Air Filters on Ryanair Aircraft

[Merryterry]

Did a three day trip last tues-weds-thurs Stansted-Lubeck-Stansted by
Ryanair. Went down with a massive lung infection over the weekend.
Didn't meet anybody coughing in Germany and wonder if I could have
caught it through the planes air conditioning?

How often do operators change the air filters and is the time
mandatory? If not I bet 'O' Leary rarely changes them to save a few
coppers. I do not mind paying a few bob extra for such important
matters.

[Mike]

Post by Merryterry
Did a three day trip last tues-weds-thurs Stansted-Lubeck-Stansted by
Ryanair. Went down with a massive lung infection over the weekend.
Didn't meet anybody coughing in Germany and wonder if I could have
caught it through the planes air conditioning?
How often do operators change the air filters and is the time
mandatory? If not I bet 'O' Leary rarely changes them to save a few
coppers. I do not mind paying a few bob extra for such important
matters.

Interesting - I flew easyJet from Murcia to Bristol last Monday evening
and then Bristol to Edinburgh for the day on Wednesday (up on easyJet and
back on BA).

Friday evening developed a sore throat which has now turned into a cough
and mild lung infection. I read in the BA in-flight mag on Wed an item
suggesting you're more likely to catch something in the street than on one
of their planes - I'm not convinced. My wife and I have suffered similarly
following flights on a significant number of previous occasions. I don't
think it's just Ryanair.

[Merryterry]

Post by Mike
Interesting - I flew easyJet from Murcia to Bristol last Monday evening
and then Bristol to Edinburgh for the day on Wednesday (up on easyJet and
back on BA).
Friday evening developed a sore throat which has now turned into a cough
and mild lung infection. I read in the BA in-flight mag on Wed an item
suggesting you're more likely to catch something in the street than on one
of their planes - I'm not convinced. My wife and I have suffered similarly
following flights on a significant number of previous occasions. I don't
think it's just Ryanair.

Thanks for reply Mike. Exactly my symptoms. I wonder if it is worth
emailing Watchdog or similar programme about it ' Do you catch more
than your plane when you go on holiday?'

[Roland Perry]

Post by Mike
Friday evening developed a sore throat which has now turned into a cough
and mild lung infection. I read in the BA in-flight mag on Wed an item
suggesting you're more likely to catch something in the street than on one
of their planes - I'm not convinced. My wife and I have suffered similarly
following flights on a significant number of previous occasions. I don't
think it's just Ryanair.

Could also be a problem with airports.

[Mike]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Mike
Friday evening developed a sore throat which has now turned into a cough
and mild lung infection. I read in the BA in-flight mag on Wed an item
suggesting you're more likely to catch something in the street than on one
of their planes - I'm not convinced. My wife and I have suffered similarly
following flights on a significant number of previous occasions. I don't
think it's just Ryanair.

Could also be a problem with airports.

Another interesting point, but how would an airport differ from, say, a
shopping centre or another place with large numbers of people?

[Roland Perry]

Post by Mike

Post by Roland Perry
Could also be a problem with airports.

Another interesting point, but how would an airport differ from, say, a
shopping centre or another place with large numbers of people?

They come from a much wider geographic area, and therefore carry germs
you may not be so resistant to.

[Mike]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Mike

Post by Roland Perry
Could also be a problem with airports.

Another interesting point, but how would an airport differ from, say, a
shopping centre or another place with large numbers of people?

They come from a much wider geographic area, and therefore carry germs
you may not be so resistant to.

Fair point I guess.

[linedancer]

Post by Merryterry
Did a three day trip last tues-weds-thurs Stansted-Lubeck-Stansted by
Ryanair. Went down with a massive lung infection over the weekend.
Didn't meet anybody coughing in Germany and wonder if I could have
caught it through the planes air conditioning?
How often do operators change the air filters and is the time
mandatory? If not I bet 'O' Leary rarely changes them to save a few
coppers. I do not mind paying a few bob extra for such important
matters.

