How to Get Sick (or Not to) on an Airplane

I got the following e-mail from my former Base Chair.  Some good advice for the frequent fliers.  But let's face it, planes are breeding grounds from illnesses.  I am still trying to recover from having a passenger sneeze on my face.

Enjoy (cough! cough!)


GERM ZONE # 1: Airplane Water
FOR: E. coli, a common culprit behind stomach cramps

Your plane reaches 30,000 feet, the fasten-seat-belt sign switches off, and the flight attendant comes by to take your drink order: Coffee or tea? Ice water? They seem like innocent offers - until you consider that airplane water has been under review by the EPA for traces of E. coli for six years. A random sampling of 327 unnamed domestic and international aircraft caused a stir in 2004 when some water samples tested positive for E. coli, one strain of which is the leading cause of food poisoning in the U.S. Coffee and tea are brewed on board with such water and don't typically reach hot enough temperatures to kill E. coli. When bottled water runs out, some planes have been known to fill fliers' glasses from the tank. One British Airways crew member confessed to the London-based Times that, in those cases, the crew first has to wait for any cloudy "floating stuff" to settle out. And onboard tanks are small to limit their weight, so planes sometimes refill at foreign airports, where water standards can be questionable. The encouraging news is that water quality and control are improving: From 2005 to 2008, only 3.6 percent of samples tested positive for coliform bacteria, of which only a small fraction tested positive for E. coli. And in October 2011, the EPA's Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, with more standardized, stringent disinfection and inspection regulations, will go into effect.

TIP: Once you clear the security checkpoint, purchase a bottle of water to bring on board. When the flight attendant comes to take your order, stick to soda, juice, and other prepackaged liquids, minus the ice. While ice cubes are usually supplied by an outside vendor, some large planes may have their own ice-making capabilities - reliant on tank water.

GERM ZONE # 2: seat pocket
FOR: Cold and influenza A, B, and C viruses

There's a familiar routine to settling in on a plane: Store your luggage in the overhead bin and deposit any personal items you want to be readily available in your seat pocket. But reaching into that pocket is akin to putting your hand in someone else's purse and rummaging among their used tissues and gum wrappers. Toenail clippings and mushy old French fries are even nastier surprises that have been found in seat pockets. Consider that cold and influenza viruses can survive for hours on fabric and tissues, and even longer (up to 48 hours) on nonporous surfaces like plastic and metal - and you realize that you might pick up more than that glossy flight magazine when you reach inside.

TIP: Bring a small, easily accessible carry-on bag so that you can avoid stashing things in the seat pocket. If you must use it, keep magazines and other items within a plastic bag for protection.

GERM ZONE # 3: tray table
FOR: MRSA, a deadly superbug

Flight attendants have witnessed many repulsive misuses of the tray table, from parents changing dirty diapers to kids sticking their boogers underneath. Research confirms that the handy tray table is a petri dish for all kinds of health hazards, including the superbug Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which is often fatal once contracted. It kills an estimated 20,000 Americans annually. In 2007, University of Arizona researcher Jonathan Sexton tested tray tables from three major airliners, and an alarming 60 percent tested positive for the superbug. That's quite a revelation considering only 11 percent of his samples from the New York subway found traces of the bug.

TIP: Bring disinfectant wipes to clean off your tray table before and after use, and never eat directly off the surface. CDC guidelines tell you what to look for in a disinfectant and recommend checking a product's label to see if MRSA is on the list of bacteria it kills; Lysol disinfecting wipes is one reliable choice. And be sure to protect any cuts with Band-Aids-the most common way of contracting an MRSA infection is through open skin.

