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Don't drink soda -

An increase in altitude may cause intestinal gas to expand up to 30%, so you might want to avoid consuming sodas. Keep your stomach settled with water.

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Don't wear contact lenses -

Opt to wear glasses in flight. The air in the cabin is very dry and can cause irritation to your eyes. And if you fall asleep, contacts not made for overnight wear can be especially irritating.

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Don’t turn off the air vent over your seat -

It's recommended that the adjustable air over your seat should be set to medium or high so that any airborne germs can be blown away before entering your personal zone. This can also help protect your skin, so it doesn't dry out.

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Don't neglect your skincare -

One study found that pilots flying for an hour got the same amount of radiation as if they had spent 20 minutes in a tanning bed. So just because you're inside doesn’t mean you can skip sunblock. You will also need to moisturize to prevent parched and itchy skin from the airplane’s pressurized air.

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Don't use the blankets and pillows -

Shockingly, those offered blankets and pillows don't get a thorough cleaning between flights. They're ideal places for germs and lice to camp out and spread from person to person, so do yourself a favor and skip them.

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Don’t recline your seat during take-off or landing -

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it's illegal to recline at the very beginning and end of flights. That’s because those are the most dangerous times during a flight. It should be as easy as possible to get out if you have to.

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Don't sit your entire flight -

On an airplane, you're at a higher risk to develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a type of blood clot that usually forms in your legs. To help prevent it, walk around for a few minutes or stand up and stretch. Also, try to avoid tight clothing that could cut off circulation while in flight.

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Don’t walk around barefoot -

Walking around barefoot on a flight is definitely a no-no, as the floor is full of germs, especially in the bathroom. The galley area can also be dangerous, with sharp glass on the floor that the flight attendants might have dropped.

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Don’t fall asleep against the window/wall -

You have no idea how many people have leaned against that wall, and even sneezed and coughed against it. It's a zone filled with germs, so avoid it to the max.

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Don’t try to cut the line when you’re disembarking -

It's understandable that you want to get off the plane as quickly as possible, but cutting the line is just rude. Besides that, allowing the people in the rows ahead of you to leave first will actually speed up the process for everyone.

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Don’t stand up immediately when the flight lands -

There’s a reason the 'fasten your seat belt' sign remains on after touchdown. As the plane is still in motion, you can still risk getting injured, so just follow the airplane safety rules and listen to the cabin crew.

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Don’t touch the flush button in the bathroom -

The bathroom is a major place where germs hide out. To protect yourself, wash your hands thoroughly and use a paper towel to press the flush button.

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Don't drink the coffee or tea -

You don’t want to drink anything that could possibly be made with the tap water from the plane. Opt instead for bottled water or another beverage from a sealed container. Also, caffeinated drinks are highly dehydrating, which is no-good when flying.

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Don't fall asleep before takeoff -

If you fall asleep before takeoff, it will be harder for you to equalize the pressure in your ears. If you’re prone to flight-induced headaches, hold off until your ears pop.

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Don't forget to stay hydrated -

Airplane cabins are known for their low humidity because the manufactured air in the cabin is made to mimic the highest altitude humans can breathe at. Therefore it's important to drink plenty of water throughout the flight. Don't forget: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

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Don’t line up for the bathroom -

If passengers brazenly queue up for the bathroom, those who are seated near to the toilets will have no choice but to be in proximity with several people. Instead, just keep a lookout for a better opportunity to use the lavatory.

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Don’t feel embarrassed to tell a flight attendant you’re not feeling well -

Flight attendants are trained to help with medical emergencies, even learning how to properly handle a childbirth before becoming certified. So don't feel your health is an inconvenience.

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Don't go for the ice -

Most airplanes don’t serve drinking water from the tap, but their ice cubes are often still made from the same water, which can be filled with bacteria.

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Don’t eat food after it’s fallen on the tray table -

The tray table doesn’t get sterilized between flights, so unless you’ve brought your own disinfectant, let that cookie crumb go if it hits the tray. One study found that trays harbor an average of 2,155 colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch, compared to 265 units on the lavatory flush button.

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Don’t overdo it with alcohol -

Alcohol is extremely dehydrating. Combined with the low humidity of the plane, your body’s in for a drying experience. In addition, the thin air of a plane makes the effects of alcohol hit you faster and harder.

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Don't get stuck with the middle seat -

For some people, it's their worst nightmare to get stuck with the middle seat on a flight. Boost your chance of escaping this by choosing your seat when buying your ticket or when checking in before going to the airport.

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Don't argue with the flight attendant -

Flying makes some people very irritable, especially when something goes wrong. But don’t take it out on the flight attendants! Understand that it's their job to enforce the rules and ensure that the safety measures are being followed.

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Don't forget hand sanitizer -

A hand sanitizer will be your best friend on a plane. By sanitizing your hands before and after touching items, you can help prevent the spread of germs to both yourself and others. Don’t forget to bring along some disinfectant wipes as well.

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Don’t wait until the last minute to use the bathroom -

One important airplane hack is to know when to use the bathroom. Avoid waiting until the end of the flight, as by this time the toilets have seen a lot of action!

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Don’t close the overhead bins -

You might think you're being helpful by closing the overhead bins that appear to be full, but it's actually up to the flight crew to make that determination.

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Don't touch your face after touching the seat -

Though a lot of people carry wipes to clean the surface around their seat, there are still plenty of germs around, so avoid touching your face before using a hand sanitizer.

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Don’t recline your seat during meal or snack service -

Don’t recline your seat during in-flight meal service, as the person behind you will have very little space to enjoy their snack or airplane meal.

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Don't try out new sleep medication -

Be careful when trying a new medication, as finding out mid-flight that you’re allergic to one of the active ingredients is not going to be fun for anyone.

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Don't wear shorts -

If you can, try to wear clothing that covers skin that could touch your seat. Like other parts of the plane, the seats aren’t cleaned between flights and could have plenty of germs hiding. Plus, it's chilly in there!

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Don't fall asleep when it’s morning at your destination -

Adapt to your destination’s time zone as soon as possible, so avoid dozing off when it’s breakfast time where you’re heading. Try to adjust to your new time zone a few days before traveling by staying up later or getting up earlier.

Sources: (Insider) (Reader's Digest) (Culture Trip)

See also: The world's safest airlines in 2025

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