Aisleโฃ seat in Middle of Plane Carries Highest Risk of Catching a Cold, Study Finds
ATLANTA,โ GA – Travelers hoping to avoid airborne โillness should carefully consider their seat selection, according to research publishedโ in 2018. A study by researchersโค at Emory and Georgia Techโ universitiesโข revealed thatโค passengers seatedโค in middle seats on the aisle are significantly more likely to contract a โvirus โduring a flight.
The research, detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, involved observingโ over 1,500 passengers and 41 crew members across ten domestic US flights.Researchers meticulously tracked passenger movement,interactions,and instances of coughing and sneezing. โค
While direct transmission of viruses remainsโ relatively low, โthe studyโ found passengers within one meter of an infected individual – particularly those in theโค same row, or directly in front or behind – are atโฃ the greatest risk. Window-seat passengers, who average around a dozen interactions perโฃ flight and are less likelyโข to โฃget up, โexperienced the lowest exposure.
Though, the aisle โseat in the middle of the aircraft proved to be the most vulnerable. Passengers in these seats averaged 64 contacts per flight, representingโ a maximum exposure โฃrate and an 80% chance of becoming infected when a sick passenger โis nearby. The act of simplyโ getting โขup toโค useโฃ the restroom or access overhead bins increases contacts by โคfive.
“Ourโค results indicate a low probability of direct transmission to passengers who are not seated in close proximity to an โinfected passenger,” the โฃresearchers stated.
The study underscores the importance ofโค seat selection whenโ booking flights, suggestingโค thatโ prioritizing distance from the aisle canโ significantly reduce the risk โof illness.