How to fix Airplane Ear

How to fix Airplane Ear post flight

• Take pseudoephedrine (not phenylephrine doesn't work) - ears will start clicking and eventually popping multiple times throughout the day
• If you are sick use a nasal decongestant spray as well

Airplane ear prevention

• Use a nasal decongestant 30 minutes before takeoff and landing

Other less effective general techniques

• Opening jaw and tilting you head to a side - should make it easier for your ears to pop
• Swallowing and pinching your nose
• Valsalva manoeuvre - should hear a pop but only works for one ear and not pleasant
  • You can use an ear popping device to help you
  • Otovent - but its very hard to blow up balloon

Personal experience

I experienced my worst case of airplane ear by falling asleep and waking up an hour before landing and flying again when ears were not recovered. For two and a half weeks I had a blocked ear trying all sorts of techniques and finally had a breakthrough when I took pseudoephedrine. I have had bad cases when traveling sick but I did not take consecutive flights in those cases and resolved in a day or two. Living with airplane ear is not terrible and eventually you get used to it, you hear yourself more and liquids in your ears moving around. Your ear is also more prone to infection so its important to get it unblocked ASAP.