Aeroplane Ear: How to Stop Ear Pain and Blocked Ears When You Fly This Summer
That painful, muffled feeling on take-off and landing has a name, and it is very treatable. Here is why aeroplane ear happens and the simple steps that keep your ears comfortable in the air.
By Hear With Ish • Published 22 July 2026 • Reading time 7 minutes
If you have ever felt your ears block, pop or ache as a plane climbs or descends, you have met aeroplane ear. It is one of the most common summer holiday complaints, and while it is usually harmless, it can range from a mild fullness to genuinely sharp pain that lingers for hours after landing. The good news is that aeroplane ear is easy to understand, simple to prevent in most cases, and rarely anything to worry about once you know what is happening inside your ear.
With so many people flying off for summer breaks, this is the time of year we see the most questions about blocked ears after a flight. Below, we explain what causes the discomfort, how to relieve it, who is most at risk, and when a muffled ear that will not clear is worth having checked by a professional.
What Causes Aeroplane Ear
Aeroplane ear, known medically as ear barotrauma, is caused by a difference in air pressure between the inside of your ear and the cabin around you. Behind your eardrum sits a small air-filled space called the middle ear, and it connects to the back of your throat by a narrow channel called the Eustachian tube. That tube is what keeps the pressure balanced. When it opens, air moves in or out and everything equalises, which is the little pop you feel.
During a flight, cabin pressure changes quickly, especially on take-off and landing. If the Eustachian tube cannot open fast enough to keep up, the pressure inside the middle ear no longer matches the cabin. The eardrum is pulled or pushed out of its normal position, which is what creates that blocked, stretched, sometimes painful sensation. The NHS guide to ear barotrauma is a clear, plain-English reference if you want to read more about how it develops.
Anything that makes the Eustachian tube slower to open makes aeroplane ear more likely. A summer cold, hay fever, sinus congestion or a build-up of ear wax can all narrow the passage and stop the pressure clearing as it should, which is why the same flight can be fine one year and uncomfortable the next.
How to Relieve and Prevent It in the Air
Most cases of aeroplane ear can be prevented or eased with a few simple techniques that encourage the Eustachian tube to open. The four steps below take moments and make a real difference, especially during descent, which is usually the more uncomfortable part of the journey.
1Swallow, yawn and chew
Each swallow or yawn helps flick the Eustachian tube open. Sip a drink, suck a sweet or chew gum during take-off and descent to keep the tube working and the pressure balanced.
2Try the gentle Valsalva manoeuvre
Pinch your nose, close your mouth and breathe out gently, as if blowing your nose softly, until your ears pop. Do it lightly and repeat as needed. Never force it hard, as too much pressure can do more harm than good.
3Stay awake for take-off and landing
You swallow far less often when you sleep, so ask to be woken for the descent. Being awake lets you equalise as the pressure changes rather than waking up with an ear that has already blocked.
4Plan ahead if you are congested
If you have a cold or hay fever, a pharmacist can advise on a decongestant or antihistamine to take before you fly. Pressure-regulating filtered ear plugs, worn from boarding, also slow the pressure change and give the tube more time to keep up.
Travel tip
Booking a flight while nursing a heavy cold or blocked sinuses? A quick ear check before you travel can spot wax or congestion that would otherwise make the descent painful, and it is far easier to sort on the ground than at 30,000 feet.
When Ear Wax Makes Flying Worse
A surprising number of painful flights come down to ear wax rather than the flight itself. When wax builds up and partly blocks the ear canal, it changes how pressure behaves around the eardrum and can make the blocked, muffled feeling far worse and slower to clear. People often assume the flight caused the problem when the wax was already there waiting to cause trouble.
If your ears feel permanently full, or one side has been muffled for a while, it is worth having them looked at before you travel. Gentle, water-free ear wax removal by microsuction clears the canal in a single visit, and a quick look with a camera settles in seconds whether wax is the culprit. Clearing a blockage before a holiday can be the difference between a comfortable flight and a miserable one.
