Will I feel a right fanny wearing a mask on a flight?

[Frivolatte]

I’ve got a flight on Friday and then again next week, have had the flu vaccine (private to set no other health issues context) but I’m spending Christmas with vulnerable oldies, also I really really don’t want to get ill over precious much needed leave time.

Tell me to wear a mask in the metal germ tube, and that I won’t feel like I’m the one carrying a lurgy myself.

Or is this overkill?

Here you go

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-10-27-wearing-face-coverings-protected-wearers-covid-19-infection-large-scale-study

I went on a couple of bus trips last week. The coach was full of older people ( I am 60 so not a spring chicken myself but me and dh were probably the youngest there ). We wore masks as we have a vulnerable child at home but nobody else bothered. I did feel a bit stupid but rather that than take flu back to my family.
So just go for it .

I’ve decided I’ll be wearing a proper mask on any future flights and stuff what others think. I’ve been ill for weeks now after picking up something on a flight and I wish all those coughers had also worn one, and I had too.

People are wearing masks, you don't have to explain.

DS1 has a peanut allergy and although we use airlines that do not serve peanuts you can't help what other people might eat. Poor kid wore a mask from London Heathrow to Sydney in the summer.

( @Incelebration you also asked about this)

As far as I know, the difference is the eyes. Even if your mouth and nose are covered, you can still pick up infections from other people via any droplets/germs reaching your eyes.

Whereas your eyes (unlike your mouth and nose) are unlikely to be shedding germs in any way which enables them to reach others.

Which is why full PPE would include goggles etc.

Having said that, apparently Covid infection via the eyes is more commonly through people touching or rubbing them with their hands when their hands have come into contact with the virus. But airborne infection via the eyes is also a thing.

I'm not any kind of medical professional, so please feel free to fact check this!

I wore an fp2 mask on long haul recently - wasn’t the only one. Didn’t catch anything!
Also wore one on the train last week. It’s fine.

I just went on a once in a life time trip. You better believe I wore/changed my N95 mask on the full 14-hour flight (I also was 'that person' that wiped everything she could with antibacterial wipes) - I don't normally bother, but for the sum of money I paid....

No one looked at me, no one gave me the side eye and the dude on the window seat asked if he could have a wipe for the tray, handles and bit where people lean against the window.

I had a awesome trip

Like a pp I just assume the wearer is infectious themselves and give them a wide berth.

This is completely untrue. A well fitting FFP3 provides nearly 100% prevention of catching AND spreading covid and other airborne infections (providing it has no valve or a filtering valve). You have to be careful not to take it off for eating / drinking but on a short flight that should be fine. I wish people would understand the science before spouting nonsense so confidently.

I recently bought myself an even higher quality one from screwfix which is much more comfortable to wear. It was £50.

Which is all to the good for the wearer.

Early in the pandemic there weren't enough proper FFP2 or 3 masks even for healthcare staff, and so the official line played down how much they can protect the wearer, because they didn't want the general public buying them up, or people in other risky public facing jobs demanding them.

In fact a proper FFP2 or FFP3 mask, which absolutely will not cost hundreds of pounds, will protect the wearer too. There just weren't ever enough of them, so the government played that fact down. Essentially, it was demand management via misinformation, and unfortunately to this day it's still being repeated as some kind of basic fact about masks, as is the idea that it's pointless to wear one of these masks without proper fit testing or training on how to take them on and off.

It is true that you want them to be as close-fitting as possible. You won't get the full 97 or 95% of virus being filtered out if the mask is so loose there are big gaps around the side. But if you adjust the straps and get as close a fit as possible, and do the same with the nose wire, then even if you can't be sure you've got as good a fit as you would have with proper fit testing, you are still going to breathe in a tiny fraction of the amount of virus you would otherwise breathe in.

I wear a mask on flights. I don’t feel silly, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks about it.

I am immunocompromised and have worn a ffp3 on every flight since covid.
I would have worn one before, I remember seeing Kate Moss wearing one years ago but otherwise it wasn't a thing. I always, always got ill after a holiday and haven't done since 2020.
Most times I have been the only person on a flight with a mask and I have had looks. I have also been very glad after sitting next to a passenger who had a filthy cough for 4 hours. I did get a sense that she resented my mask as she turned away from her companion towards me to cough.

Awaiting take off and landing are the highest risk points.
If you're going to do it then get a decent ffp3 and learn to fit it properly, no point wearing a blue surgical mask.

I’ve been using this which is good
BHM NoriZite Nasal Spray – New... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BBJ8QLWG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Wore one this winter as I got really ill after the flight out.

Masks have been mandated in my building and other parts of the organisation I work for

I’d rather feel a Fanny on a flight of people you will never see again rather than god awful ill or worse pass on to a vulnerable person and they die

I fully intend to wear a cloth mask on my next flight (June) so i can fall asleep and not worry about my mouth hanging open 🤣 It felt strangely comforting to have my face partially covered whilst I dozed, last time I flew in 2022.

Face mask also useful for hiding facial expressions during jury service in 2021.

Interesting fact.

People who wear glasses are less likely to catch infections!

You know a mask is to protect other people right? It offers yourself very little protection. It’s to stop you spreading infection.

FFP 2 at least a good idea. Also wear specs if you have them to cover eyes.

A saltwater nasal spray or one of those stop cold and flu nasal sprays before and after flight are also said to be useful.

Ensure the airflow thing above your seat is on full to help the plane’s very effective filter improve your air quality.

I hadn't heard of sambucol. Please could you tell me which type as there seems to be quite a few varieties? Thank you

I am immunocompromised. Looking at me you would think I am a healthy fit person. I ALWAYS wear masks on a flight, long or short haul because If I get the slightest cold it becomes a nasty infection that can, and has, ruined a number of very expensive holidays. I also wash my hands a lot and use anti bacterial hand gel. I do not give a stuff what other people think or do. It is my health not theirs. I expect you will get the usual 'masks don't work' brigade on here. Funnily enough having known a few of these if they go on to develop conditions that make them vulnerable they often change their minds. Since 2020 and the start of my mask wearing adventures I have had zero holiday infections with a lot of long haul trips included. A couple of weekends ago I ignored my inner warning and took a parent out for lunch in a very busy pub with the rise in flu numbers. No mask. Result, a cold which has completely floored me, ruined a long anticipated walking weekend and now has me exhausted and ill when I need to be getting ready for a Christmas away. Wondering if there is any chance I can (a) get a GP's appointment before I go (b) persuade them to give me antibiotics when I don't think it has reached infection stage yet but it will once I am away for Christmas with no access to a GP and waiting in an a and e full of infectious people at Christmas will be a nightmare and ruin the whole thing. Wear a flipping mask and get to enjoy a healthy holiday. PS the Vicks early defence also helps although sadly it failed me this time.

Honestly, I make my own but any elderberry syrup will do - probably just the basic one without lots of stuff added. It's very easy to make and probably much cheaper to buy dried elderberries and have a go if you find yourself going through a lot of it.

I would wear it, both times I have flown in recent years with family one of us has caught covid.

I think the problem is that the science changes ( understandably the more we learn) . I read a report ant the weekend that reinforced the position that mask wearing mainly protects others so which is right? Ultimately individuals will decide for themselves.

But I do get puzzled by people who say where they caught flu from ( eg the bloke next to me on the train) as you can’t possibly know that!!