My first trip to Italy will be in November, which should be prime time for rampant colds and/or flu. I'd like to think that no one would be ABLE to travel in that condition, but when you have been waiting.....you just fly anyway. Right?<BR><BR>Now....don't tell me to keep my air vents closed, because I'm a FRESH air fan. I've driven all of my life with my car windows DOWN (So. Calif.), so I do need my air.<BR><BR>What has worked for you: sprays, creams, etc. in your nose (no crazy answers, please). I will chew Vitamin C in addition to my usual 1000 mg/day. If you know the answer, I'd love to hear your medicine bag of tricks. I'm really more worried about out-of-shape, couch potato spouse, who may hold the world record for dragging out a cold. On our last vacation, the minute we walked in our room, he suddenly had a cold and he never came out of room for 4 days!!!

Flight attendant daughter was advised to use the saline nose sprays often. Have also read somewhere that a nose cream called Bezoleum is a good deterrent. Actually I have experienced catching a cold on 4 straight flights I took last year.

My husband used to come down with "airplane cold and flu" everytime we went anywhere! Since we've been using the saline nasal spray , as often as possible during flight, not even a sniffle!! And wash your hands!!Doesn't even hurt to wipe tha tray table and arm rest with one of those disposable antibacterial wipes.

I have to also sing the praises of the saline nose spray. Tried it for the first time in April and I don't know if it prevented illness (although none of us caught a cold) but just for comfort factor, it was great. Will never travel again without it! Regarding your couch potato spouse, try to start walking some every day beginning RIGHT NOW, and it will make your trip much easier!

Peg,<BR><BR>Thanks for the walking advice, but as I said I am NOT worried about me because I ALWAYs power walk---now twice a day. Maybe you should try lighting the fire under the resting body. As you surely know, they NEVER listen to the one that loves them!! When we go on our once-a-year timeshare vacation, the RULE is, "walk or I will NOT go" and he walks. I will show him your post and maybe secondhand "hints" will do it!

Twice I have gotten sick after flying to and from Las Vegas to NY in Aug! but never get sick flying to and from Europe in Nov<BR>The saline drops are supposed to be really helpful.<BR>Take some extra vitamin C & Good Luck!

Some people advocate wearing a surgical mask too, like the Japanese do in their subway system when one of them has a cold. Definitely wash your hands frequently, bring your own food so as to not have to accept anything from the stewardess, as this can be a means of transmitting a virus or bacteria. Don't flip through a magazine that's in the slot in front of you. Bring your own reading material. You don't know what the person had who read it before you. Definitely wipe down your area you sit in, especially any surfaces that your hands will come in contact with. Do not bring your hands to your face except to eat or blow your nose and in that case use a Kleenex. <BR><BR>I haven't heard of the saline spray being effective though it will moisten the nostrils and cause some drainage from your sinuses.<BR><BR>Take a Flu shot in September or October and talk with your MD about taking some Tamiflu ( it's presciption ) with you. It's an effective drug for prevention of Type A and Type B influenza. You should ask him or her about taking it prophylactically before getting on the plane. This isn't a normal way of using it but some studies suggest it may work to prevent Flu if exposed. It normally is taken at the onset of Flu twice a day for 5 days. <BR><BR>That's about it other than any Vitamin C that you take that your body doesn't need will pass right out in your urine. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and the studies on it's effectiveness in helping colds is still questionable.

My post should of said Tamiflu is effective in treating Influenza once it develops. The prevention qualities of Tamiflu taken prophylactically are still being investigated though some studies suggest a benefit. Sorry for the misinfo...

Here is a web site with information about using Tamiflu prophylactically:<BR><BR>http://www.tamiflu.com/professional/prophy/prophy_index.htm<BR><BR>Hope this helps, I flew to Sydney, Australia from the US two years ago for a Millennium Cruise and got the Flu shortly after arriving in Sydney, right at the start of the cruise. ( Runny nose, sneezing, body aches, fever, chills - I was a sick puppy )I had brought some Relenza with me ( at that time Tamiflu wasn't out but they are both the same kind of drug ) and within one day of using the Relenza I was out of the bed and ready to party. I became a believer in this class of drugs at that time. They are both Neuraminidase (noor-uh-MIN-ih-dase) inhibitors. Since 2 1/2 years ago I have used Tamiflu 3 times and it has worked for me every time.

After reading the suggestion here once I have started packing my own pillowcase in my carryon bag and I use it to cover the much-used and handled airplane pillow. If I use their blanket, I don't put it anywhere near my face.<BR><BR>That and following the hints above like washing hands frequently, and wiping down my "area" and the bathroom with the handwipes I carry usually works for me. With some luck, that is.

