DEAR DIANA

"I'd like the latest dose rates on radiation for flights from New York to the Middle East." -Ted


DIANA RESPONDS

In-flight radiation doses vary with solar activity, and the aircraft's altitude and latitude. So, there is no way to predict radiation exposures for specific flights, making published "dose rates" for flights unreliable.

What to do? To start with, avoid flying during solar storms.

Before flying, check on solar storm activity. The Space Environment Center offers this service.

During solar storms, radiation inside planes can exceed the maximum permissible dose for preventing birth defects among fetuses of pregnant passengers.

With on-board exposures equivalent to 100 chest X-rays, not only fetuses are impacted. Anyone on board with a compromised immune system could immediately experience the effects of radiation doses that would not normally show up for ten to twenty years.

On a typical flight (when there are no solar storms), passengers between New York and London receive about one chest X-ray's equivalent.

If there is excessive radiation, the Space Environment Center will report: a solar particle event. The "event" can last from a couple of days to a few weeks.

If there is an event, and you are concerned about a huge radiation exposure, postpone your flight. But then you have to fight with the airlines for a refund.

To get a refund, you need a "medical emergency" that prevents travel.

Airlines try to ignore this problem, it's just one more problem on a pile of problems, and so they say they treat these requests for changing tickets due to illness on a case-by-case basis.

It is my experience, that one can get satisfaction in such situations only when you push hard, but don't act pushy.

Tricky. How to push and not be pushy?

Here is what I advised a passenger to enable him to postpone his mother's flight:

1. Go to the airport Ticket Counter. The shortest line is usually for Purchase Tickets, so go there. Do not wear flashy or expensive clothes or jewelry.

2. Before you speak to anyone, take time to see in your mind's eye the accommodation you desire.

3. Then, speak kindly and smile when you interact with airline employees. Tell the ticket agent your problem and if he or she is hard-hearted, gently ask to speak with a supervisor.

4. Explain to the supervisor that your mother is elderly, that you need a medical extension on her ticket because she is too ill to fly and too poor to forfeit her ticket or pay a penalty. If the Supervisor is unmoved, mention that you are afraid that if your mother flies in this condition she could get worse and, in the meantime, make all the other passengers ill due to the recirculated cabin air.

In sickness v. in anticipation of sickness. Postponing your flight due to an actual illness is difficult, so what can we expect if we try to postpone a flight in anticipation of an illness?

Not much, I'm afraid. I doubt if any airline would let this one fly. Even if you are a fair-skinned woman who's mother and sister have died of skin cancer, or if you are under a doctor's care for any cancer, it may be difficult to get an airline to agree to postpone your flight during a solar storm.

The reason? The airlines are in denial regarding all in-flight radiation. One day, I predict, there will no longer be this denial and planes will be grounded during solar storms.

Today, however, most commercial aircraft don't even lower their altitude (radiation doubles every 6,500 feet!) during solar storms. Those planes that do reduce altitude, do it for the aircraft's computers, I'm told, and not for the health of those on board.

The lower a plane flies, the more fuel it uses, so operating expenses go up when planes fly low, and they skyrocket when planes are grounded.

You can consider radiation, when planning your trip. Whenever possible, choose lower-altitude flights because in-flight radiation doubles every 6,500 feet (2,000 meters),

Multi-stop flights fly lower altitudes than nonstop longhauls. For example, the Los Angeles-London nonstop has a lot more radiation than any flight which transits New York. Better yet, transit Miami, because flights at lower latitudes have less radiation.

Flights over the earth's poles have the highest radiation.

The following are the highest-flying commercial airplanes: Boeing 747ER (extended range), 766ER, 777ER, Airbus A340-200, and MD11. Of course, it's not easy to choose flights by aircraft type -- there are so many considerations, such as money and departure time -- but I wanted you to have this information, in case it may be useful.

There is so much in life we cannot control and, of course, more so when we are traveling away from home. Really, the best advice I can give you is to pray for protection and guidance in choosing the right flights, and remain awake to the possibilities of Grace. cabin air.

SUCCESS IN POSTPONING A FLIGHT

"Thanks for your input. I went to the airport like you suggested, and I finally got a supervisor after speaking with several agents who refused to help because it was "out of my hands," "rules are rules," etc. One agent even told me that he didn't know how to make such a change on a ticket. Boy, I think the airlines need to train people rather than just place them on counters. While the supervisor was changing Mom's ticket, he commented that they normally would charge for this, but since Mom had a full fare ticket, he is letting it slide. I kept my cool, as you suggested. It was worth more than a stupid comment from my mouth. My mother and I thank you for helping us." -Dieter