Ear pain on a plane happens because the air pressure in the cabin changes faster than your body can adjust. A narrow tube connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat, called the Eustachian tube, is responsible for equalizing pressure on both sides of your eardrum. During climb and descent, it simply can’t keep up, and the resulting pressure mismatch pushes or pulls on your eardrum, causing that familiar ache or stuffed feeling. The good news: a few simple techniques can keep the tube open and the pressure balanced.
Why Descent Hurts More Than Takeoff
Most people notice ear pain more during landing than during climb. As the plane descends, cabin pressure increases rapidly, compressing the air in the ear canal and pushing the eardrum inward. Your Eustachian tube has to actively open to let higher-pressure air into the middle ear, and that’s harder than letting air escape during ascent. If you’re congested from a cold or allergies, the tube is already partially swollen shut, making equalization even more difficult.
Swallowing, Yawning, and Chewing
The simplest way to pop your ears is to swallow or yawn. Both actions pull the Eustachian tube open briefly, letting air flow into the middle ear. Chewing gum works the same way by keeping you swallowing repeatedly. Start chewing or sipping water about five minutes before the plane begins its descent (the captain usually announces this), and keep going until you’re on the ground. Staying hydrated throughout the flight also helps because dry mucous membranes make the tube stickier and harder to open.
The Valsalva and Toynbee Maneuvers
When swallowing alone isn’t enough, two pressure-equalization techniques can help.
The Valsalva maneuver: pinch your nostrils closed and gently blow through your nose. You should feel a soft pop as air pushes into the middle ear. The key word is “gently.” Blowing too hard or holding for more than about five seconds raises fluid pressure inside the inner ear and can damage delicate membranes called the round and oval windows. Think of it as the effort you’d use to fog up a mirror, not to inflate a balloon.
The Toynbee maneuver is a good alternative if Valsalva feels uncomfortable. Pinch your nostrils closed and swallow at the same time. Swallowing opens the Eustachian tubes while your tongue compresses air against them, nudging pressure into balance without the risks of forceful blowing. Try both on the ground before your flight so you know which one feels more natural.
Using a Decongestant Before You Fly
If you’re flying with a cold, sinus congestion, or allergies, a decongestant can shrink the swollen tissue around your Eustachian tube and make equalization much easier. A nasal spray (such as oxymetazoline) works quickly when used about 30 minutes before the flight. You can also use it again 30 minutes before descent on a longer flight. Oral decongestants containing pseudoephedrine take longer to kick in, so plan to take one roughly an hour before your flight departs.
Nasal sprays shouldn’t be used for more than three consecutive days because they can cause rebound congestion. If you’re on a multi-leg trip, an oral decongestant is the better option for repeated flights. Antihistamines can also help if allergies are the root cause of your congestion.
Pressure-Regulating Earplugs
Specialty earplugs designed for flying contain a small filter that slows the rate at which pressure changes reach your eardrum. In pressure-chamber testing, these plugs delayed the full pressure change by about seven minutes, giving the Eustachian tube more time to catch up on its own. They won’t eliminate the need to swallow or yawn, but they reduce the intensity of the pressure shift. Insert them before takeoff and keep them in through landing. You can find them at most pharmacies, often marketed as “flight” or “pressure” earplugs, and they’re reusable.
Keeping Kids Comfortable
Children are especially prone to ear pain on planes because their Eustachian tubes are narrower and more horizontal than an adult’s, making equalization harder. They also can’t perform a Valsalva maneuver on command. For infants, nursing, bottle-feeding, or offering a pacifier during takeoff and landing encourages the frequent swallowing that keeps the tubes open. For toddlers and older kids, a sippy cup or a snack that requires chewing works well.
One important timing detail: try to keep your child awake during takeoff and landing. Children swallow far less often while asleep, so a napping toddler may wake up in real pain once the pressure differential builds. Giving plenty of fluids throughout the flight helps keep the mucous membranes moist and the tubes functioning.
What to Do if Your Ears Won’t Pop
If you land and one or both ears still feel full or muffled, the pressure hasn’t fully equalized. Try the Valsalva or Toynbee maneuver a few more times on the ground. A warm washcloth held over the ear can relax the tissue and make equalization easier. Most cases resolve within a few hours.
Persistent pain, significant hearing loss, ringing, or dizziness that lasts more than a day can signal a more serious issue like fluid trapped behind the eardrum or, rarely, a small perforation. Flying with an active ear infection significantly raises this risk because the infection swells the Eustachian tube shut and the eardrum is already under stress. If you have an ear infection and your flight isn’t urgent, postponing travel until the infection clears is the safest choice.
A Quick Pre-Flight Checklist
- 60 minutes before departure: Take an oral decongestant if you’re congested.
- 30 minutes before departure: Use a nasal decongestant spray if needed.
- At boarding: Insert pressure-regulating earplugs if you have them.
- During climb: Chew gum, sip water, or swallow frequently.
- 30 minutes before landing: Use nasal spray again on longer flights. Start chewing gum or sipping water. Keep children awake and drinking.
- During descent: Swallow, yawn, or gently perform the Valsalva or Toynbee maneuver every few minutes until the wheels touch down.