Throwing up on a plane: getting through it in your seat
You cannot leave, the lavatory may be twenty rows away with the seatbelt sign on, and the bag in the seat pocket is the whole plan. Airsickness that reaches vomiting is manageable, but only if you set up before it happens rather than during.
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Why this happens on a plane
Turbulence is what pushes plane nausea over the edge, and it is also the moment you are least able to move. That is the problem a plane has and a car does not. The consolation is that cabin crew handle this every day, the bags are made for it, and the episode is usually short because rough air usually is.
What to do right now
- 1
Get the bag out early, open it, and hold it. Reaching for it late is how it goes wrong.
- 2
Stay seated while the belt sign is on. Being sick in your seat is safer than being thrown down the aisle.
- 3
Press the call button afterwards. Crew will take the bag, bring water, and often find you a different seat.
- 4
Aim the overhead vent at your face and slow your breathing. Cool air is the fastest thing you control.
- 5
Open the window shade and look out at the cloud tops or the ground. Your eyes need to see the movement your body feels.
- 6
Rinse your mouth and sip water. Leave the coffee and alcohol for the rest of the flight.
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Preventing it next time
- Book a window seat over the wings, the part of the aircraft that moves least.
- Eat something light before boarding and stay off alcohol in the air.
- Put the seat back screen and your phone away as soon as the air gets rough.
- Start a Dizzout session through any headphones when the bumps begin, before nausea builds. It is drug free and runs about 90 seconds.
When to see a doctor
Airsickness ends with the flight. See a doctor if vomiting carries on for a day or more after landing, if it comes with severe ear pain or new hearing loss, if there is a bad headache or double vision, or if you are still dizzy at rest days later. Vomiting with chest pain, breathlessness or fainting is a reason to alert the crew immediately rather than waiting it out.
Common questions
What if I cannot reach the lavatory in turbulence?
Use the bag and stay belted. Crew would far rather deal with a bag than with a passenger injured walking during turbulence. The lavatory is not the safer option when the aircraft is moving.
Does throwing up end airsickness?
Not by itself. It relieves the pressure for a few minutes, but the movement that caused it continues until the air smooths out. Keep the shade open, the vent on you, and your head against the headrest afterwards.
Can I ask to move seats?
Yes, and it is worth asking. The rows over the wings feel less movement than the tail, and a window seat gives you the view that settles the mismatch. Crew will move you if there is space, particularly after you have been unwell.
Related guides
Medically informational; not a substitute for a doctor's advice. Persistent or unusual symptoms deserve a clinical evaluation.