long haul flight i always catch something

jinkssick

Heva2015 wrote: »

Start taking berocca and echinacea a couple of weeks before you go. Works for me.

well spotted. echinachia is like one of those old remedies that your great gran would recommend. it is gobsmackingly amazing in combating diseases.

divadee

i saw a study recently that said since they stopped smoking on flights more people get ill ie. coughs/colds etc.. after flying.


this is because they used to use fresh air when people smoked to get rid of the fumes now like others have said they recycle the air as there is no smoke to get rid of.

so other than wear a mask or petition to get smoking bought back on flights or take herbal stuff not much else you can do.

pompeii

I have sinus trouble anyway but I was having the same problem as you until a friend sugested i tried First Defence nasal spray.

I have had 2 flights, to Bangkok and Hong Kong in the past 6 months and did not pick up any bugs. I have also started using First Def hand cleanser as well. I was able to take them through security in a clear plastic bag and use during the flights. they have quite a long shelf life so could be worth a try.

ferf1223

pompeii wrote: »

I have sinus trouble anyway but I was having the same problem as you until a friend sugested i tried First Defence nasal spray.

I have had 2 flights, to Bangkok and Hong Kong in the past 6 months and did not pick up any bugs.

We started using this a similar thing a few years ago and have not caught any colds on flights since (before that, we got sick every single trip).

http://www.airbornehealth.com/

Not sure if it is available in the UK - we buy it in the US but it's been great for us.

WiseInvestor_2

Teahfc wrote: »

pilots can choose whether to operate the air-conditioning units at "normal" or "reduced" flow (reducing the amount of fresh air by a half to two thirds) or shutting off one of the three ventilation packs completely.

The options are actually "normal" and "high" flow, NOT "normal" and "reduced". The High flow facility is available should the aircraft encounter a malfunction with the normal system. Selecting High Flow mid-flight would almost certainly cause the aircraft to run low on fuel before reaching its destination, thereby necessitating an en-route diversion. Carrying more fuel would DEFINITELY increase ticket prices and further damage the environment.

Similarly, the three ventilation systems you mention are back-ups for eachother - the normal procedure is to use all 3 on all flights. One is only switched off in the case of a technical problem, not for commercial reasons.

In short, pilots do NOT reduce cabin air quality to save fuel/money. On most aircraft, the air supply is identical in all zones including the Flight Deck, but the pilots spend their entire careers breathing it - deliberately reducing the air quality is not on the agenda.

paulinespens wrote: »

Ryan Air and Charter airlines keep the air pressure in the cabin to the lowest amount they can get away with. This saves them money on fuel

Cabin pressure is computer controlled and is dependent on the Cruise altitude. Some aircraft allow the pilots to change the RATE of pressure change to make the flight more comfortable on your ears, but the pressure altitude in the cabin is not a function they can control. Breathing becomes uncomfortable and even potentially dangerous above 10,000 feet even though most commercial aircraft cruise closer to 40,000 feet! The stresses on the aircraft skin from the differing pressures inside and outside significantly reduce the working life of the aeroplane which is why computers are used to optimise safety versus comfort versus economics.