With America in the grip of swine flu concerns and fears of an H1N1 epidemic, a poll by website TripAdvisor.com has found that 51% of air travellers would rather fly with the flu than face the $150 change fee charged by the airlines.

TripAdvisor’s general manager of new initiatives, Bryan Saltzburg, noted, “While the thought of paying $50 to $150 ticket change fee may cause heartburn for many travellers, we strongly recommend against flying while you’re sick with the flu.”

Over 2,300 users responded to the poll on the TripAdvisor.com website, leading Saltzburg to recommend travllers taking out trip insurance for flights being booked during peak flu months.

“Be sure to read the fine print in the policy to make sure it covers the flu, though, as some only offer reimbursements for major illnesses,” he added.