Most travelers have felt that sharp, bright light the moment a plane breaks through the clouds - but few ever think about what that light actually means for their skin.
This guide brings together aviation and dermatology research, pilot insight, and real in-cabin testing to explain, in plain language, how UV behaves in flight and what airplane windows truly block. And more importantly: how simple, mineral-based habits can keep skin protected without complicating a travel day.
Aelia takes a pilot’s approach to skincare - clean mineral filters, intelligent textures, and hydration that stays steady from gate to landing.
What really happens to UV at cruising altitude
At cruising altitude, there is far less atmosphere filtering sunlight, which means significantly more UV reaches the aircraft than at sea level. Studies show that direct sun plus bright, reflective cloud tops can meaningfully increase UVA exposure during flight.
Cabin lights don’t cause UV exposure, but long stretches near windows, especially on sunny routes, can deliver the kind of steady UVA that doesn’t burn but quietly accumulates.
This is why many pilots and flight crews treat UV protection just like hydration or rest, a routine part of life above the clouds.
Do airplane windows block UV
Aircraft windows, whether layered acrylic or layered glass - are designed for clarity and safety, not full-spectrum UV filtration. Research shows they block most UVB, the burn-causing wavelength, but UVA still passes through many window stacks, especially during bright sun angles.
Cockpit windscreens offer stronger engineering, yet even there, several studies have measured meaningful UVA on the pilot’s side of the glass.
The takeaway for travelers is simple: a window seat can still mean UVA exposure, making a daily SPF habit a smart, low-effort layer of protection.
Why pilots and frequent flyers should care
Pilots, cabin crews, and frequent flyers spend more cumulative time at altitude, which means more total UVA exposure over a career or travel-heavy year. It never feels like beach sun, there’s no sting or redness, which is why it’s easy to underestimate.
For crews, sun protection is now mentioned in several professional guidelines, alongside rest and hydration. And for frequent travelers, especially window-seat regulars, it helps to treat UV as part of the travel environment, not an occasional surprise.
Practical protection checklist at 35,000 feet
A simple routine is enough. The key is consistency and reapplication when flights are long or bright.
- Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher
- Prefer mineral filters like zinc oxide if skin is reactive or if reapplication will happen in the cabin
- Apply a nickel-sized amount to the face and neck before boarding, including ears and around the hairline
- Reapply before descent on long flights, especially in a window seat
- Close the shade in strong sun, wear a brimmed cap, and use UV protective eyewear when bright glare hits
- Keep lips covered with a mineral SPF balm
- Moisturize hands and the backs of hands, then add SPF if they sit near the window
Mineral sunscreen that makes sense in the air
Mineral filters make practical sense in the air. Non-nano zinc oxide offers stable, broad-spectrum coverage, begins working immediately, and tolerates bright cabin light well. For sensitive or travel-stressed skin, mineral formulas avoid common irritants and eye sting.
In tight spaces, passengers appreciate textures that feel comfortable, not greasy, and when a formula doubles as a daily moisturizer, it solves two travel needs at once: comfort and protection.
How Aelia approaches hydration and protection
Aelia was created by pilots who understand what it means to live above the clouds. Our formulas use clean, mineral-based protection paired with humectants and barrier-supporting lipids that keep skin steady in dry cabin air.
Each texture is designed to spread quickly, set smoothly, and resist pilling when reapplied, because routines should work in real travel conditions, not just in perfect lighting.
For crews and frequent flyers, this means fewer products, less guesswork, and a routine that fits into a gate change without slowing the day.
A window seat routine that actually works
Picture a long travel day: a morning flight, a connection, and a late return. The traveler applies a mineral moisturizer with SPF at home, refreshes at the gate, and closes the shade once cruising if the sun angle is harsh.
Midflight, a hydrating mist resets comfort without disturbing coverage. A light reapplication of mineral SPF before descent keeps the skin protected through bright approach lighting.
It’s not a spa routine, just a simple, repeatable sequence that respects how UV behaves at altitude.
Understanding UV terms in plain English
- UVA vs UVB: UVB burns the surface, UVA goes deeper and drives most visible aging. Both matter for long-term skin health.
- Broad spectrum: A tested claim that the formula covers both UVA and UVB.
- SPF: A measure of UVB protection. Higher numbers can help, but only if they are applied and reapplied enough.
- Water resistance: Useful for sweat or beach legs of a trip, less essential in the cabin, but still indicates film strength.
- Mineral vs chemical: Mineral sits on top and reflects or scatters, chemical absorbs and converts. Both can work when broad-spectrum and well-formulated.
Answers to common concerns from travelers
Will sunscreen interfere with pressurized cabin conditions
No. Sunscreens act at the skin surface. They do not change how the body responds to cabin pressure or humidity.
Is a tan from the window seat likely
A tan is unlikely during a single flight, but studies show UVA can still accumulate. That is why routine protection is advised.
Do clouds protect against UV in flight
Clouds can block or scatter, but bright glare above cloud decks can bounce UV into the cabin. Shades and SPF remain smart.
Is car and airplane glass the same
Materials differ. Many car windshields block more UVA than side windows. Aircraft glazing varies by model. A daily SPF habit covers those differences without needing to memorize part numbers.
Where Aelia fits in a realistic travel kit
Aelia’s mineral SPF is built to anchor a realistic travel routine: one product that hydrates, protects, and sits comfortably under makeup or masks. The formula avoids common irritants, layers easily with serums or basic moisturizers, and keeps skin steady in dry cabin air.
For window-seat fans, pilots, and frequent flyers, it offers dependable protection without adding steps; a small, practical habit that reduces UV exposure where it’s often overlooked.
Key takeaways before boarding
- UV behaves differently at altitude, and windows do not always stop all UVA
- Daily, broad spectrum SPF plus smart shade use protects skin quietly, consistently
- Mineral SPF with good hydration is airplane-friendly, easy to reapply, and kind to sensitive skin
- Aelia brings pilot-level standards to texture, protection, and comfort so skin can handle long days above the clouds
Frequently asked questions
Is sunscreen necessary on short flights
Yes, because UVA adds up quietly, and windows do not always stop it fully.
Should sunscreen go on before or after moisturizer
If using a dedicated sunscreen, apply after moisturizer. If using a moisturizer with SPF, apply it as the last skincare step before makeup.
Do aisle seats need SPF, too
Yes. The cabin still receives scattered light and travelers move around. A daily habit removes guesswork.
Can makeup with SPF replace sunscreen on planes
Makeup with SPF helps, but most people apply too little. A dedicated SPF or a mineral moisturizer with SPF is more reliable.
What SPF number is best for frequent flyers
SPF 30 or higher is a practical daily target, paired with proper amount and reapplication.
Sources
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, “Exposure of pilots to ultraviolet radiation in the cockpit.” https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622%2812%2902043-9/fulltext
- JAMA Dermatology, “The Risk of Melanoma in Pilots and Cabin Crew: UV Measurements in Aircraft.” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2019958
- CDC Yellow Book, “High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness.” https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/high-altitude-travel-and-altitude-illness.html
- World Health Organization, “Guidance on radiation and health, UV radiation.” https://www.who.int/tools/compendium-on-health-and-environment/radiation
- Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, “Pilot Ultraviolet A Exposures in the Cockpit of Flying Commercial Aircraft.” https://asma.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/amhp/96/9/article-p803.xml
- Federal Aviation Administration, “AC 25-775-1 Windows and Windshields.” https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_25_775-1.pdf
