Ear pain & flying

[Breezy_Carol]

I also am glad to see this.

The last time I flew I had trobule with my ears for 3 days after I landed. I didn't want to fly to WDW because of this but we are going to try again in a few weeks. I will try these.

 

[JodyLynC]

I get severe ear pain whether I am decongested or not. I don't fly without earplanes. I have picked them up at Target and Walmart pharmacies. They aren't that expensive and are very easy to use. Here are some tips though:

1) I don't insert mine fully in. Just enough to block my ear passage.

2) I insert mine as soon as I am seated on the plane. For short flights (4 hours or less), I leave them in the entire time. For longer trips, I take them out until we begin our descent. (If you ask, your flight attendant should let you know when you begin the descent.)

3) If you have a cold, do not use them. They don't work and may make the pain worse.

 

[DVC-LEROY]

I agree with JodyLynC - wouldnt fly without them. Walmart always has earplanes for both adults and kids. My 5 yr old DS has been using them since he was 2 (he's been flying on 6 trips and only once we lost one and boy did we hear it - screaming in pain. Our pediatrician told to use a decongestant and said that some people find that earplanes work - some don't. We all plug in our earplanes as soon as we get buckled in and away we go.

 

[KIS]

Do you keep them in the entire flight? Do you need a separate pair for the assent and another for the descent? Do you need a separate pair for each flight (going to Orlando and returning from Orlando)?

kis

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by KIS
Do you keep them in the entire flight? Do you need a separate pair for the assent and another for the descent? Do you need a separate pair for each flight (going to Orlando and returning from Orlando)?

Good questions - I'm wondering about this also.

 

[KIS]

Can anyone answer this question?

KIS

 

[mbb]

good for two ups and two downs...

Good luck!!

 

[KIS]

mbb,

As cute as your answer was (seriously, it was, in my opinion), would you please clarify. That's one set for a round trip? Or, is that two sets for a round trip?

kis

 

[NotUrsula]

Not MBB, but I can answer. Whether a set lasts for a full round-trip depends on whether the flight is non-stop or if you have a connection. If you have a connection, you will take off twice and land twice on your way to Florida; thus the Earplanes will be used up by the time you arrive. If you have non-stop flight, you will only take off once and land once going each way, so one set *will* last for an entire RT if you have a non-stop flight.

 

[Annette_VA]

Originally posted by KIS
I checked a box of earplanes in the pharmacy and the box read that they were designed for children over the age of eleven.

Does anyone know why that is? I've read here that someone used them successfully for a six year old. I wonder what the risk might be for a child under that age.

KIS

Hey, just wanted you to know they make a children's version - for ages 1 & up: http://www.magellans.com/jump.jsp?itemID=739&itemType=PRODUCT

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by NotUrsula
Not MBB, but I can answer. Whether a set lasts for a full round-trip depends on whether the flight is non-stop or if you have a connection. If you have a connection, you will take off twice and land twice on your way to Florida; thus the Earplanes will be used up by the time you arrive. If you have non-stop flight, you will only take off once and land once going each way, so one set *will* last for an entire RT if you have a non-stop flight.

You got it,NotUsrsula!!

Glad you thought it was a cute answer, Kis...hope it made you smile , confused...but smiling!

 

[KIS]

Thanks to you both for your explanations. KIS

 

[DWhittles]

Any thoughts on flying with a 2 month old? My son travels like a champ, sleeps through almost every car ride and train and bus he's ever been on but I'm concerned about the plane and the pressure on his little ears...
Tips or tricks would be appreciated!
Diana

 

[KerriMc]

The best thing to do if you can is nurse him on take off and landing, or bottle feed whichever you do with him. My 7 mos old was great on the way down to FL and despite being sick most of the week, was also awesome on the way home. We did have her carseat with us, so she just slept after she nursed. It was all timed perfectly. I know she felt some pressure because she would swipe at her ears a bit, but by continuously eating it was ok!!

