Many of the frequent flyers are a bit uneasy when they fly. But flying; say on flights to Durban from UK has become inevitable now because of the advantages of time and convenience and also due to the availability of cheap options of transport.

Hence, we need to understand how to control our uneasiness for a comfortable trip. There are certain safety rules as well, that has to be taken care of (these precautions have to be taken elsewhere also). It goes without saying that since the pandemic, safety precautions such as masks, sanitizers; vaccines have become a must.

The potential to get sick is always present, pandemic or not; especially while travelling, when we expose ourselves to different environments we are not accustomed to.

To avoid catching the flu, virus, bacteria, you can:

• Wash your hands often. As basic as this sounds, this process is really effective in protecting ourselves from respiratory and diarrheal infections. The eyes, mouth and nose are the most susceptible points for the spread of infections and are best avoided by not touching.
• Hand sanitizers, preferably with more than 70% alcohol content should be used before and after eating, using washroom, touching objects regularly touched by others (such as door-knobs).
• Wearing of masks helps both the wearer and the people around;to avoid the germs from being spread. Always wear one on flights to Penang from London.
• Keeping distance is one more virtue we learnt during Covid19. Please follow it as far as possible.
• Stick to drinking boiled/bottled/filtered water. Keep yourself well hydrated.
• Eat fresh, well cooked, less spicy, recently cooked food.
• Have probiotics regularly to keep your digestive system strong after having landed from flights to Edmonton from UK.
• Be vaccinated with not only Covid19 vaccines but also other country specific vaccines required for travelling.

In case offlying, the misconception is that the less ventilated space inside or sometimes the food is the culprit. The primary reason that people get sick on planes is close contact with co-passengers, germ-infested surfaces and air, the primary defence being minimizing contact. You have little control over the surroundings. So you will have to take precautions mentioned above. Some others would be-

• Bring wetwipes.
• Get your own blanket and pillow on long haul flights. You’re never sure if some virus still sticks to the ones provided by the airlines.
• Get quality sleep before you fly. A sound sleep will give you a strong immune system, strong enough to fight the infectious disease away.
• Exercise regularly to stay physically strong.
• Keep your medicines and electrolyte in your hand luggage. Do not keep your belongings near your shoes which are a storehouse of germs.
• For an extra layer of germ protection, use PhoneSoap, TrayGuard, PlaneAire, etc. to diminish as much germs as possible.
• Use the air vent & direct it towards your feet to remove any possible germs away from your nose.
• Choose the window seat if possible. This will enable you to remove your face away from your co-passenger.
• Humidity levels inside aircrafts are very low which points to a crippling immune defence system of your eyes and nose; which can be reinstated by personal humidifier.
• Get your own source of entertainment. Get your own headphones, an e-story book, movies downloaded into your tab…

These are some of the precautions which you may take while taking flights to Melbourne. It’s not exhaustive. Consult a medical practitioner if you have any medical conditions.

Associate with a professional travel agent who’s been in the industry for several years (such as White Magic Travels) who can provide you with the right itinerary to keep you healthy during the trip.