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Ear pain after flying is usually caused by pressure changes during descent and clears within hours to a few days as the ear equalises. Swallowing, yawning and gentle pressure clearing help. Pain after swimming often means an outer ear infection. See a doctor if pain lasts more than three days, fluid leaks or your hearing changes.
Why flying hurts your ears
During landing, cabin pressure rises quickly. The small tube that balances pressure behind the eardrum, the Eustachian tube, cannot always keep up, especially if it is narrowed by a cold, hay fever or a blocked nose. The eardrum is pulled inwards, which feels like fullness, muffled hearing and sometimes sharp pain.
This usually settles on its own once the tube opens. These steps help it along:
- Swallow, yawn or chew gum.
- Hold your nose, close your mouth and blow very gently until you feel a pop. Do not force it.
- Sit upright and avoid sleeping flat for the first few hours.
- Ask a pharmacist (Eczane) whether a decongestant nasal spray suits you, especially if you have a cold. Tell them about any conditions and medicines you take.
If the ear still feels blocked after a few days, or the pain is getting worse rather than better, have it examined.
Swimmer's ear and other holiday causes
Pain that starts after swimming in a hotel pool or the sea is often an outer ear infection, sometimes called swimmer's ear. Water left in the ear canal softens the skin and lets bacteria or fungi settle.
Typical signs are pain that is worse when you pull the earlobe or press the small flap in front of the ear, itching, a feeling of fullness and sometimes discharge. A doctor may recommend ear drops after looking inside the ear.
Other common causes of earache on a trip include:
- A middle ear infection, often after a cold, with deep pain, fever and muffled hearing
- Earwax that has swollen after swimming or showering and now blocks the canal
- A sore throat or tonsillitis, where pain spreads to the ear
- Jaw or tooth problems, which can feel like ear pain; see our guide to toothache on holiday in Istanbul
What to do and what to avoid
Most earache improves within a few days. NHS guidance suggests:
- Ask a pharmacist about pain relief.
- Hold a warm or cold flannel against the ear.
- Wipe away any discharge from the outside only.
- Keep water and shampoo out of the ear while it heals; a cotton wool ball with petroleum jelly in the shower helps.
Do not put cotton buds, fingers or anything else inside your ear. Do not use olive oil or ear drops if you think the eardrum may have burst, which can happen after sudden pain followed by relief and discharge. Avoid swimming until the ear has recovered.
If earwax is the problem, a clinician should check the eardrum first. When it is appropriate, ear irrigation at your hotel can clear wax without a clinic visit.
Flying home with ear pain
An ear infection or a heavily blocked ear can make the return flight painful, because pressure changes again on descent. If you fly in the next few days and your ear is still painful or blocked, ask a doctor whether flying is advisable and what you can do before the flight. A doctor visit at your hotel includes an examination of the ear with an otoscope and advice tailored to your flight time.
Tell the doctor when you fly, whether you have a cold, and whether you plan any more swimming or diving.
Preventing ear pain on the next flight
If your ears struggle on flights, a few habits make the descent easier:
- Stay awake for the descent so you can keep swallowing; ask the crew to wake you before landing.
- Chew gum, suck a sweet or sip water as the plane starts to come down.
- If you have a cold, ask a pharmacist before the flight whether a decongestant suits you, and use it as directed.
- Avoid flying with a heavy cold if your travel plans allow it.
- Babies and young children can feed, drink from a bottle or use a dummy during take-off and landing.
Protecting your ears when swimming
Swimmer's ear is easier to prevent than to treat. Dry your ears gently with a towel after swimming, tilting your head to let water drain out. Do not clean the ear canal with cotton buds; wax protects the skin. If you are prone to outer ear infections, ask a pharmacist about earplugs or a swimming cap, and avoid swimming in water that looks or smells dirty.
Diving and snorkelling
Pressure problems are more serious underwater than in a plane. Do not dive with a cold or blocked ears, equalise early and often during descent, and stop if you feel pain. Sudden ear pain, dizziness or hearing loss during or after a dive needs prompt medical assessment, and so does any ear pain before a planned dive.
Useful words
- Kulak ağrısı: ear pain
- Kulağım tıkandı: my ear is blocked
- Kulak damlası: ear drops
Children and ear pain
Ear infections are common in young children, especially after a cold or a flight. A child may pull at the ear, be unusually irritable, sleep poorly or have a fever. Most improve within a few days, but see a doctor if a child is under two, has a high temperature, discharge from the ear, or is not improving.
When ear pain needs a doctor
Arrange an examination, at your accommodation or a clinic, if:
- Pain lasts more than three days or keeps getting worse
- You have a high temperature or feel generally unwell
- Fluid, pus or blood is coming out of the ear
- Your hearing has changed or you hear ringing
- You feel dizzy or the room is spinning
- Something is stuck in the ear
- You have diabetes or a weakened immune system
Related Services
- Hotel Doctor in Istanbul — an ear examination at your hotel, Airbnb or residence.
- Ear Irrigation at Your Hotel — wax removal when a clinician decides it is suitable.
- Online Medical Advice — advice before deciding on a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does ear pain after flying last?
- Usually a few hours to a few days. If it lasts longer than three days or gets worse, have the ear examined.
- How do I unblock my ear after a flight?
- Swallow, yawn, chew gum or gently blow with your nose pinched and mouth closed. A pharmacist can advise on a decongestant spray if you have a cold.
- Is it safe to swim with ear pain?
- Avoid swimming until the ear has healed, especially if you might have an infection or a burst eardrum.
- Can I fly with an ear infection?
- It can be painful and is not always advisable. Ask a doctor to examine the ear before your flight.
If your ear is still blocked or painful and you want it checked before you fly, send a WhatsApp message with your symptoms and flight date.