You may not be considering canceling a flight just because you have a cold. While traveling with a common cold may seem harmless, a pilot advises against it. It's not just about spreading the virus to fellow passengers; the flight may also put you at risk of ear barotrauma, which has the potential to cause hearing loss.
Captain Jaimes García who works for Colombian airline Avianca shared a video on TikTok that has now gone viral explaining how traveling by airline with a common cold may be determinantal for health. From mild ear pain and muffled hearing to severe discomfort and potential eardrum rupture, ear barotrauma, triggered by pressure changes in the middle ear with altitude, can cause lasting damage.
