Tips for Flying with Babies & Young Children Learned During the H1N1 Pandemic

Travel Advice for Flying During Coronavirus/COVID-19 We Learned Flying During H1N1

*Updated May 27, 2021*
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Flying during H1N1 changed how I fly altogether. I think that’s probably a good thing.

This is about how we survived flying during H1N1. We did and lived to tell the tale.

Flying During H1N1… Not Necessarily Negligent Parents

Originally discovered in April 2009, the H1N1 virus was originally not perceived as a threat to humans. It was called swine flu because it originated in pigs from a very small region in central Mexico. H1N1 was the first pandemic in 40 years and killed close to 18,000 people globally. In spite of this, it never once occurred to me to cancel our planned trip to Florida.

SARS Survivors

I really didn’t panic about H1N1 because, just six years prior, Toronto was on lockdown due to SARS.

SARS stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and, in 2003, the virus responsible for this syndrome was discovered in an animal reservoir near Guangdong, China. Sound familiar?

The SARS epidemic affected 26 countries and resulted in 8000 deaths globally, 44 of those in Canada. Toronto’s hospitals were in lockdown. My nephew was born in 2003 and no one except for his dad was allowed to visit the hospital. 

Preparing for Flying During H1N1

But, I was still hesitant about flying during H1N1.

An airplane truly is just a flying tube of shared surfaces and recycled air. They have always been ideal places to pick up a cold or flu virus. It takes just one person to cough into their hand and then take the tray table down for the next passenger in that seat to catch a cold. As gross as it may be to think about, it takes just one person to not wash their hands properly (or at all – GROSS) after using the washroom to open the latch on the overhead bin for the next passenger to get the Norwalk virus.

For all of our previous flights, I maintained our usual regimen of hand washing and sanitizer use. Plus, constantly nagging my daughter to keep her hands out of her mouth. This time around, even though I KNEW that catching H1N1 was as likely as any other thing we’d normally come into contact with on a flight, I was a little freaked out.

But if you were not old or not a newborn or just in generally good health, the message was to not panic. Wash your hands, cough into your elbow, don’t bite your nails, and all should be well.

Say Yes to Disinfectant Wipes

Usually I stick to regular soap and water or wipes. On this occasion, I specifically went out and purchased disinfectant wipes. (For ones that actually kill viruses, I looked for ones mentioned by the EPA.) Once we were settled into our seats (no small feat considering Southwest‘s crazy boarding procedure), I took out the wipes and gave everything a thorough wipe down. I wiped the armrests, the tray tables, the window shade, everything we’d be likely to touch. Then, I gave all of our hands a once over. (Then, because I was worried about the chemicals in the anti-bacterial wipes, I used the baby’s sensitive diaper wipes to go over our hands again).

My husband joked that I was kinda giving off a freaky Howard Hughes vibe, but he went along with my anti-bacterial mission.

Did we get H1N1? No. Did we all have colds? Yes, in varying degrees but we could have picked those up anywhere. H1N1 was a global issue at this point so there was no need to stay home out of fear.

Should We Cancel Our Trip? A Word on Coronavirus/COVID-19

The WHO declared the Coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. As of May 27, 2021 there have been almost 170,000,000 Coronavirus cases globally and over 3,500,000 deaths. Coronavirus/COVID-19 infections have been reported on every continent except Antarctica. This is scary stuff, WAY worse than the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and could possibly rival the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (which was also H1N1, btw).

When coronavirus was first declared a pandemic, the Canadian government posted active travel health notices for China, France, Germany,Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Spain and suggested avoiding cruise travel. I am not a doctor or a medical professional, but I would not have cancelled a trip (unless it was a cruise or to one of these destinations) right away. I believe health and safety precautions were necessary essential but I wouldn’t have outright canceled.

Back then, the real fear would be getting put in quarantine before your return home, and how that might disrupt your life significantly.

Of course, now most travel was cancelled for the forseeable future. Once restrictions are opened up we definitely will travel again. However, with a baby or toddler, or if anyone in your family are immunocompromised, travel after COVID-19 should be less adventurous and more local. Socially distant getaways like camping (ugh) would probably be best bets.

If you have any concerns or questions, please consult with your family doctor or a travel clinic near you.

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See Also:

• Tips for Travel After COVID-19 with Babies & Small Children
• Travel During Covid-19 with Babies & Toddlers
• A Complete List of Our Travel Health & Safety Resources
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• What to Do if Baby Gets Sick on Vacation
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• Travel Vaccinations for Babies, Toddlers, and Young Children
• Essential Baby First Aid Kit Items for Travel
• Information & Tips for Traveling with a Baby or Toddler
• Tips for Flying with an Infant or Toddler at Every Age & Stage
• The Ultimate Baby Travel Tips List
• Tips for Visiting Mexico and the Caribbean with a Baby or Toddler
• The Complete Guide to Baby Travel Gear