GERM ZONE #4 : airplane meal (delicious - yummy !!!)
FOR: Listeria, a microbe known to cause gastrointestinal illness and meningitis

In-flight meals have long had a bad reputation for consisting of bland, barely identifiable dishes. Then, in 2009, the meals made headlines when FDA inspections of the Denver location of LSG Sky Chefs - the world's largest airplane caterer with clients including American Airlines, Delta, and United - found the kitchens crawling with roaches too numerous to count and employees handling the food with bare hands or unwashed gloves. Test samples from the food preparation area also found traces of Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause gastrointestinal illness and meningitis, as well as cervical infection in pregnant women. Your likelihood of contracting illness from the microbe is very low, though it should be noted that one fifth of the 2,500 annual cases are fatal. LSG Sky Chefs, to its credit, responded accordingly after the news broke and passed the FDA's follow-up inspection in January 2010.

TIP: It sounds like LSG has cleaned up its act, but you'll never really know where your meal has been. If you're concerned, eat beforehand and bring your own snacks onto the plane. Check out our article on how to make a sandwich that will still be appetizing once you're in the air. For starters, choose a well-cured meat like prosciutto or salami.

GERM ZONE #5 : Airplane pillow and blankets
FOR: Germs like Aspergillus niger that cause pneumonia and infections

Talk about sleeping with the enemy. You're snuggling with a blanket and pillow that have likely been used by many drowsy, drooling passengers before you. Unless visibly soiled, pillows and blankets are often reissued because of the frequency of flights. A 2007 investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that airlines cleaned their blankets every five to 30 days. And don't assume your blanket is new just because it's wrapped in plastic. The Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees made a big stink in 2000 when it accused Royal Airline Laundry - which supplies pillows and blankets to clients like American, United, and US Airways - of repackaging pillows and blankets without cleaning them properly. Its research found blankets with traces of Pseudomonas paucimobilis, known for causing lung and eye infections, and pillowcases with Aspergillus niger, which can lead to pneumonia and gastrointestinal bleeding. In the decade since, airlines like Southwest and Alaska Airlines have removed pillows and blankets completely, while JetBlue, US Airways, and American now charge for them.

TIP: There have been no documented reports linking airlines to these infections. But if you're worried about staying warm - and want to avoid potential germs and airline fees - wear layers and thick socks, and consider bringing Grabber Warmers, small disposable hand and foot warmers. A travel pillow and compact blanket will help you sleep in comfort.

GERM ZONE # 6 : airplane lavatory
FOR: A 'smorgasbord' of threats like E. coli or fecal bacteria

After a mid-flight nap, you wake up to nature's call and must face the airplane's biggest germ zone: the lavatory. With hundreds of people using the commode daily, the small boxy space is a natural haven for all kinds of germs and viruses, especially on the door handle (do you really think every passenger washes his or her hands?). And that thunderous volcanic toilet flush doesn't exactly help the situation, spraying water and releasing potential germs into the air every which way. The CDC cited the lavatory as a major danger area for the spread of disease during the H1N1 flu and SARS epidemics.

TIP: Use a paper towel to close the toilet lid before flushing - and then leave without washing your hands. Remember that cloudy tank water we described above? The sink water comes from the same source. You'll come away cleaner if you skip the sink and reach for hand sanitizer instead.

Ukrainian Airlift

On Thursday, January 13th, I was able to do a special Airline Ambassadors trip to help get several Ukrainian orphaned children to Washington Dulles.  They were here as part of an Orphan Hosting Program coordinated by a Ukrainian group called Child Rescue and a U.S. faith based organization called Open Arms Ministries.

The program brings orphaned children from the Ukraine to the United States, allowing them to spend time with local families who are considering adoption.  I was given the task of flying two children from Charlotte, NC to Washington Dulles.  From there they would connect with their Ukrainian escorts and the other children and make there way on to the Ukraine.

My two kids were Kataryna, age 12, and Artem, age 9.  Both kids come from orphanages just outside Kiev.  Katy has one deceased parent, and her surviving parent terminated custody.  Artem's parents also terminated custody.  I learned a little bit about the whole system over there while talking to Katy's host mom, who is getting ready to go over and formally adopt her.  The kids are in large schools/institutions and aside from their friends, get very little affection or attention.  Once they are 16, they age out and are given $50 and left to fend for themselves.  Very sad circumstances.  Child Rescue, the Ukrainian organization that was part of this trip, tries to get these older kids adopted out before they are aged out of the system.

