If you’re anything like me, one of your qualms about air travel is probably the Antarctic-like temperature on board the airplane. You may be surprised to learn that it’s not just a tactic to encourage people to wear conservative clothing, drink or eat more, or some sort of masochistic victimisation. There is actually a reason why planes are always so chilly.
According to a study published in the American Society for Testing and Materials, high cabin pressure and temperatures increase the risk of passengers fainting, experiencing nausea or dehydration.
Given the close confines of a plane and how many bodies are packed into such a small space, there’s already a lot of heat being generated by everyone’s bodies. Subsequently, cabin crews make sure to keep a low temperature on board, with the general industry standard around 22 to 23°C.
Which type of plane you’re flying also comes into play. Newer planes have more advanced air conditioning systems that allow the temperature to be adjusted for specific rows.
While you may still feel the cold next time you fly, at least you can remain warm and fuzzy inside knowing that it is for your own good.
If you can’t stand the chill, however, you can ask the crew for a blanket or dress yourself in layers to stay warm. If things heat up, you can just strip off the layers of clothing. You can even take a decent scarf that will double as a blanket – or pillow – depending on your needs at the time.
How do you stay warm on planes?
