Summer’s here. And that means it’s time to fly away to exotic vacation locations! But before you land in paradise, you’ll have to endure one major obstacle – the plane flight! So here are two tips for flying the friendly skies, courtesy of Rodale Publishing.

• Here’s how you can avoid catching a bug from another passenger. You’re more than 100 times more likely to catch a cold in a plane than on the ground! So how can you avoid touching down with some kind of bug? Do this: turn on the overhead vent and direct the airflow in front of your face. Emergency-medicine specialist Dr. Mark Gendreau says on any given flight, there’s a 40 percent chance that you’ll sit within a few rows of someone with an upper-respiratory infection. So turning on the vent will help tumble away any germs being spread. Also, bring along disinfecting wipes to sanitize your cushions, tray table, seat belt, and armrest – and wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Drink plenty of water – the desert-like air in the cabin can dry out your nasal passages, which can prevent them from filtering out germs.
• Stretch during your flight. Keeping your hamstrings loose helps prevent you from growing restless, and it helps stop potentially dangerous blood clots from forming in your legs - which can slow the blood circulation in your body. So, do this stretch a few times during your flight: Stand with your legs shoulder width apart, and bend over and grab your calves. Then, hold this stretch for five seconds. This should help keep your leg muscles loose. Happy travels!