How To Avoid Air Sickness

Air sickness (aka motion sickness on a plane) can make flying pretty miserable—nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, and sometimes vomiting. It happens when your inner ear senses motion, but your eyes don’t agree. Good news? There are lots of ways to prevent or minimize it.

✈️✅ How to Avoid Air Sickness

🧠 1. Choose the Right Seat

Sit over the wings (least movement)
Aisle seats are better if you feel claustrophobic
Avoid the back—it moves the most

💺 Less motion = less confusion for your brain.

😌 2. Keep Your Head Still

Use a neck pillow or headrest to limit movement.
Keep your gaze fixed on the horizon or a stable object.

🎯 Focus helps your senses align.

💊 3. Take Motion Sickness Medication

Take it 30–60 minutes before flying:

Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) – effective but may cause drowsiness
Bonine (meclizine) – less drowsy
Scopolamine patch (behind the ear) – long-acting, prescription

🚨 Always check for side effects or interactions.

🌬️ 4. Get Cool Air

Use the air vent above your seat
Fresh air helps reduce nausea and dizziness

💨 Feeling hot often triggers nausea.

🍏 5. Eat Light Before & During the Flight

Avoid greasy, spicy, or heavy foods
Stick to light, bland snacks: crackers, fruit, or dry toast
Ginger (tea, candy, or capsules) can naturally ease nausea

🍵 Ginger = nature’s anti-nausea MVP.

📵 6. Avoid Screens & Reading

Don’t read books or look at your phone during turbulence or takeoff.
If you do use screens, look up often and blink frequently.

📱 Your eyes can trick your brain into thinking you’re still.

👀 7. Look Out the Window

Seeing motion (clouds, land, horizon) can sync your inner ear and vision.
It helps tell your brain, “Yes, we’re moving.”

👓 Match what you feel with what you see.

🤐 8. Stay Calm

Anxiety makes motion sickness worse.
Try breathing exercises or distractions like music, podcasts, or meditations.

🧘 A calm mind = a calmer stomach.

💧 9. Stay Hydrated

Sip water throughout the flight.
Avoid alcohol or too much caffeine—they dehydrate and irritate your stomach.

🚰 Hydration = better balance and fewer symptoms.

😴 10. Sleep It Off

If you can sleep, do it!

Bring an eye mask and noise-canceling headphones
Sleep helps your brain “ignore” motion conflicts

😴 Best way to fly if you’re prone to motion sickness.

🧳 Bonus: What to Pack in Your Anti-Air-Sickness Kit

Motion sickness meds or patches
Ginger chews or tablets
Mint gum or mints
A small fan or portable air freshener
Wet wipes and a sick bag (just in case)

✅ TL;DR: How to Prevent Air Sickness

✔️ Sit over the wings
✔️ Keep your head still
✔️ Take motion sickness meds ahead of time
✔️ Avoid heavy foods
✔️ Get fresh air, stay hydrated, and relax