I can't answer that, but do know that every time someone sneezes the germs
can spread about seven rows either way, we always carry masks with us and
if anyone around us sounds to be full of coughs and colds we put them on,
remember that you could get infected from touching seat belts, foodtrays,
armrests , inflight magazines, toilet door handles etc, we either go wash
our hands or use wet wipes before eating any food, I might sound neurotic
but prevention is better than cure.

[Neil Williams]

Post by linedancer
I can't answer that, but do know that every time someone sneezes the germs
can spread about seven rows either way, we always carry masks with us and
if anyone around us sounds to be full of coughs and colds we put them on,
remember that you could get infected from touching seat belts, foodtrays,
armrests , inflight magazines, toilet door handles etc, we either go wash
our hands or use wet wipes before eating any food, I might sound neurotic
but prevention is better than cure.

And they say kids don't eat enough muck these days.

Stop being paranoid and let your immune system do its job - you'll
probably enjoy your flight more. FWIW, I fly twice a week at the
moment and I've not noticed a particularly significant increase in the
number of colds I'm getting over when I didn't fly that often, though I
have been on flights where coffee and sandwiches weren't the only
freebie, so to speak, and have felt pretty yuck afterwards.

Neil

[linedancer]

Post by Neil Williams

Post by linedancer
I can't answer that, but do know that every time someone sneezes
the germs can spread about seven rows either way, we always carry
masks with us and if anyone around us sounds to be full of coughs
and colds we put them on, remember that you could get infected from
touching seat belts, foodtrays, armrests , inflight magazines,
toilet door handles etc, we either go wash our hands or use wet
wipes before eating any food, I might sound neurotic but prevention
is better than cure.

And they say kids don't eat enough muck these days.
Stop being paranoid and let your immune system do its job - you'll
probably enjoy your flight more. FWIW, I fly twice a week at the
moment and I've not noticed a particularly significant increase in the
number of colds I'm getting over when I didn't fly that often, though
I have been on flights where coffee and sandwiches weren't the only
freebie, so to speak, and have felt pretty yuck afterwards.
Neil

I am not paranoid, although I might sound like it ;-)
I was only pointing out how you can easily pick up colds and infections
without realising it, that applies everywhere I know, but it can spread more
easily on an aircraft, I don't fly everywhere with a mask on, but if there
was someone sitting very close by coughing and sneezing then I wouldn't want
to catch it naurally, I find the eye mask is quite good to slip on in that
case.

I also just consider that hygiene ie.washing your hands is essential before
eating in any situation, as regards flying in my opinion there is nothing
worse than starting with an infection after arriving at your destination.

As regards the air, I understand that the nearer the front you can sit it is
better, maybe someone else will verify if it is so.

[Neil Williams]

Post by linedancer
I also just consider that hygiene ie.washing your hands is essential before
eating in any situation

Some people do, some people don't. I personally don't, and it doesn't
appear to have killed me yet.

Neil

[Neil Williams]

Post by Merryterry
Did a three day trip last tues-weds-thurs Stansted-Lubeck-Stansted by
Ryanair. Went down with a massive lung infection over the weekend.
Didn't meet anybody coughing in Germany and wonder if I could have
caught it through the planes air conditioning?

You could well have done, or possibly another passenger. Happens on
all planes, not just cheapo ones.

Neil

[RaT]

Airlines have to adhere to a maintenance schedule, which will include
changing the filters at a set point. As to the period Rynair changes them I
do not know. I work for a major airline in the UK and the filters on the
wide-bodied aircraft are changed about every 700 hours as a matter of
routine. However there are monitors in place on certain aircraft types that
alert maintenance when the filters are becoming blocked, so they are often
changed early. As to whether you are more likely to get a cold when flying,
the main reason you are more susceptible is the dry air in the cabin dries
out you throat and nasal passages, which in turn reduces your bodies chances
of preventing the germs entering you. Best thing is to drink plenty of water
to keep hydrated. As you are in a confined 'tube' with other people who may
be carriers, and a large percentage of the air is recycled through the
filters then there is a higher chance of catching something.