How To Unclog Ears After Flying [new] Jun 2026

If the basic maneuvers don’t work, try these.

That plugged, stuffy, underwater feeling in your ears after a landing is incredibly common. It’s called "airplane ear" (barotrauma), and it happens when the air pressure in your middle ear doesn’t equalize quickly enough with the cabin pressure. The Eustachian tube—a tiny canal that connects your middle ear to the back of your throat—gets stuck shut. how to unclog ears after flying

Most cases of airplane ear resolve within a few hours or days. However, you should see a doctor if: If the basic maneuvers don’t work, try these