Holiday Travel Tip #5: Open Those Vents!

Airplane air is notoriously stale and many clients of mine complain that the air itself makes them feel nauseous or gives them migraines. Others complain that the poor ventilation aboard airplanes actually transmits viruses and other airborne bacteria, making them physically sick. I ALWAYS start an in-flight journey by popping some vitamin C. I have a personal belief that this helps to fend off an infection.

Sometimes, pilots on older airplanes can manually adjust the ventilation rate. If you're feeling constrained or the aircraft is feeling stuffy, ask the flight attendant to increase the airflow. If not, turn the ventilation dial above your seat to a higher setting. In addition to recirculated air, outside air is also pumped through the vents to make your journey more comfortable.

If you're very concerned about the air you breathe, there are gadgets available to help. Amazon.com has the Air Supply Purifier - Mini for $130; Brookstone makes the Pure-Ion travel ionic air purifier for $60; You can also try the Cirrus AirRight air-nozzle filters for just $9.99 at cirrushealthcare.com or the tried and true 3M Sanding Respirator Masks (two-pack) at Acehardware.com for $7.99.