Traveling while there is an outbreak can be scary, but just a few small changes in your travel habits can reduce the risk of coming across COVID-19 and many other infections.

With the prevalence of cheap flights and the knowledge that there may finally be an end in site to the virus, continuing to put travel plans on hold for COVID-19 simply is not realistic for most people. Booking your trips or family vacations now can save you thousands of dollars, and have the added benefit of being fully changeable or in some cases even refundable.

A few quick and easy precautions while flying can make it less stressful to fly and more likely that you will arrive at your destination without a snag.

Bleach Wipes

A small package of bleach wipes can be used to wipe down your seat, screen, headphones, the bathroom, and any other surface that you touch. Make sure to wipe down your bags after you get them back and to give your shoes a good wipe down as well. The wipes are not liquid so they can be taken through most checkpoints and are available both in store and online on sites like Amazon.

Sanitizer

Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer and use it after you touch anything you haven’t already wiped down. This means to wipe down your hands after receiving food, passing something to your neighbor, or any other time you come into contact with possibly contaminated surfaces. If you keep to yourself this should really only apply when the flight attendant is handing out or taking items. Consider a multi-pack for continued protection during your entire trip and practice good hand-washing techniques.

Disposable Masks

The air on planes is recycled and can quickly become laden with bacteria and help spread any number of diseases. This is why people so often get sick after they have been flying and why there are a number of different products available to try and reduce the rate of infection on planes. Wearing a mask and changing it when you eat or touch your face will help prevent infection. Dispose of the mask when leaving the airport and use your sanitizer to avoid carrying germs with you to your final destination.

Use Plastic Bags

Cover items in plastic bags if you worry that they will be exposed to germs. Dispose of them after the flight, preferably by recycling if offered. This can help save your laptop case or favorite pair of shoes from picking up germs on the outside of your bag. Keep any food you plan to eat in plastic, preferably sealed if possible. Don’t bring unsealed items with you off the flight and try to avoid bringing anything off the plane that you did not bring on personally.

Avoid Carry-ons

While using only carry-ons is a tried and true travel strategy, they might actually make it easier for you to get sick. If your bags aren’t in the cabin with you they aren’t being exposed to the same air. If you do bring a carry-on make sure that it fits in front of your seat and that it is made with a non-porous material. Don’t bring blankets and books as they can harbor harmful organisms.