We too will be taking a long trip late this year. Do any of you have tips on how best to ward off hypochondria?

I have done a fair amount of travelling over the years and my husband has travelled so much that attendants know him by name. Neither one of us has ever seen anyone pull out Handi-Wipes or the like and wash down their seat area. <BR><BR>How does one do this discreetly? Would it be quicker and easier to do a quick spray of Lysol or other disinfectant over the seat while everyone is busy stuffing carry-ons in the overhead compartments? Do you think I could be removed from the plane if I did something like this?<BR><BR>As for the pillows and blankets, most of the time we have been given ones sealed in plastic bags. I have always assumed they were new ones or at least freshly cleaned. Is this not so?<BR><BR>

I don't think anyone said anything about washing down the seat, or spraying. No need to be sarcastic, suggestions were asked for.<BR><BR>I more often than not find that my tray table doesn't look particularly clean, nor is it likely to be if an airline cleaner is using the same cloth to clean 300 tray tables. I am not a hypochondriac, I just try not to get sick when I travel because I am miserable when I have a cold.<BR><BR>I use individually-wrapped, non-aromatic wipes to clean my hands from time to time, and sometimes before tossing it I will discreetly wipe my arm rest or tray table. It's that simple.<BR><BR>I very seldom am given a blanket in plastic, whether any of them, in plastic or not, are cleaned I can't say. I have never been given a pillow in plastic.<BR>I fly coach, perhaps you've flown first class, or have just been luckier than some of us.

Nothing to do with being hypochondrical. If you are spending several thousand dollars for a trip to Europe in the winter time a little caution is wise. Nothing worse than flying to a great place and then being sick for the first week of your trip. In some cases this may be the entire trip. <BR><BR>You can be discreet in wiping off the tray, etc in your area. Travelers nowadays are very much aware of the "bad air" that exists in planes. We've all seen the 60 Minutes and 20/20 articles on TV about the potential for infectious diseases in an airplane. People will understand that you are just being cautious and if they don't, so what, it's your money and vacation you are looking out for. You'll never see them again.

I'm with Elaine. One need not be suffering hypochondria to see the dirt and spots and stains and wonder about the lack of cleanliness. Last time I flew, there were crumbs on the pull-down tray along with dried up spilt beverage of some kind. I say, "Wipe away to your heart's content, Elaine!" Perhaps more people would follow suit and maybe, just maybe, the airlines would take the clue.

Not to be rude but the best way to protect yourself is to not go on your trip. There's nothing that would guarantee your not getting sick no matter how much you try to prevent it.

On my trip to Europe in 1999, I came down with a cold that led to sinusitus. For half of my 2-week trip I was too sick to care where I was. So, for my recent trip in May, I read everything I could find on the subject, especially on this forum, and armed myself with nasal spray, antibacterial wipes, a liter bottle of water, and my own pillow. I also took a sweater on board so I wouldn't need the blanket. Once we were in our seats, my husband and I both wiped down our tray table, armrests, etc. I used the nasal spray and drank plenty of water. I continued to used the wipes all during the trip, especially when we had used public transportation or public restrooms. <BR><BR>We never got sick at all during the 2-week trip! Coincidence, maybe, but I'd like to think all my prep work paid off!

Regarding the plastic covered blankets and pillows:<BR>NO,they are not neccessarily cleaned nor are they fresh.<BR>They are often put back into plastic without any cleaning,the pillow cases are just changed if they are OBVIOUSLY soiled.<BR>NEVER use the pillows near your face or the blankets.<BR>I always take my pashmina on flights when I need to wrap myself up in something other than a sweater.I take a little travel pillow of my own.You can stuff their pillow into the small of your back or under your arm to make yourself more comfy but avoid putting them near your face!

I read all the posts and have gotten some great ideas that I haven't thought of before... so thanks to everyone. I have one more idea that I use... Sharper Image sells something called a personal air purifier. It's worn around your neck (don't know how the airports will deal with it now). The measurements are 3" by 4" by 3/4" thick, is black in color and has an are where you can add water for moisture.

I'm also a convert to using saline nasal spray & anti-bacterial wipes to prevent catching a cold or flu on the plane. I also a few weeks before my trip started taking olive leaf vitamin tablets which was another tip I picked up on these boards. While some of my travel companions got sick I was smugly healthy (& this is coming from someone whose had both a cold & a flu in the last 2 months...perhaps I should use the nasal apray & wipes at home as well! ;-) )