hi Ian
I don't know what beconase consists off but I have read that nasal sprays should be saline solution.

Hi, Ian. Has your wife tried taking an oral antihistamine? The problem may be that she has developed a resistance to the nasal spray through frequent use. Ask your local pharmacist and they will be able to recommend a suitable product. Good luck and I hope you both enjoy the trip.

Hi i also suffer from this it is the air con try zirtec it works for me

Planes are regularly sprayed with insecticies to prevent to spread of 'wlidlife' such as mosquitoes from country to country. perhaps your wife is reacting to the stuff they use. Try Piriton which can be bought without prescription.

Beconase is an anti-inflammatory nasal spray that is classed as a steroid.
You should start using it at the first sign of symptoms, but you should always start with the lowest recommended dose and never exceed the maximum"¦the full effects can take up to 2 weeks and it is important to find the level of dosage that relieves the symptoms .long term usage is not generally recommended because steroids lower the body's natural immune system and you then become susceptible to other infections, Chickenpox and Measles for example, can have more serious and even fatal effects for both children and adults using corticosteroids you should also "wean" yourself off it and never just stop using it.

Maybe, if you discuss this with your GP, he/she may recommend using the spray 2 weeks before the trip to Australia, but like any advice given on forums, the GP really is the place to go.!

Back to the plane .
The humidity on the aircraft is determined by the pilot and depending where the air vents are, and where you are sat, will also determine the quality of the air that you breathe generally speaking the air on planes is low in oxygen and humidity, thus dry air will irritate the delicate lining of the nasal passages, which most of the general public can tolerate for short periods, however, anyone with an allergy will feel the effects.
Airlines started mixing the air in the 80's to save money ( no surprise there ) and I do believe that it is a mixture of fresh air and recycled air, a typical 757 recirculates 50% of the air that is pumped around the aircraft.

I'm not an aviation expert, but I have always been led to believe, that the quality of the air is better at the front of the aircraft, having been recycled and gone through the filters to remove bacteria/allergens and those sat in the rear end, get the stale air which has collected every germ, dust and dander particles on the way through the plane by the time you are breathing it in.

Covering your nose and mouth with a water-saturated cotton handkerchief will help block the spread of germs/allergens, while also providing humidity for your nose and lungs, or a spray containing sterile water, that you can keep "misting" around your face during the flight should help.

If you want to go the whole hog, I did read quite a long time ago, about a mask that some American had invented to wear on planes, this is supposed to stop all bacteria, allergens etc from entering the body via the respiratory system"¦the only problem is"¦that you'll look like the Taliban and may feel a complete idiot wearing it"¦I never did find out if it had ever "caught on".

Go see the GP, you should NOT mix certain cortisone sprays with other drugs....and there are other alternatives available.

HTH's

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

It looks like it did take off.......pardon the pun
HERE and HERE

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Many thanks for all your helpfull hints, aspecially Sanji, the mask would likely be the best bet but I,m not sure about the looks one would get, I've seen Japanese on board far east flights wearing them, but nowhere else My wife's necided to give the anti-histamne tablets a go and I'll report back on the result in a couple of weeks or so, again thanks Alan