Armani28007

I have been travelling to the Middle East for the past 8-9 years(every year, sometimes once, sometimes twice a year). For the past 5-6 years, i have used Airfrance 100% of the time.

Three years ago, i noticed something weird. The first time it happened, i thought it was just me getting sick. Then it happened the second year and the third year. Now i realize it is not a coincidence, rather it might have to do with the Airline. This is what i'm talking about.

I leave from IAD(Wash Dulles Airport). Transit through Charles De Gaulle(sp?). Nothing happens on the outbound flights. Upon returning from Lebanon all the way to France and leaving France all the way to almost arriving in DC, i am fine.

The moment we are told that we are starting our descend, few minutes later, i get this terrible headache, then i start feeling really hot(like a burning fever). I arrive and the headache gets worse and worse. Then after been picked up, 5-10 minutes later, i start throwing up and my headache gets a lot worse. An hour later, after i take Tylenol and take a nap, i am fine(like nothing ever happened).

I am begining to think that Airfrance is spraying something in their cabin upon descend into the US(maybe ordered by the Govt.) to prevent airborne disease and so forth. I think it is causing an allergic reaction.

Has anyone experienced anything similar to what i just described? Please share. If you also know for certain that the Airlines are ordered to spray their cabins prior to arriving in the US, please share.

Thanks in advance.

Jaimito Cartero

I have had some airlines spray stuff on planes. In Asia, Central America and Australia, if I recall correctly. I just try to hold my breath while they're doing it. No side effects that I'm aware of.

flyingfkb

I'm pretty sure that no airline puts any chemical substance into its air conditioning system. If an airline does spray the cabin the cabin crew will always do it manually.

I recommend you go to your ENT doctor and let you sinus checked out. A headache during descend is a very often caused by some kind of sinus problem.

Armani28007

Thanks guys for your input.

My question to Caspritz is this, if it has to do with my sinus system or me in particular, how come i am fine descending into Paris both ways? How come i am fine descending into Lebanon?

The problem ONLY occurs when descending into DC. As for spraying stuff through the AC system is not totally out of question because it will ensure complete and even distribution and also eliminate people asking too many questions.

And the problem is NOT just headache, i get this very hot feeling where my whole body feels like it's on fire and it stays like that until i throw up which always happens immediately i leave the airport(it never happens while i'm still IN the airport) As if the fresh air outside causes the throw up.

I appreciate the help though.

Jaimito Cartero

Maybe you just don't really like DC, and you body is trying to tell you?

fs2k2isfun

I would recommend seeing a physician who is a specialist in aviation medicine. He or she may be able to figure out what is going on.

Armani28007

Hmm...maybe i'll try BWI next time lool

Oh, btw, looking at your signature, i ONLY use Northwest for my State to State flights.

Armani28007

Not a bad idea Fs2, i'll give it a shot. I wonder if wearing a face mask will help.

Max007

I can tell you they AF definatly sprays stuff in the cabin when flighing out of JNB. I was there last month and just before takeoff the FAs walked through the whole plane spraying something from an aerosol can.

They said it was required by regulation and it was non-toxic. I didn't get sick and I slept a surprisingly good night in coach so they may have been telling the truth...

Max

horse glasses

Do you sleep before getting there? Whenever I sleep on a redeye, when I wake up right before descent, I often feel really really sick. I get that hot throw up feeling a lot. This isn't international flights only or anything, though.

Funny story: The first time this happened my dad was picking me up from the airport. I'm sitting there waiting for my bags thinking "Hmm, I feel really sick. Maybe I should go to the bathroom. No, I'll be fine if I just wait it out.". So I get the bags and go out to the car. I tell dad "There's like a 30% chance I might throw up, but probably not". 20 minutes later we are going down the parkway in Pittsburgh in rush hour traffic in the left lane, I finally lose it and throw up out the window onto the side of the car. One of my finer moments for sure.

flyingfkb

I'm not a doctor and I would be crazy to give anykind of medical diagnosis. If you feel sick everytime you return from your trip to Lebanon then see a doctor.

pueywei

Maybe you could explain the situation and discreetly ask one of the FAs next time.

peachfront

KLM sprays it out of JNB also. No ill effects, and I'm totally a person with tons of allergies and I've even been known to want to vomit because of someone's perfume or pipe smoke! So I'm confident that the spray is non toxic, I'm a true canary in the coal mine.

VictoriaTravelNut

Perhaps they are spraying an insecticide through the AC? http://www.flyana.com/pest2.html has some info. However, it doesn't look like the US is a country that requires it.

njmcgreg

I know many airlines spray on flights departing from certain nations, but I've never heard of it being done through the AC, only in spray cans before takeoff and after landing.