Why You'll See More Face Masks on Flights This Spring—and If You Should Be Wearing 1 Too, According to Doctors

As frequent travelers, the Travel + Leisure team spends a lot of time in airports and on flights. Needless to say, we're uniquely attuned to travel trends, whether it's popular travel outfits or trending luggage. Recently, we've noticed a trend that's worthy of a little extra attention: masking.
The CDC recommends wearing masks when respiratory viruses are going around your community or if you're at risk for severe illness. On recent flights, we've noticed plenty of travelers masking up, and with the rise of reported cases of measles, whooping cough, and even tuberculosis, it begs the question: Are we at increased risk of contracting an illness while traveling, and should we be masking up on flights? I asked two medical experts to weigh in.
According to Dr. John Dooley, MD, most healthy individuals don't need to mask up during travel, although there are still risks. 'I don't routinely recommend people wear masks on airplanes, but I have no objection whatsoever if it helps to lessen one's likelihood of picking up a respiratory infection,' Dr. Dooley told me. He adds that if someone on your flight is sick and coughing, there's a 'not insignificant chance' that they'll pass that illness onto others nearby, so masking can provide peace of mind.
Plus, Dr. Dooley adds that 'most respiratory infection transmission does not occur on airplanes.' You're more likely to be exposed once you reach your destination—at a restaurant, museum, or large gathering, for example.
Dr. Ken Perry, MD, adds that masks may not be as effective as once thought, although they still provide increased protection. Needless to say, it's probably a good idea for vulnerable individuals to mask up. According to Dr. Dooley, for these patients, 'it makes good sense to take the precaution of wearing a mask, however imperfect the degree of protection.'
Dr. Perry agrees that extra precautions should be taken for the immunocompromised. He adds that this group includes patients who have had organ transplants and those who are undergoing chemotherapy, since these patients are 'far more likely to be susceptible to any communicable disease.'
However, both doctors push back at the idea of taking extra precautions due to reported cases of measles, whooping cough, and tuberculosis. They agree that the risk is low. Nonetheless, travelers can learn more about the health risks associated with various destinations by using the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s travel information guide as a resource.
At the end of the day, masks can provide peace of mind during travel. Dr. Perry tells me travel decreases stress and increases beneficial neurotransmitters in the brain. 'The reality is that if a mask allows someone to take a vacation when they would otherwise stay at home, then it is a means to a very beneficial end.'
If you're in the market for a mask, whether you're immunocompromised, an anxious traveler, or you just always happen to sit next to a coughing passenger, we've found a CDC-approved mask at Amazon.
While there are plenty of counterfeit masks available at Amazon, these N95 masks are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a research agency under the CDC. This mask is designed to block 95 percent of airborne particles, and one reviewer writes, 'It's comfortable enough I forget I'm wearing it sometimes.'
According to Dr. Perry, masks may be 'more beneficial for the harmful contaminants in the air rather than preventing viral infections.' Consider this mask not just for air travel, but also for visiting highly polluted destinations.
In addition to wearing a mask, you can also protect your health during travel by using hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Keep reading for more travel essentials at Amazon under $30.
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