No matter how excited you are for a trip, sometimes life gets in the way. You may be sick with the flu or stomach bug, have an allergic reaction or feel unwell enough to not fly. It’s easy to get stuck in limbo if you aren’t sure whether to go on your flight. Consider this your step-by-step guide on deciding whether to stay put—and how to navigate the refund process if you do need to miss your flight.
Step 1: Take stock.
It’s important to be honest about how sick you really are. You shouldn’t fly if your illness is too severe to allow you to attend work. It’s a sign you need time to recover and you may also infect others if you continue.
Are you looking for a bit more specific advice? According to experts, you should avoid traveling if your fever is above 100 degrees and you experience symptoms such as sneezing or coughing. William SchaffnerProfessor of infectious disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. explains that coughing and sneezing give exhalations more energy, which means you’re more likely to spread germs or viruses over a greater distance than if you simply had the sniffles. He explains that coughing and sneezing gives exhalations greater energy. This means you are more likely to spread viruses or germs over a longer distance than you would be if you just had the sniffles.
You should test for COVID-19 if you must fly. This will ensure that you do not expose others. It’s best to see a physician in order to ensure that you don’t have anything contagious. It’s always best to wear a mask when you are sick in order to avoid spreading germs.
You should be cautious about rashes and skin conditions which suddenly appear, since some are contagious. You can, for instance. shingles—an illness caused by the same virus that triggers chickenpox—can spread to others when its telltale rash first makes an appearance. When fluid drains from the bumps, it is full of virus. Ankush Bansal, MD, is an internist and hospitalist who practices in South Florida. If your pustules do not have a crust, like a scar, then you are contagious. Dr. Bansal advises you to consult your doctor if you don’t know what’s wrong with your body. “Many rashes are similar and may or may not be contagious. “A doctor can determine it,” he says.
Additionally, the CDC warns against flying if you’ve recently had surgery, a heart attack, or a stroke—these can increase your risk of blood clots and heart-related issues. If you can prove that any of the above situations apply to you, then it is a good reason for you to request a travel reimbursement.
Step 2: Understand the rules
Today in the U.S. airlines essentially across the board (minus some low-cost carriers) have permanently gotten rid of change fees for tickets beyond the basic economy level, says Scott Keyes, founder of the flight-deal app Going. This means that, usually, if you booked a main cabin fare or higher, you can change your travel dates later and only pay for any fare differences—at least on flights that originate in the U.S. (This can be hit or miss with flights originating abroad.) Rebooking is not the same thing as a refund. However, if you are too sick to travel right now, this is often a good option.
There are also some important policy updates to note in the worlds of flying and flexibility. United, for example, now allows passengers to upgrade from basic economy to main economy. This was not always possible, and gives them the flexibility to change flights without penalty. Keyes says that the process is a bit convoluted. “But, it is one way people can have flexibility when they are unable to travel for whatever reason.”
