Flying With a Cold or Blocked Ears: What Helps and When to Skip the Flight

Updated October 2026 · HappyFares

A blocked ear on descent is common and usually passes. With a cold it can be more painful, and that is when travellers wonder whether to fly at all. This guide sums up general advice from health bodies. It is not medical advice, so speak to a doctor about your own situation.

Why do ears block on a flight?

Your middle ear holds air at the pressure of the air around you. A narrow channel called the Eustachian tube links it to the back of the nose and lets air in and out to keep the pressure balanced. During descent, the outside pressure rises and pushes the eardrum inward, until air travels up the tube to even things out. The unequal pressure between the middle ear and the outside air is what causes the blocked, muffled feeling and sometimes pain.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that middle ear barotrauma, the medical term for pressure injury, most commonly happens when the Eustachian tube is blocked. It also says the condition is usually not severe or dangerous, though complications such as dizziness, hearing loss or a perforated eardrum can happen rarely.

Aircraft cabins are pressurised, but the cabin pressure still changes during climb and descent, and that change is what your ears notice.

Why is flying with a cold worse for your ears?

A cold, or an allergy such as hay fever, swells the lining of the nose and the tube, so air passes less easily. UK patient information puts it simply: if you are congested, it is harder for your ears to adapt. The same source says that ideally you should avoid flying with a cold or an ear infection.

The CDC says travellers with ear, nose and sinus infections or severe congestion might choose to postpone flying. A mild stuffy nose is a different case from a severe cold with facial pain, fever or a known ear infection, and only a doctor can judge where you stand.

What helps blocked ears during the flight?

Most of the methods aim to open the Eustachian tube, mostly during descent, when problems are most likely.

• Swallow, yawn or chew. Air is more likely to flow up the tube when you do. Chewing gum is a simple option.
• Try the Valsalva manoeuvre. Breathe out gently with your mouth closed and your nostrils pinched. Do it gently, not forcefully, and repeat every few minutes during descent.
• Stay awake for the descent. You swallow less when asleep. Ask the cabin crew to wake you if needed.
• Consider pressure-regulating earplugs if you are prone to symptoms. Some people find them helpful.

For babies and young children, ask your child’s doctor for advice before the flight.

Should you use a decongestant before flying?

Health sources differ in tone, so speak to a pharmacist or doctor. The CDC says travellers may use oral or nasal decongestants to help ease symptoms. UK patient information says oral decongestants are sold without prescription and are usually taken about half an hour before take-off, while nasal sprays and drops are sometimes recommended but there is little evidence that they work. It also says decongestants are generally not recommended for children.

Decongestants are not suitable for everyone. People with certain medical conditions or on other medicines should ask a pharmacist before using them. We do not name products or doses here, since that is a decision for you and your pharmacist or doctor. Travellers with allergies should continue their regular allergy medication, according to the CDC.

When should you skip the flight or see a doctor?

Consider speaking to a doctor before you fly if you have:

• A severe cold, sinus infection or ear infection.
• Ear pain or discharge already, before the flight.
• Any other ear, nose or sinus condition that worries you.

After landing, UK patient information says to see a doctor if the pain or dulled hearing does not clear within a few days. It is sensible to seek medical help sooner if you have severe pain, discharge from the ear, dizziness or ringing in the ears, since the CDC lists dizziness, hearing loss and tinnitus among the rare complications.

The CDC also advises that people with confirmed or suspected acute respiratory infections should delay travel until they are no longer thought to be contagious. That protects the people sitting around you as well as your ears.

If you need to change your booking because you are unwell, contact the airline about its change and cancellation rules. Fees and conditions depend on the fare you bought.

Common Questions

Is it safe to fly with a cold?

Often yes for a mild cold, but ears can hurt more. For a severe cold or an infection of the ear, nose or sinuses, health guidance says to consider postponing, so ask your doctor.

Why do my ears hurt more when the plane is landing?

During descent the outside pressure rises and pushes the eardrum inward until air flows up the Eustachian tube to balance it. A cold can slow that, so the discomfort is stronger.

How long do blocked ears last after a flight?

They usually settle soon after landing. See a doctor if the pain or dulled hearing does not clear within a few days.

Does chewing really help?

Swallowing, yawning and chewing are the standard advice, because they make air more likely to flow up the Eustachian tube.

Can I give my child a decongestant before a flight?

UK patient information says decongestants are generally not recommended for children. Ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist for advice before you travel.

Can I change my flight if I am too unwell to travel?

Possibly, but it depends on your fare and the airline’s rules. Contact the airline as early as you can, and consider travel insurance for future trips.

This is general information, not medical advice. Consult a doctor about your own health, and verify current airline rules and fees with the airline before you travel.