Travel health tips
Discover measures that help ensure your well-being during the flight.

It's very important to follow some recommendations to ensure your trip is smooth and comfortable.

Our tips are separated by topic, and you can easily find a subject of interest. But it's worth reading all the content to ensure even greater safety and well-being in different situations and types of destinations.

Prolonged sitting increases the risk of thrombosis, in addition to other risk factors such as age over 60, pregnancy, obesity, use of contraceptives, recent surgery, among others.

Some important tips during travel:

• It is essential to move your legs and arms during long flights;

• Consider wearing elastic or compression stockings;

• Drink plenty of water.

If you have any associated risk factors, we recommend consulting your doctor before traveling.

Diarrhea can generally occur due to food poisoning in any country in the world, and is more common in the summer. Therefore, always eat meals in safe environments with treated or bottled water. Prefer cooked foods, avoiding dishes that have been exposed for a long time (such as in buffets) and those sold at street stalls.

The pressurization of an airplane cabin is equivalent to the atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 2,400 meters. Therefore, if you have performed a scuba dive (with a tank) up to 24 hours before your flight, there is a risk of gas embolism. In these cases, the recommendation is to travel after this period.

If you have a cold or inflamed airways, consult your doctor before traveling. The pressure difference during the flight can cause intense pain, especially during landing.

To minimize symptoms, it is very important to stay awake during takeoff and landing to perform decompression maneuvers: simulate swallowing and yawning.

Children should also be instructed to perform these maneuvers. For babies, the tip is to stimulate sucking through breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.

Therefore, if you have any illness that can be transmitted to other people and have questions about how to proceed, we recommend that you contact our Customer Service Center at 0800 704 0465.

Some people may experience nausea after takeoff. To lessen this discomfort, before your flight try to:

• Eat only light foods, such as fruits, salads, and cereal bars;

• Avoid fatty foods;

• Avoid smoking, consuming alcoholic beverages, black tea or mate, and coffee.

Also, be sure to consult your doctor beforehand if you need any specific medication.

Traveling to places with different time zones often disrupts our body's rhythm, resulting in fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. To help minimize these symptoms, you can:

• Adjust your watch to the destination time before your flight begins;

• Drink plenty of water;

• Get enough sleep on your first night in your new destination, without resorting to sleeping pills or similar drugs;

• Immediately adjust to the city's rhythm by eating meals at the local time.

If you have any food allergies or intolerances, remember to pack any medication prescribed by your doctor in your carry-on luggage.

For more serious cases of allergies, it is also important to know that:

• We cannot guarantee that the food served on the plane is completely free of peanuts or other allergenic ingredients;

• We cannot ensure that other passengers will not bring such foods on board;

• In case of an onboard emergency, our crew members are not authorized to administer any injectable medication.

Some simple precautions can make all the difference during a flight, including:

• Always wear comfortable clothes and shoes and, if possible, compression socks;

• On long flights, walk down the aisle of the aircraft every two hours and try not to sit for too long;

• Drink water to stay hydrated;

• Use moisturizer and lip balm regularly;

• If possible, avoid wearing contact lenses, opt for glasses instead.

Traveling to places with very intense climate variations can cause discomfort and difficulty adapting. Be sure to bring clothing appropriate to the weather conditions of your destination.

Places with lots of sun and heat require extra care for your health. Always use sunscreen with a high SPF, along with light, long-sleeved clothing, hats, and sunglasses. Avoid dehydration by drinking water frequently and avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours.

It is very important to know that, in cases of infectious diseases, passengers may be prevented from boarding. This measure is essential to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

Therefore, if you have any disease that can be transmitted to other people and have questions about how to proceed, we recommend that you contact our Customer Service Center.

Customer Service Center

Call 0800 704 0465. In Portuguese, English and Spanish. 24-hour service. Free call.

Depending on the medication being transported, it will be necessary to contact the manufacturer to find out how to store it correctly and also bring the prescription. Access the Medical Certificates and Other Forms section to learn about the regulations for transporting medications.

If you have a health plan or insurance, check its coverage with the provider, especially for international travel.

It is very important to remember that in some countries, healthcare costs can be very high, and insurance is required for tourists.

GOL offers travel insurance at special prices. Check all the details.

Depending on your travel destination, you may need to get vaccinated before traveling. This is the case, for example, with immunization against yellow fever, which is mandatory in some regions. Access our Vaccines section and find out which GOL destinations recommend prior immunization.