Whether your destination is a beachfront hotel or just the guest room at grandma's house, Thanksgiving travel is likely in your short-term future. Before the plane goes wheels up, consider these health tips from the experts at Ascension Saint Thomas. After all, nothing pairs more poorly with a plate of turkey and cranberry sauce than a bout of the flu.

1. Get a shot before you board. If you haven't already been vaccinated against the flu, it's not too late. Visit this link to learn where you can get your shot for free.

2. Clean your hands frequently. The CDC recommends washing your hands with hot water for a full 20 seconds. Consider relying on the old "one Mississippi, two Mississippi" counting trick you likely learned in elementary school.

3. Keep your fingertips away from your face. If the need to scratch your nose or eyes arises, cover the pads of your fingers with a tissue to avoid direct hand-to-face contact.

4. Avoid aisle seats. Bad news for those of you who like to snag the aisle seats: according to a 2017 article from Time, seats along the aisle are the germiest option because so many people touch them en route to and from the bathroom.

5. Get air flowing. Twist open the ceiling vent above your seat. Travel + Leisure says that, by keeping air flowing, you protect your body from germs. The air flow builds an "invisible air barrier around you that creates turbulence" and forces germs away from you.

6. Resist the urge to use those convenient backseat pockets. A study by Auburn University found that those innocent-looking seatback pockets are filled with more germs than the average toilet handle.

7. Ask the flight attendant for a water refill. By hydrating throughout your flight, you are working to keep your nasal passages moist and will be better able to stave off germs.