The seat you choose on an airplane may determine if you get sick or not
Mar 23, 2018, 3:41 PM | Updated: 3:42 pm
CNN — A new study says where you sit on a plane makes all the difference if you’re trying to not get sick from fellow passengers.
Stuck at 30,000 feet with just inches of personal space, airplanes can be the perfect incubators for germs and disease.
According to a new study in the journal, “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,” the best way to avoid getting a cold or the flu is to book a window seat.
The study found people with a window seat were less likely to get up to use the restroom or check the overhead bin, meaning they were less likely to come into contact with germs.
Researchers say lavatories are covered in germs, since there’s usually only two of them on a flight of about 150 passengers.
Researchers also analyzed passenger movements and studied air samples. They found passengers sitting within two seats or one row away from a sick person have an 80-percent chance of catching an illness, compared to passengers sitting further away.
But for most of the other passengers in the cabin, the risk of catching anything is minimal. Still you can lower your odds even more, by not touching your face, and keeping your hands off the aisle seats.
