.
Because of it, a vacuum appe ars in a part of your ear called the Eustachian tube.
Your ears become blocked, and every sound you hear is muffled.
You need to be awake when this happens.
Otherwise, you won’t be able to equalize the air pressure in your ears by relaxing
and opening up your Eustachian tubes.
And if you don’t do that, you’ll feel dizzy and your ears might hurt.
In the worst-case scenario, you might even get an ear infection, a nosebleed, or face
hearing loss.
To avoid all these unpleasant conditions, you have to yawn or swallow a lot.
To produce enough saliva to swallow, try chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, or just drinking
water.
If this doesn’t help then pinch your nose closed while at the same time blowing it.
Ok, now not snoozing during take-off or landing makes perfect sense.
But a lot of other things can make your trip on a plane less safe and less comfortable.
For example…
Ignoring the safety instructions.
You might be an experienced traveler and know them already by heart.
But don't put on headphones or talk to your companions while a flight attendant explains
everything.
Yes, most airlines have similar safety presentations, but it won't hurt to freshen your memory.
In case of an emergency, this information could save your life.
Taking your shoes off It seems like a good idea to give your feet
some rest from your shoes during the flight.
But the plane’s cabin is airtight, and the air inside is constantly recycled.
So, just spare your fellow travelers from sniffing your socks and hope they'll do the
same for you.
Besides, the cabin’s floor is full of germs.
But if you really feel like kicking your shoes off, bring a pair of slippers in your carry-on.
Not asking a flight attendant before switching seats.
You might think it's no big deal, but it actually is.
Of course, if you move a few rows it won't cause any trouble on a large airplane.
But doing so on a regional plane can throw off an airplane’s center of gravity, which
is especially critical during take-off.
So, let a flight attendant know about your plans to occupy some empty seat you've spotted
and make sure it's ok.
Wearing your contact lenses.
Choose glasses during flying, especially for long haul flights.
The air in the cabin is much drier than on the ground, and it can irritate your eyes.
Also, if you plan to sleep during your trip with lenses that aren't for overnight wear,
you could harm your eyes even more.
Eating the food that touched the tray table.
Unfortunately, the cleaning crew doesn’t have enough time between flights to clean
the cabin thoroughly.
Experts claim that tray tables have 8 times more bacteria than the lavatory flush buttons.
So, unless you brought your own placemat and sanitizer, say goodbye to that piece of sandwich
that's just fallen on the tray table.
G’Bye!
Forgetting to drink water.
The dry air in the cabin can make you feel dizzy or have a parched throat mid-flight.
So, staying hydrated is important.
But here’s the catch: the water tanks on the airplane aren't the cleanest thing on
earth.
That’s why you should put an empty bottle on your carry-on and fill it after the security
check at the airport.
Plus, avoid drinking tea or coffee onboard.
Even though they use boiled water, the caffeine in those drinks has a dehydrating effect.
Using the blankets.
Many airlines provide their passengers with blankets and pillows on demand.
But they're not washed often enough either.
Usually, the cleaning staff doesn’t take care of them until the day is over.
Unless you want to wrap yourself in a blanket that someone before you covered their feet
with or sneezed on, bring a small one of your own.
Turning off the air vent over your seat.
Yes, it can get chilly on a plane, and you don’t want to shiver during your whole trip
or catch a cold.
But it’s better to put a sweater on than turning off the AC.
Different airborne viruses and germs that are in abundance in any constricted space
can hang in the air for up to 5 hours.
So, without proper ventilation, you just increase your chances of inhaling them.
Not getting up from your seat Sitting in your seat the entire flight is
bad for your body.
Get up to stretch your muscles or walk for a few minutes.
If you can’t get up for some reason, you can still do some exercises right in your
seat.
For example, twist your upper body from side to side and lift your knees to your chest.
Ha, if you have enough leg room!
Flushing the button in the lavatory with your bare hand.
Just because it’s not as dirty as the tray tables doesn’t mean you should touch it.
A public bathroom is a public bathroom, even up in the sky.
After doing your business wash your hands and use a paper towel to turn off the water
and flush the toilet.
You can even use it to open the bathroom door.
Wearing shorts.
Or any other clothes that don’t cover your lower body fully (think of short dresses,
skirts, or jumpsuits).
You probably can guess by now why it’s a bad idea.
Yes, germs are all around the seats and they're rarely deep-cleaned.
So, protect your skin from coming into contact with them.
Neglecting your skincare.
If you fly in the daytime, don’t forget to apply your cream with SPF.
You’re much closer to the sun on a plane so just being inside a cabin or not sitting
near a window won’t save you from the rays.
Plus, don’t forget to moisturize your face during the flight to avoid parched and itchy
skin from the low humidity.
Drinking fizzy drinks.
Traveling with a bloated stomach is a real ordeal.
So stay away from fizzy drinks since intestinal gas might expand up to 30 percent from the
increase in altitude.
Oh my! cSimple bottled water is your safest bet when you're in the clouds.
Keeping a heavy carry-on in the overhead compartment.
It’s understandable why a lot of passengers try to bring as much stuff as possible on
board.
But if a plane enters an area of turbulence, the overhead compartment might open up.
And a heavy bag falling out of it could cause serious injury to you or someone else.
What things are a “must” in a carry-on for a plane trip in your opinion?
Let me know in the comments!
Not fastening your seatbelt when the sign is on.
You must stay in your seat with the seatbelt fastened during taking off, taxiing, landing,
and during turbulence.
There's no exception for this rule, even for flight attendants.
Avoid a dangerous situation by staying in your seat, even if you want to go to the bathroom
or stretch your legs, until the light goes back off.
By the way, keep the belt fastened and over your blanket if you use one and want to have
a good sleep.
This way a flight attendant won't have to wake you up to make sure you’re following
the rule.
Running to the exit.
When the plane has landed, stay in your seat.
No need to rush to the opened door, pushing others out of your way.
Chances are you won't save any time by doing so and simply get stuck in the crowd while
people gather their belongings and kids.
You'll just be frustrated in the end.
However, if you’re in a rush for a serious reason or have a connecting flight, explain
it to a flight attendant before landing, and they might help you get out faster.
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