Of the two kids, Katy was the most outgoing.  She had already traveled to the states once before and will shortly begin the process of being formally adopted by her host mom, Betsy.  Artem was much more withdrawn.  He had been in state care since he was 4.  He also is blind in one eye and has poor vision in the other, so he take things a little slower.   Our flight to Washington was not very long, but the kids still had time to have a drink and munch on some snacks.  We flew United, and the ground and cabin staff were very helpful in making sure we had everything we needed.  Katy's english is basic, but she was able to act as my translator.  Additionally, I had learned some common phrases from a friend from college, Jenn, who along with her husband Mark, adopted four Ukrainian teenagers a few years back.

When we got to D.C., we made our way over to the Lufthansa gate where we met up with Konstantin, who is the director for Child Rescue.  Additionally, a retired AA employee was escorting three kids from Denver and a Flight Service Manager was bringing three from Atlanta.  All in all, Konstantin and his two colleagues would be taking 22 children home to the Ukraine.

We said our goodbyes and then I made my way over to my airline's gates and waited a few hours to catch my flight home.  A quick trip, not nearly as involved as what I am used to doing with Airline Ambassadors, but still glad to be a part of it.

Snowball Express

In December I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a unique program called Snowball Express (http://www.snowballexpress.org).  SBE is a non-profit organization that recognizes and supports the children of military families that have lost a parent since 9/11.  Once a year they host a massive 5 day celebration in Dallas and bring 1300 people from all over the country to participate in the festivities.  My company supports the effort by offering free air travel to the families.  Additionally, because so many are concentrated in the same areas, they fly various Snowball charters to points around the nation to pick them up.  I was able to help crew Snowball 8, a Boeing 757 that would fly to Tulsa, Kansas City, St. Louis and Nashville before heading back to the Big D.  Our volunteer crew consisted of 5 flight attendants, two pilots, and a charter coordinator (who is also a flight attendant).  The charter coordinator would stay with the families for the entire 5 day event and then fly on the return charter with them as they were dropped off back home.

We all communicated in advance of the big day to decide how we wanted to decorate the plane and then arrived a little bit before our ferry flight to Tulsa to get everything put into place.

Main Cabin (I did the snowflakes!)

First Class

The Crew!

We would have some special guests traveling with us on the entire sequence, including some corporate media folks, a few cameramen from local TV stations, and some cowgirls from the Mesquite rodeo (one of the venues the families visit during the 5 day program).

The Cabin team were all friends of mine, with the exception of Dawn, whom I had just met, but we worked well together and we had a great time.  We already decided we want to do the same charter together next year!

Top Left clockwise: Ron, Helen, Kimberly, Bill, Dawn and Sharon

Our first stop was Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Each Snowball city does a special program for the families and has a gate decorated for the departure.  In Tulsa, we had a local Army Reserve unit as well as Pistol Pete, the Oklahoma State University mascot.

We boarded about a dozen families and then made our way out to the runway for our short flight to Kansas City.  The Tulsa airport even gave us a water cannon salute as we taxied out for departure.

My friend Sharon and I made sure that our in-flight aprons were festive, going for the Mr. and Mrs. Claus theme, as well as matching hats and blinking noses.

Our next stop was Kansas City, where we would pick up several more families.  The local station folks were great.  They opened up their Admirals Club to the families before the flight  and had a buffet lunch available to them.  They were even kind enough to bring little sack lunches to the plane for us!

It was below freezing when we left so it was not possible to do a water cannon salute without then having to get de-iced.  Our next stop was St. Louis where another small group of families would join us. The mayor of St. Louis was there to present the families with a Proclamation declaring the 9th of December as Snowball Express Day.  

The Mayor of St. Louis meeting with the families

a group shot with two of the kids, Robyne and Julia

The two STL agents who worked our departure

Patriotic Wing Walker

I had two ambitious youngsters who boarded in Kansas City who wanted to be assigned trash detail on our longer flight from Nashville to Dallas, but they decided to get a little head start while we were on the ground in STL and took to cleaning the aisles.

