The sharp ear pain and muffled hearing you get on a plane happen because cabin pressure changes faster than your ears can adjust. A narrow tube connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat, called the eustachian tube, is supposed to keep air pressure equal on both sides of your eardrum. During climb and descent, that tube often can’t keep up, and the pressure mismatch pushes your eardrum inward or outward. The good news: a few simple techniques before and during your flight can prevent most of the discomfort entirely.
Why Your Ears Hurt on Planes
Your middle ear is a small, sealed chamber separated from the outside world by your eardrum. Normally, the eustachian tube opens briefly every time you swallow or yawn, letting a tiny puff of air in or out to balance pressure. On the ground, this happens so smoothly you never notice it.
On a plane, cabin pressure drops during ascent and rises again during descent. These shifts happen over minutes rather than the hours your body is built to handle. If the eustachian tube can’t open fast enough, the pressure difference stretches your eardrum. That stretch is what causes the stuffed feeling, pain, and temporary hearing loss many passengers experience. Descent is typically worse than ascent because rising pressure outside the ear pushes the eardrum inward, making it harder for the tube to pop open on its own.
Swallowing, Yawning, and Chewing
The simplest protection is also the most effective. Swallowing and yawning both pull open the eustachian tube, so anything that makes you swallow more often helps. Chew gum or sip water steadily during takeoff and the last 30 to 45 minutes of the flight, when the plane is descending. Hard candy works the same way. The goal is frequent, small swallows rather than one big gulp.
If you’re someone who falls asleep easily on planes, set an alarm or ask a travel companion to wake you before descent begins. Sleeping through the pressure change means you’re not swallowing, and you can land with ears that feel completely blocked.
The Valsalva Maneuver
When swallowing alone isn’t enough, you can force your eustachian tubes open manually. Pinch your nostrils shut, close your mouth, and blow gently as if you’re trying to push air out through your sealed nose. You should feel a soft pop or click in one or both ears. This technique, known as the Valsalva maneuver, has been used since the early 1700s and remains the most widely recommended equalization method for flyers and divers alike.
The key word is “gently.” Blowing too hard can actually damage the delicate structures of your inner ear. Use steady, moderate pressure, and repeat every few minutes during descent. If one attempt doesn’t work, swallow a couple of times and try again rather than blowing harder.
A variation called the Toynbee maneuver combines pinching your nose shut with swallowing at the same time. Some people find this easier and more natural than blowing against a closed nose, and it carries less risk of using too much force. Try both on the ground before your flight to see which one gives you a clearer pop.
Decongestants and Nasal Sprays
If you’re prone to ear trouble on flights, or you’re flying with any nasal congestion at all, a decongestant taken with the right timing can make a real difference. The Portland Clinic recommends taking an oral decongestant about one hour before your expected descent and using a nasal decongestant spray about 30 minutes before the flight. That timing lets the oral medication reach peak effectiveness right when cabin pressure is changing fastest, while the spray keeps your nasal passages and eustachian tube openings clear from the start.
For short flights, a nasal spray alone before boarding is often enough. For longer flights, the oral decongestant timed to descent is more important because the spray’s effects may have worn off by then. On very long flights, you can use the nasal spray again about 30 minutes before the plane starts its final descent. Avoid using nasal decongestant sprays for more than three consecutive days, though, as they can cause rebound congestion that makes things worse.
Filtered Earplugs
Specialty earplugs designed for flying (often sold at airport shops and pharmacies) contain a small ceramic filter that slows the rate of pressure change reaching your eardrum. They don’t block sound the way regular earplugs do. Instead, they give your eustachian tubes more time to equalize naturally. These won’t eliminate the need for swallowing or the Valsalva maneuver, but they reduce how aggressively you need to use those techniques. Put them in before takeoff and leave them in through landing.
Staying Hydrated
Airplane cabins typically hover around 10 to 20 percent humidity, which is drier than most deserts. That dry air can thicken the mucus lining your eustachian tubes, making them stickier and slower to open. Drinking water throughout the flight keeps that lining thinner and more pliable. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which are mild diuretics and can contribute to dehydration. A good rule of thumb is to drink a cup of water for every hour you’re in the air.
Flying With a Cold or Sinus Infection
Congestion from a cold, sinus infection, or allergies swells the tissue around the eustachian tube opening, which can partially or completely block it. Flying in this state dramatically increases your risk of significant ear pain and, in rare cases, eardrum perforation. If you have a choice, postponing a flight until congestion clears is the safest option.
When postponing isn’t possible, combine strategies: use both an oral decongestant and a nasal spray with the timing described above, chew gum throughout ascent and descent, and perform the Valsalva maneuver frequently. Be especially aggressive about equalizing during descent. If you had an ear infection or ear surgery within the previous two weeks, check with your doctor before flying.
Protecting Babies and Young Children
Infants and small children are especially vulnerable to airplane ear because their eustachian tubes are narrower than adults’ and they can’t equalize on command. A baby who is screaming during descent is almost certainly in real pain, not just being fussy.
The most effective strategy is to have your baby nurse, take a bottle, or suck on a pacifier during takeoff and landing. The sucking and swallowing motion opens the eustachian tube the same way chewing gum works for adults. Time feedings so your baby is actively drinking as the plane climbs and again during the last 30 minutes of descent. For toddlers, a sippy cup or snack that requires lots of chewing works well.
If your child has a cold or ear infection and must fly, an age-appropriate pain reliever given before the flight can help manage discomfort. Follow the dosing instructions on the package carefully, and keep the child swallowing fluids as much as possible during pressure changes.
What to Do if Your Ears Stay Blocked After Landing
Mild muffled hearing or a “full” feeling after landing is common and usually resolves within a few minutes to a few hours as your eustachian tubes catch up. Continue swallowing, yawning, and trying the Valsalva maneuver after you’ve landed. A hot shower or warm compress held over the ear can also help relax the tissues and encourage the tube to open.
If the blocked feeling persists beyond 24 hours, you notice fluid draining from your ear, or you experience sharp pain or significant hearing loss, something more serious may be going on, such as fluid trapped in the middle ear or, rarely, a small tear in the eardrum. These issues are treatable but benefit from prompt attention.