As the holiday season approaches, Americans across the country are gearing up to travel, many choosing to fly to reunite with family and friends.

During the recent Thanksgiving period, a historic number of travelers—3.1 million—passed through TSA checkpoints on the Sunday following the holiday. This figure is expected to be surpassed as Christmas approaches.

However, with the surge of travelers comes the increased likelihood of illness spreading in bustling airports and crowded flights.

Dr. Neha Pathak, WebMD’s chief physician editor specializing in health and lifestyle medicine, emphasizes that the primary concern for travelers isn’t surface contact but rather airborne transmission.

“Respiratory viruses, such as the flu and COVID-19, predominantly spread through the air and direct personal interaction, rather than from touching surfaces like tray tables or armrests,” Pathak explained to Fox News Digital.

She added, “Your hands are really the critical piece here. . . . If you clean them regularly and avoid touching your face, you can dramatically reduce any risk that comes from surfaces.”

She said that when it comes to surfaces, the classic “stomach bug” is the pathogen that concerns her most.

It’s “incredibly hardy,” she said, referring to viral gastroenteritis — an intestinal infection that includes such symptoms as watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting or nausea and more, according to the Mayo Clinic. “And it can survive on surfaces for days.”

She added, “That makes it the perfect candidate for surface transmission in places like airplanes — especially bathrooms and high-touch areas.”

“The virus that gives you vomiting and diarrhea is more likely to hitch a ride on a tray table than the viruses that cause flu or COVID,” she said.

With that in mind, Pathak revealed that to avoid getting sick, a window seat far from the bathroom is the best place to sit on an airplane. 

“You will have fewer people brushing past you, less exposure to aisle traffic and, overall, fewer close contacts,” said Pathak.

She also recommended wearing a mask for those wishing to avoid getting sick.

Pathak said she turns on her overhead air vent, washes and sanitizes her hands frequently, and avoids touching her face — especially her mouth or nose — while traveling on a plane.