We did a quick beverage service in flight and Eric and Nathan of course grabbed market bags and helped with pick up!  I wish I could take them on all my flights.  I have never seen people so happy about garbage.   This flight to Nashville was a bit longer so we had some time to visit with the families.  I learned that Nathan's dad died in Afghanistan when is Black Hawk helicopter was shot down.  Nathan was about three at the time and has no memories of his father.

Colton was another child who just broke our hearts.  His father served two tours of duty and then at the last minute decided to re-inlist for a third time.  He died shortly thereafter and they buried him on Colton's first birthday.  Colton was traveling with his grandmother.  His mother is still dealing with the trauma of losing her husband and the grief that came after that.  Colton's grandma is now his legal guardian.  You get to talking with the families and you realize they have paid the highest price for this war.  We now have a whole generation of children who are growing up without knowing their mothers and fathers.

Once we got to Nashville, we were scheduled for about an hour of ground time.  This station would be the starting point for about 80 people, the largest of all of our stops (Ft. Campbell is just over the border in Kentucky).  The local folks had arranged for some entertainment and activities for everyone, so we all got off and spent some time inside the terminal to allow the kids a chance to enjoy the festivities.

We were supposed to have some big name entertainment, but they cancelled at the last minute so they got this gal.  At first she started doing a dance with her feathered boa and the agents thought she might be a stripper, but she wasn't.  (Phew!)  The kids really enjoyed her though!

Frosty was sweating thru his fur which was kind of warm and matted.

Santa, determining if a 757 would be more practical than a sleigh.

Once everyone was boarded, we were a full boat and we made our way to Dallas.  This would be the longest segment of our trip, so we had little bistro bags available for everyone and did a beverage service and made hot chocolate for the kids.  I drafted a young girl named Julia to be my meal runner and of course Eric and Nathan wanted to be on the trash cart.  They might need some more training because they couldn't quite get the handle of the break release pedals.

With the meal service concluded, the real fun began.  We had passed out a can of silly string to every parent to give to their child.  We had 22 people with December birthdays so we called them all up and gave them a birthday hat and then as they were going back to their seats, we announced that they were the targets and the let them have it with the silly string!  It was totally insane!  People were screaming and laughing and blasting everyone and everything with silly string!

I got my new buddy Nathan covered with string!  Needless to say after 10 minutes of that, the cabin was trashed, but everyone was so happy and having so much fun.  I'd like to think it helped them forget for a moment about all the sadness in their lives.  Kimberly gave everyone an sheet of paper and some crayons and asked them to draw a picture or write a note about why they liked coming to Snowball Express.  One little girl named Faith wrote that, "My Daddy died in Iraq and I miss him so much and am sad all the time.  I like coming to Snowball to be around other people who know how my kind of sad feels and understand what it is like to not have a Daddy".  

When we finally touched down in Dallas, we wished them all a fond farewell.  Kimberly would be staying with them for the next 5 days, but we were done at that point.  It was an exhausting day, full of emotion, but at the end of it we were all so happy to have been a part of it.  Certainly one of the high points of the last 13 years with this airline.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/Snowball-Express-gives-holiday-fun-for-families-of-fallen-soldiers-111705014.html

The above link profiles parts of our trip... you need to advance to the point where there is -2:20 left in the video to get our segment.  For some reason, we got the last few minutes of Oprah Winfrey and a winter weather story.

December Recap

For the month of December, I "bumped back" to the domestic operation.  With the reduction of some seasonal flying on the international side, the junior kids get the axe.  I planned accordingly and ended up holding my first bid, which were 24 hour layovers in San Francisco.  The trips were not worth very much time, only about 12 hours for three days, but they were easy and the layover was great.  After a Tucson turn, we flew to San Francisco for a 24 hour layover and then fly the red-eye home.  The schedule had 7 of these trips on the line.

