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  • Traveling by air can be pretty exhausting, so no wonder a lot of people choose to sleep

  • through it.

  • And while doing so is simply inevitable if you have a long-haul flight, you can actually

  • put your health at risk if you doze off during take-off or landing.

  • You see, when a plane is taking off or landing, there's a rapid change in air pressure inside

  • the cabin.

  • And this affects the air trapped in your ears since there’s not enough time to equalize

  • the pressure.

  • Because of it, a vacuum appe ars in a part of your ear called the Eustachian tube.

  • Your ears become blocked, and every sound you hear is muffled.

  • You need to be awake when this happens.

  • Otherwise, you won’t be able to equalize the air pressure in your ears by relaxing

  • and opening up your Eustachian tubes.

  • And if you don’t do that, youll feel dizzy and your ears might hurt.

  • In the worst-case scenario, you might even get an ear infection, a nosebleed, or face

  • hearing loss.

  • To avoid all these unpleasant conditions, you have to yawn or swallow a lot.

  • To produce enough saliva to swallow, try chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, or just drinking

  • water.

  • If this doesn’t help then pinch your nose closed while at the same time blowing it.

  • Ok, now not snoozing during take-off or landing makes perfect sense.

  • But a lot of other things can make your trip on a plane less safe and less comfortable.

  • For example

  • Ignoring the safety instructions.

  • You might be an experienced traveler and know them already by heart.

  • But don't put on headphones or talk to your companions while a flight attendant explains

  • everything.

  • Yes, most airlines have similar safety presentations, but it won't hurt to freshen your memory.

  • In case of an emergency, this information could save your life.

  • Taking your shoes off It seems like a good idea to give your feet

  • some rest from your shoes during the flight.

  • But the plane’s cabin is airtight, and the air inside is constantly recycled.

  • So, just spare your fellow travelers from sniffing your socks and hope they'll do the

  • same for you.

  • Besides, the cabin’s floor is full of germs.

  • But if you really feel like kicking your shoes off, bring a pair of slippers in your carry-on.

  • Not asking a flight attendant before switching seats.

  • You might think it's no big deal, but it actually is.

  • Of course, if you move a few rows it won't cause any trouble on a large airplane.

  • But doing so on a regional plane can throw off an airplane’s center of gravity, which

  • is especially critical during take-off.

  • So, let a flight attendant know about your plans to occupy some empty seat you've spotted

  • and make sure it's ok.

  • Wearing your contact lenses.

  • Choose glasses during flying, especially for long haul flights.

  • The air in the cabin is much drier than on the ground, and it can irritate your eyes.

  • Also, if you plan to sleep during your trip with lenses that aren't for overnight wear,

  • you could harm your eyes even more.

  • Eating the food that touched the tray table.

  • Unfortunately, the cleaning crew doesn’t have enough time between flights to clean

  • the cabin thoroughly.

  • Experts claim that tray tables have 8 times more bacteria than the lavatory flush buttons.

  • So, unless you brought your own placemat and sanitizer, say goodbye to that piece of sandwich

  • that's just fallen on the tray table.

  • G’Bye!

  • Forgetting to drink water.

  • The dry air in the cabin can make you feel dizzy or have a parched throat mid-flight.

  • So, staying hydrated is important.

  • But here’s the catch: the water tanks on the airplane aren't the cleanest thing on

  • earth.

  • That’s why you should put an empty bottle on your carry-on and fill it after the security

  • check at the airport.

  • Plus, avoid drinking tea or coffee onboard.

  • Even though they use boiled water, the caffeine in those drinks has a dehydrating effect.

  • Using the blankets.

  • Many airlines provide their passengers with blankets and pillows on demand.

  • But they're not washed often enough either.

  • Usually, the cleaning staff doesn’t take care of them until the day is over.

  • Unless you want to wrap yourself in a blanket that someone before you covered their feet

  • with or sneezed on, bring a small one of your own.

  • Turning off the air vent over your seat.

  • Yes, it can get chilly on a plane, and you don’t want to shiver during your whole trip

  • or catch a cold.

  • But it’s better to put a sweater on than turning off the AC.

  • Different airborne viruses and germs that are in abundance in any constricted space

  • can hang in the air for up to 5 hours.

  • So, without proper ventilation, you just increase your chances of inhaling them.

  • Not getting up from your seat Sitting in your seat the entire flight is

  • bad for your body.

  • Get up to stretch your muscles or walk for a few minutes.

  • If you can’t get up for some reason, you can still do some exercises right in your

  • seat.

  • For example, twist your upper body from side to side and lift your knees to your chest.

  • Ha, if you have enough leg room!

  • Flushing the button in the lavatory with your bare hand.

  • Just because it’s not as dirty as the tray tables doesn’t mean you should touch it.

  • A public bathroom is a public bathroom, even up in the sky.

  • After doing your business wash your hands and use a paper towel to turn off the water

  • and flush the toilet.

  • You can even use it to open the bathroom door.

  • Wearing shorts.

  • Or any other clothes that don’t cover your lower body fully (think of short dresses,

  • skirts, or jumpsuits).

  • You probably can guess by now why it’s a bad idea.

  • Yes, germs are all around the seats and they're rarely deep-cleaned.

  • So, protect your skin from coming into contact with them.

  • Neglecting your skincare.

  • If you fly in the daytime, don’t forget to apply your cream with SPF.

  • Youre much closer to the sun on a plane so just being inside a cabin or not sitting

  • near a window won’t save you from the rays.

  • Plus, don’t forget to moisturize your face during the flight to avoid parched and itchy

  • skin from the low humidity.

  • Drinking fizzy drinks.

  • Traveling with a bloated stomach is a real ordeal.

  • So stay away from fizzy drinks since intestinal gas might expand up to 30 percent from the

  • increase in altitude.

  • Oh my! cSimple bottled water is your safest bet when you're in the clouds.

  • Keeping a heavy carry-on in the overhead compartment.

  • It’s understandable why a lot of passengers try to bring as much stuff as possible on

  • board.

  • But if a plane enters an area of turbulence, the overhead compartment might open up.

  • And a heavy bag falling out of it could cause serious injury to you or someone else.

  • What things are a “mustin a carry-on for a plane trip in your opinion?

  • Let me know in the comments!

  • Not fastening your seatbelt when the sign is on.

  • You must stay in your seat with the seatbelt fastened during taking off, taxiing, landing,

  • and during turbulence.

  • There's no exception for this rule, even for flight attendants.

  • Avoid a dangerous situation by staying in your seat, even if you want to go to the bathroom

  • or stretch your legs, until the light goes back off.

  • By the way, keep the belt fastened and over your blanket if you use one and want to have

  • a good sleep.

  • This way a flight attendant won't have to wake you up to make sure youre following

  • the rule.

  • Running to the exit.

  • When the plane has landed, stay in your seat.

  • No need to rush to the opened door, pushing others out of your way.

  • Chances are you won't save any time by doing so and simply get stuck in the crowd while

  • people gather their belongings and kids.

  • You'll just be frustrated in the end.

  • However, if youre in a rush for a serious reason or have a connecting flight, explain

  • it to a flight attendant before landing, and they might help you get out faster.

  • Hey, if you learned something new today, then give the video a like and share it with a

  • friend!

  • And here are some other cool videos I think you'll enjoy.

  • Just click to the left or right, and stay on the Bright Side of life!

Traveling by air can be pretty exhausting, so no wonder a lot of people choose to sleep

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