Good luck!! I think the little ones are easier to travel with as they don't require so much entertainment (as my almost 3 yr old does!!

Have fun
Kerri

 

[DWhittles]

Did you find that carrying the car seat and the stroller and the baby and your bags was overwhelming?
We usually fly Delta and I'd want to purchase a seat for my son for the carseat.
Do the airlines charge full price for the seat if it's for an infant? I know I sound clueless but I really just don't know!
Diana

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by DWhittles
Did you find that carrying the car seat and the stroller and the baby and your bags was overwhelming?
We usually fly Delta and I'd want to purchase a seat for my son for the carseat.
Do the airlines charge full price for the seat if it's for an infant? I know I sound clueless but I really just don't know!
Diana

Yes, you will have to pay full price if your son is using a seat.

Why not check the stroller? Will you be able to carry him in the infant seat? If you can't check the stroller they may be able to put it in a closet when you enter the plane. I would check into this before your flight just to make sure.

You may want to consider getting a backpack to carrying everything in instead of a shoulder bag. It may be easier to maneuver. Are you flying alone with him?

 

[KerriMc]

Diana ... it wasn't as bad getting through the airport as I thought it would be. Of course there was myself, DH, and my parents ... but that also meant more luggage to carry as well! We used Olivia's Graco seat that snapped into the stroller. So she just rode along in that all the way to the airplane. We just took the seat out and left the stroller at the gate. Once we had dropped off out luggage we were ok ...even before that we used the trolley at the airport and everything packs on there pretty well. I don't know about Delta, but I didn't have to pay full price for Olivia to fly even though she was taking a seat. It cost about 150 less for her. So check it out. It really is worth having them in a seat as it isn't fun to try and hold an infant for that long. They like their space too!

I thought it would be a big hassle, but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. They were all very accomodating throughout the whole airport to people with strollers!

Kerri

 

[DWhittles]

Thanks! I have the carseat that snaps into the stroller too so I'm going to go that route.
Does anyone know about some sort of a shipping bag or protective bag for the stroller? I'm not too concerned but I'd prefer not to have my stroller smashed up when I arrive in Orlando...

 

[KerriMc]

Diana ... your stroller is taken right from where you drop it off put kind of 'on top' of everything else. I don't know if it is where all of the actual luggage is or if it is somewhere else. Since they do this, it isn't just thrown around quite like your luggage, so you should be ok. We folded ours down and it was still folded down just like it was when we left it. No nicks or marks or anything.
As well ... when I mentioned that Olivia travelled all the way through the airport I forgot to say that I did have to take her out when we walked through the scanners. At our airport (in Toronto) they put the seat through the belt scanner and she walked through with me in my arms. They were all very friendly as she was smiling at all the ladies. I'd never seen such friendly people at the scanners ... but at our airport they have a special section for strollers and wheelchairs, so they may be nicer !?!?

Kerri

 

[NotUrsula]

"Yes, you will have to pay full price if your son is using a seat."

Not necessarily. As long as the child is under age 2, the price will depend on the airline and the type of ticket the adults have. Sometimes an infant fare will be a set percentage of whatever adult fare you paid, and sometimes it will be a percentage of the fully-refundable adult fare. That means that the "infant fare" price might be lower than your fare, but it might be higher, too. You should always ask and then take the cheapest offer. (FYI, With SWA, the Infant Fare is almost always going to be more expensive than a discounted adult fare.)

Also, some damage-mitigation tips re: gate-checking strollers... Before you leave home, remove all extra items from the stroller and put them in your checked baggage. This goes for dangly toys, decorations, extra pouches or cupholders, and also the stroller's hood, which is the part most likely to be damaged in transit. Lock the wheels securely before you fold and latch it at the end of the jetway. Do not expect the ramp workers to know how to fold it; they don't, and they may break it trying to figure it out. Also, try to avoid putting small items in the stroller's basket while going through the airport; you will only have to remove them for security and again when you leave the stroller on the jetway.