Who Is Most at Risk
Aeroplane ear can affect anyone, but some people are more prone to it than others. The table below shows the common risk factors and the sensible steps that help.
| Who is affected | Why | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone with a cold or hay fever | Congestion narrows the Eustachian tube | Decongestant before flying, filtered ear plugs |
| Babies and young children | Smaller, more easily blocked tubes | Feeding or a drink during take-off and landing |
| People with a lot of ear wax | Wax worsens pressure changes | Professional wax removal before travel |
| Frequent flyers and divers | Repeated pressure changes add up | Learn to equalise early, check ears if muffled |
If you fly often for work or holidays, it is worth understanding how your own ears respond to pressure. A professional hearing assessment can pick up any underlying issues that make flying harder, and give you a clear picture of your ear health before a busy season of travel.
When to Get Your Ears Checked
In most cases, aeroplane ear settles within a few hours of landing as the pressure evens out. Sometimes, though, an ear stays blocked, muffled or painful for a day or more, and that is when a professional check is sensible. Persistent fullness after a flight can mean trapped fluid, an infection, or wax that has been pushed into an awkward spot, none of which clear on their own.
You should seek advice if you have severe pain that does not ease, hearing that stays reduced for more than a day or two, any discharge or bleeding from the ear, or ringing and dizziness that persists. These are signs the eardrum or middle ear needs a proper look. The charity RNID offers helpful guidance on common ear problems and when to seek support. If your hearing has not returned to normal after a flight, our clinical hearing care in Leicester can examine your ears, clear any blockage, and reassure you that everything is healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my ears block up when I fly?
Your middle ear is an air-filled space that has to balance its pressure with the cabin. When the plane climbs or descends, the pressure changes quickly, and if the Eustachian tube cannot open fast enough to keep up, your ear feels blocked or painful until it equalises.
How do I unblock my ears after a flight?
Try swallowing, yawning, chewing, or a gentle Valsalva manoeuvre by pinching your nose and breathing out softly until your ears pop. A warm flannel held to the ear can help too. If it has not cleared within a day or so, have your ears checked, as wax or fluid may be involved.
Should I fly with a cold or blocked sinuses?
You can, but expect aeroplane ear to be more likely and more uncomfortable, because congestion narrows the Eustachian tube. A pharmacist can suggest a decongestant or antihistamine to take before you fly, and filtered ear plugs worn from boarding help slow the pressure change.
Can ear wax make aeroplane ear worse?
Yes. A build-up of wax changes how pressure behaves around the eardrum and can make the blocked feeling worse and slower to clear. Having wax removed by microsuction before you travel is a simple way to avoid a painful flight, especially if your ears already feel full.
How can I help my baby or child with aeroplane ear?
Encourage swallowing during take-off and landing by feeding a baby or giving a drink or a snack to an older child. Their Eustachian tubes are smaller and block more easily, so keeping them swallowing through the pressure changes is the most effective thing you can do.
How long does aeroplane ear usually last?
For most people it eases within a few hours of landing as the pressure evens out. If an ear stays blocked, muffled or painful for more than a day or two, it is worth having it checked, as trapped fluid, an infection, or wax may be stopping it clearing on its own.
When should I see a professional about a blocked ear?
See someone if you have severe pain that will not ease, hearing that stays reduced for more than a day or two, any discharge or bleeding, or persistent ringing and dizziness. These suggest the eardrum or middle ear needs a proper look rather than time alone.
Fly Comfortably This Summer
A little preparation makes aeroplane ear far less likely, and most cases are easy to prevent or put right. If your ears feel full before a trip, or one side has stayed muffled since your last flight, book in with Ish in Leicester for a check, gentle wax removal, or honest advice on what is going on. You can contact the clinic to arrange a convenient time before you travel.
Flying Soon and Worried About Your Ears?
A quick check and clean before you travel can save a painful flight.
