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Don't Want to Catch a Bug on a Plane? Put at Least 2 Rows Between You and Sick Flyers

Sept. 06, 2018
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2 min read
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Don't Want to Catch a Bug on a Plane? Put at Least 2 Rows Between You and Sick Flyers
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If you're sitting within two seats or one row of a sick passenger on a plane, then there is more than an 80% chance that you will get sick, too.

That is one of the findings of a new study tracking airborne viruses passed from passengers and crew in aircraft cabins. Researchers wrote earlier this week in the medical journal PNAS that the location of your seat -- and how often you leave it -- could make all the difference in whether you arrive healthy or with the sniffles — or even the flu. It all boils down to whether there are sick people on board the flight -- and how close you get to them.

The more a passenger gets out of their seat, the more likely they are to come in contact with an airborne germ or virus. Looking at the passengers of 10 transcontinental flights, the researchers found that about 38% of passengers never left their seats, and roughly the same percentage got up just once. About 13% of passengers got up twice and 11% left their seats more than twice.

The good news? According to the study, if you're not one of the unlucky people within one row or a couple seats of a plane's patient zero, you only have about a 3% chance of catching a bug.

"Passengers should not be concerned about getting sick from somebody coughing, for instance, five rows behind them," the lead author of the study, Vicki Stover Hertzberg, told CNN. "The results of this study have not prevented me from flying."

Hertzberg and her team also found that aboard the transcon flights examined in the study, flight attendants had about 67 minutes of passenger interaction time. Based on that, the team estimates that one sick flight attendant could infect up to five unsuspecting passengers per plane.

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A recent plane full of people learned this lesson the hard way. An Emirates flight from Dubai (DXB) to New York (JFK) had to be quarantined upon arrival because at least 10 passengers had fallen ill with flu-like symptoms on board. The plane was met be the Centers of Disease Control at landing, and the sick passengers were taken directly to the hospital via ambulances for further treatment.

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Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.