How To Clear Your Ears After Flying

That muffled, stuffed-up feeling you get after a flight is one of the most common annoyances of air travel. It feels like your head is stuffed with cotton, sounds are distant, and you might even feel a sharp pain.

The repetitive swallowing and jaw motion can help keep the tubes clear. how to clear your ears after flying

If you know you have a cold or allergies, take an oral decongestant one hour before your flight lands . This pre-empts the swelling and makes popping your ears much easier upon arrival. That muffled, stuffed-up feeling you get after a

The good news? You can usually fix it in minutes. Here’s your step-by-step guide. If you know you have a cold or

This combines the two techniques above for a higher success rate.

That plugged, underwater feeling after a flight is miserable. You’ve landed, but your ears haven’t. This common issue—called "airplane ear" or ear barotrauma—happens when pressure changes during takeoff and landing trap air in your Eustachian tubes.