If you're an aisle seat person on a plane you may want to read this
Updated . First published at
Sometimes you simply can't avoid getting sick on an airplane.
You're stuck inside a metal tube with hundreds of other people - if one person has a cold, it's not easy to avoid those germs.
However, the seat you choose could seriously increase your chances of getting sick.
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Are you a window seat or aisle seat person? Getty
Aisle seats may be popular for their ease of access to the rest of the cabin, but if you select this seat, you're opening yourself up to a lot more germs.
"From a health perspective, you're positioning yourself in the highest-risk zone on the aircraft," says Simon Greenberg, founder of Medidex, an AI-powered medical platform, per Yahoo.
The healthcare expert says that in this seat, you're coming into closer contact with every single person who walks down the plane's aisle - not just your row mates.
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Think about how many people file past your seat even before take-off, many of them touching seatbacks and armrests as they go.
"You're essentially coming into contact with every person on that plane before take off," Simon says. And they are all a potential "for exposure" to germs.
Sitting in the middle of the plane reduces your contact with people. Getty
Thankfully, aircraft are fitted with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that remove most airborne particles. This stops you from coming into contact with too many germs that are floating around.
However, the issue arises when someone breathes right next to you, before the air can be filtered.
"When someone coughs or sneezes while walking past, those droplets don't just disappear," says Simon.
"The movement creates air currents that can carry particles directly to aisle passengers."
Window seats keep you away from the germs of passers-by. Getty
If you're happy to be tucked away in a window seat, this is your best option for avoiding as many germs as possible.
Simon also recommends bringing your own sanitising wipes and cleaning high-touch areas - like the tray table, screen, and armrests - once you've sat down.
However, it turns out that the dirtiest thing on a plane is actually something you bring on board: dirtiest thing on a plane
Using hand sanitiser regularly, as well as wiping down your phone and passport, can really help to stop the spread of germs.
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Bringing disinfectant wipes on board with you is a good idea. Getty
Last year, Dr Jonathan Finnoff, Chief Medical Officer of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee told the WSJ that you can use the air nozzle above your head to your advantage.
Angle it to blast in between you and the passenger beside you. This helps create a barrier for germs, and hopefully deflects them away from you.
