H1N1 Adds Stress to Holiday Travel

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Holiday travel is stressful enough with many traveling out of town to see family and friends. But this year the H1N1 virus is adding a new layer of concern for those traveling by plane.

Those who don't have the flu are worried about the germs harbored in an airplane cabin. Those with the flu are worried about being able to just make their flights.

Still CNN reports that according to a poll by TripAdvisor , 51 percent of Americans said they would still fly if they're sick instead of paying the rebooking fees. Frequent fliers say that while the results are disturbing, they aren't surprised.

"I do think that's an unfortunate attitude, because the airplane is like a petri dish in the sky," Rene Foss, a flight attendant for 25 years and the spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants, told CNN. "[But] people really are resistant to paying any extra fees."

In October a family was denied their flight on American Airlines after one person came down with swine flu. American told the family that the airline would charge them $150 a ticket for their canceled trip.

"I suggested with this policy that they are almost forcing people to fly when they have the swine flu, therefore subjecting others to the flu," the unhappy traveler told the Dallas Morning News . "[The customer service agent at American] said that would now not be a problem with us because he entered into his 'system' a requirement [that] would force us to show a doctor's note proving my daughter no longer had the flu before she would be allowed on the flight. So, now they are charging me $150 for the right to be denied on a flight."

Doctors said that airlines should be more lenient if people can't fly this holiday season.

"It is clear people should not fly when they're infected, but they should also not be penalized for being responsible citizens," Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, a family practitioner in Melbourne, Fla., told CNN.

The CDC and WHO advise against traveling if you're sick. "If you have flu-like symptoms, you should stay home and avoid travel for seven days after you get sick or for at least 24 hours after you stop having symptoms, whichever is longer," according to the CDC .

To stay healthy, the CDC also reminds people to wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based rub; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and try to avoid people who are coughing and/or sneezing.