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Feeling Sick on a Plane, and the Fear of It

2 min read

The short answer

Feeling queasy on a plane is unpleasant but harmless, and there's a lot you can do. Sit over the wing, look at the horizon or close your eyes, and eat light, plain food. Anxiety can upset your stomach too, so slow breathing helps with both.

Why It Happens

Motion sickness happens when your eyes and your inner ear disagree. Your inner ear feels the plane move, but inside the cabin everything looks still. The mixed signals can make you feel queasy.

Anxiety can do it too. Adrenaline slows digestion and can tighten your stomach, so a nervous flyer can feel sick even on a smooth flight. That feeling eases as the anxiety settles.

Before You Fly

  • Choose a seat over the wing. It's where you feel the least motion. A window seat there lets you see out. Read where to sit.
  • Eat light. Small, plain snacks are best. Skip large, rich meals and alcohol.
  • Ask a pharmacist if you're prone to travel sickness. Tablets and patches work best when taken before you travel, so check the timing.

On Board

  • Look out at the horizon, or close your eyes and rest.
  • Put down books and screens while you feel queasy.
  • Point the air vent at your face and sip water.
  • Rest your head against the headrest and keep it still.
  • Breathe slowly: in for 4, out for 6. It calms your stomach and your nerves.

If You're Afraid of Being Sick

For some people, the fear of being sick, or of someone nearby being sick, is a big part of flying anxiety. It helps to know:

  • There's a sick bag in every seat pocket.
  • The crew deal with it calmly and discreetly. They can bring water and help at any time.
  • A strong fear of being sick is very treatable. If it affects your life, talk to your doctor. CBT works well for fears like this.

The Takeaway

Feeling queasy is uncomfortable, not dangerous. A good seat, a light snack, the horizon and slow breathing go a long way.

Sources

Keep reading

Where to Sit: Choosing Your Seat as a Nervous Flyer

Why your seat makes no real difference to your safety, and how to pick the one that feels calmest — for bumps, for feeling shut in, for a view or for quiet.

Understanding Turbulence

What turbulence actually is, why it happens, and why it's uncomfortable but not dangerous.

Why Controlled Breathing Actually Works

Why slow breathing calms your body so quickly — and how to use it on a plane.

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