How to Fly Without Getting Airsick

When I wanted to go see my brand new granddaughter recently, I contemplated whether to drive or fly. I tend to get airsick rather easily, making flying seem like an unpleasant option. However, when I realized the flight would be shorter than the movie I'd seen the prior weekend, I decided to try to find ways to minimize the chance of getting sick. Here are things I found that allowed me to fly without getting airsick.

The first thing I did to ensure that I would not get airsick on my flight was to choose my seat carefully. I chose a window seat over the wing. This may sound counter-intuitive, but I wasn't really choosing a window seat for the view. By sitting in a window seat, I controlled the window shade. Sometimes being able to look out and see even clouds will distract me and make me feel better, not to mention less claustrophobic. Conversely, if the sun is blazing in at a bad angle, I can lower the shade and prevent a headache. Since both headaches and claustrophobia can lead to nausea, controlling the window shade was important to me. Seats over the wing, meanwhile, are more stable, especially during turbulence, thereby lessening the chance of airsickness.

Something else to consider is paying around $20 to sit on an exit row. These seats board earlier and have more leg room. That would enable the passenger to get settled without all the jostling, and more leg room helps make the passenger more comfortable all around. Finding a comfortable position and not having the passenger in front of you in your lap definitely helps ease airsickness. Also, the exit seats tend to be a little cooler. Being cooler instead of stuffy almost always helps alleviate airsickness while flying.

The next thing I did to help my chances of flying without getting airsick was stay well hydrated. The temptation is strong not to drink too much before a trip, but since there is a bathroom on the plane, this is not as important as in a car. Being dehydrated will definitely provoke airsickness. Of course, you can't take much liquid through security, but once you get through security, you can buy large bottles of water with attached caps for about $2 that you can take on the plane. I highly recommend this, as it allows you to take frequent sips throughout the flight, without worrying about spilling anything.

Once I boarded the plane, I began chewing cinnamon gum, specifically Big Red. This gum helped settle my stomach so that I did not feel airsick upon take off. An added benefit was that it kept my ears from popping from the change in air pressure. I also settled my head against my headrest, keeping it still, which kept me from feeling airsick as well.

Once the plane was airborne and stable, the flight attendants began offering drinks. Even with water, I recommend ordering Gingerale. Ginger settles the stomach, and taking small sips can really help help prevent airsickness. Often a salty snack, such as pretzels, is offered as well and can go a long way toward settling your stomach so that you don't experience airsickness. I chose to take a small bag of Fritos in my purse, and had no problem getting it through security since it was unopened.

Unless there is a lot of turbulence, I don't usually get airsick in the middle of the flight. However, just to make sure, I refrained from reading, and just gazed at the clouds, or closed my eyes and rested. As an added precaution, I discretely located the get-sick bag that the airlines tuck in the pocket of the seat in front, and put it where I could get it quickly without having to look for it.

Soon it was time to descend, and my pilot descended in swooping segments. Each swoop as the plane descended caused my stomach to ascend, but I looked straight ahead, sucking on a peppermint I located in my purse when the pilot announced that we were nearing our destination. I kept my head lightly against the backrest to steady it and didn't move my eyes too much. This did the trick, and we were on the ground without my getting airsick!

Of course, there are pills that are sold over the counter to help prevent airsickness while flying, and in really tough cases, your doctor can probably prescribe something. But whatever you must do to ensure it, flying without getting airsick is possible and well worth the effort. Here's to your next flight, now that you know how to fly without getting airsick!

Source: Personal Experience