What to Do if Your Ears Get Blocked on a Plane

October 29, 2025

3 min read

Some people tolerate flights easily, while for others, they become a real challenge due to aerotitis—ear blockage during takeoff and landing. It’s one thing if you just feel mild discomfort, but some people experience sharp pain or even temporary hearing loss. What can you do in this situation?

Key takeaways

Some people tolerate flights easily, while for others, they become a real challenge due to aerotitis—ear blockage during takeoff and landing.
Why ears get blocked
How to prepare for your flight

Who this is for

People exploring Healthy lifestyle through ear, air travel.

Why it matters

This piece helps you get oriented quickly, then move into a collection or series if you want to keep going.

Article author

Dr. Anastasia

Otorhinolaryngologist

Why ears get blocked

Normally, the air pressure inside your middle ear and the pressure outside are nearly equal. This balance is maintained by the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. During takeoff or landing, the air pressure changes rapidly, and the Eustachian tube may not respond quickly enough. As a result, the eardrum can't vibrate properly, and you feel pressure or fullness in your ears. The same thing can happen in elevators in tall buildings or while driving through mountainous areas. Ear blockage may also occur if you board a flight with existing ENT issues such as otitis, sinusitis, or Eustachian tube dysfunction. In these cases, flying can cause significant or prolonged ear pain.

Do not sleep during takeoff or landing. While sleeping, people swallow less frequently, which interferes with pressure equalization and can worsen ear discomfort.

How to prepare for your flight

Drink plenty of water before and during your flight. Staying well-hydrated helps prevent ear and nasal issues.
Buy special filtered earplugs for flying, which reduce pressure on your eardrums.
Consult your ENT doctor about nasal sprays or drops that constrict blood vessels and reduce mucus. These make it easier for air to pass through the Eustachian tube. Use nasal spray about one hour before takeoff or landing, only as needed.
Choose seats toward the front of the plane, near the cockpit—pressure changes are less intense in this area.

How to unblock your ears on a flight

Try simple movements: swallow, yawn, inhale with your nose pinched, move your tongue forward and back, shift your jaw side to side, or breathe in through one nostril and out through the other. These techniques can help open the Eustachian tube and balance the pressure.
Chew gum or suck on sour candy: this helps produce saliva and encourages frequent swallowing.
Drink plenty of water, ideally in small, frequent sips: this keeps your mucous membranes hydrated.
Utilize the Valsalva maneuver: take a deep breath, close your mouth, pinch your nose shut, and try to exhale gently through your nose. Avoid this if you have a cold or allergies, as it can trigger an ear infection.
Use the Toynbee maneuver: close your mouth, pinch your nose shut, and swallow several times until the pressure equalizes.

Avoid using vacuum-sealed earbuds, as they can prevent natural airflow in the ear canal.

What to do if a child’s ears get blocked

Children are more likely to feel ear pain during flights because their Eustachian tubes are narrower and less developed.
For infants and toddlers, offer a bottle, pacifier, or breastfeed during takeoff and landing to encourage swallowing.
Older children can suck on candy or drink through a straw.
Before flying, talk to your pediatrician about using ear drops or pain relief medications if needed during the flight.

In most cases, ear pressure or pain resolves on its own shortly after landing. However, if the pain persists or your hearing doesn’t return to normal within 1–2 days, make an appointment with an ENT specialist to assess the issue.

Continue reading

Healthy lifestyle#headache

6 of the Rarest Medical Specialties

With the development of medicine, narrowly specialized specialists have appeared, whose task is to solve problems beyond the competence of general practitioners. Read on to find out if you need one of them.

HelenDec 10, 2025

Healthy lifestyle#chronic

How to Get Rid of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is the most excruciating type of pain. How can it be coped with?

Dr. XeniaDec 9, 2025

Respiratory system#lungs

Electronic Cigarettes: Are They Bad for You?

Electronic cigarettes also referred to as vapes, are one of the most controversial topics these days. Some experts believe that they are as harmful as regular cigarettes. Others argue that, on the contrary, they are helpful and beneficial for smokers who would like to quit. Let's take a look at the health risks of using them.

Dr. AnastasiaOct 28, 2025

Healthy lifestyle#glaucoma

The Beginners’ Guide: What You Need To Know About Cannabidiol (CBD)

So you have heard about CBD and it can help you with your problem, but you don’t know where to start. Here is a short beginner’s guide to CBD!

Dr. AsyaOct 28, 2025

Install Ornament to not only read these articles, but also track your health, store test results, and access other useful features

Install Ornament