I ended up having to drop and trade a few so I could participate in the Snowball Express (blog to be forthcoming) and add a little time to the schedule, but for the most part, my trips were pretty fun.  We had good weather for the most part, although it was cold on some trips.

One of the highlights was the Grace Cathedral Christmas Concert.  I love this Cathedral.  They have a labyrinth in the front of the church that I find very peaceful to walk thru.  While walking the labyrinth on my first visit, I saw a sign for their upcoming Christmas Concert which happened to coincide with a trip later in the month.  The Cathedral boasts one of a handful of Boy's and Men's Choirs in the United States, modeled after the traditional Anglican choirs.  The acoustics were incredible, and even though I was seated towards the back (in the cheap section) I was still blown away by the music.  They even had a couple of sing-a-longs, where the audience was invited to join in.  I sat next to a nice lesbian couple from San Jose.

It's also the only church in America that has a stained glass window dedicated to a Jewish scientist.  Any guesses? :)

We stay down by Union Square, the main shopping district in the city, which was decorated for the holidays. I tried to take a picture at night, but the picture was too underexposed to see the Christmas lights.

I also discovered a great organization called City Guides (http://sfcityguides.org) which offers free neighborhood walking tours around the city.  My co-worker Beth went with me and we did a walking tour of Nob Hill, where the wealthy Railroad and Mining tycoons lived before everything was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.

The tour ended by the Brocklbank apartments (where the exteriors for the film Vertigo were shot) and we had an encounter with a beautiful rainbow!

Down in North Beach, the historically Italian neighborhood near the Wharf, I stumbled upon a Christmas sign from my brothers in the International Longshoreman Worker's Union.  You would never see anything like that in Texas, where "Union" in considered a dirty word, unfortunately.

For the Christmas season, our hotel had the lobby decorated for the holidays, including a beautiful gingerbread village made by their resident expert, Chef Chong.  It featured 75 pounds of confectionary sugar, 25 pounds of gingerbread dough, 30 pounds of white chocolate, 1500 assorted sweets, and a track complete with Cable Car!

I spent several trips just walking around the city and letting myself wander.  Beth and I went down to the Wharf for dinner at Scoma's on one of the trips.  This place is my favorite seafood restaurant!  I broke with tradition and had the lobster bisque instead of the chowder and it was "outstanding"!  While down near the Golden Gate, I stumbled upon a chowder festival on one of the trips and was able to sample different varieties of chowder.  I discovered I do not like Manhattan style Clam Chowder.  Yuck!

I also had a chance to attend services at Old First Presbyterian Church.  It's the oldest Protestant Church in California, established during the Gold Rush in 1849.  The congregation was an interesting mix of affluent yuppies, older gay and lesbian couples, and about 20 or so homeless people.  Interesting to see all these people coming together under the same roof to worship.

The month wasn't without it's drama though.  I traded one trip for more time and we had a long layover in McLean, Virginia, near Dulles airport.  I was sound asleep when the fire alarm went off at the hotel.  When I called down to see if the alarm was legit, the answer was "maybe".  So I had to get all bundled up in and go wait in the freezing and snowy weather before the firemen gave us the "all clear".  I did get to spend part of the layover visiting my old friend Cheryl, a former co-worker I had not seen in 7 years.  We had fun catching up.

And of course we had the random crazy people.  They seem to gravitate towards the red-eye flights.  This month I was given the wonderful opportunity to encounter an ornery obese woman who got mad at one of our ticket agents and flashed her boobies for the whole world to see; an angry father who had a temper tantrum because I would not let his 14 year old son sit in the exit row, and a rather pompous frequent flier who got upset when I asked him for the fifth time to turn off his cell phone.  'Tis the season!

For the past few months I have been playing a little game with my friend Melissa.  We have been hiding lockseals from our carts in eachother's bags, personal belongings, etc.  When I signed in for my Christmas trip, she had left me a wreath made out of green lock seals.  I hung it up on the cabin divider curtain during the flights.  I would say she definitely won the game!