Ear Planes - anyone use them?

[Ms. WDW]

Of course I'm leaving tomorrow for WDW and I think I may have a slight cold. My head is fine but I have this tiny "cough". I've heard about Ear Planes and was wondering if they really work. My main concern is the landing. On a good day my ears are very difficult to "pop". I've already started my Sudefed and will have Afrin for the plane.

Any other suggestions????

 

[Lynne M]

I can only speak for myself, but I think the EarPlanes are fantastic. I always used to have 'stuffy' ears after a flight, and wouldn't be able to hear too well for a few hours after landing. The EarPlanes make all the difference in the world. NO ear problems at all after using them.

As a side benefit, they also nicely muffle the sounds of a plane full of over-excited little ones!

 

[Ms. WDW]

Can I ask you a question? When you get off the plane now, and you've removed the Ear Planes, are your ears at all clogged/stuffy?

 

[Tigger714]

I have used ear planes for our last two trips and already have them in our carry on for next week. I think they are awesome and I think they do help to keep my ears from feeling stuffy after we have landed. Good Luck!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I have not had success with the ear planes. My ears are terrible on flights. I have to constantly equalize the pressure or I won't be able to hear for hours, not the mention the intense pain.

Good Luck! Try them, I hope they work for you.

 

[Lynne M]

Can I ask you a question? When you get off the plane now, and you've removed the Ear Planes, are your ears at all clogged/stuffy?

Not even a little. No discomfort at all.

I don't know if it matters, but I put them in as soon as I'm settled in my seat (i.e., before any pressure changes), and leave them in for the entire flight, until we're back on the ground.

You can hear with them in, so you don't need to worry about not being able to hear the flight attendant or your travelling companions.

 

[sixcats]

I wouldn't want to fly without them!

 

[Snowy]

Another Ear Planes fan here. I too usually put them in before takeoff and don't take them out until landing. I have no idea how they work and neither does my ear doctor, but his wife swears by them too! My ears do not feel clogged or stuffed up at all when I land. That's how they normally feel if I don't use Ear Planes.
I think it's worth a try.

 

[rosiejo]

Hi - I'm tempted to try these as I suffer really badly with my ears when landing - but do they muffle out sound so that you couldn't use headphones during the flight?

 

[Ms. WDW]

I can't thank you all enough!! I'm always so afraid that my ears are going to clog and I won't be able to pop them to hear!! Talk about nerotic here, but I had a pair once. Didn't use them. I was afraid that if I put them in, when we finally landed and I removed them my ears would be clogged anyway!

Well in light of the fact that I might have a very tiny cold I think I will give them a try.

Wish me luck and again, thank you all!!

 

[Ms. WDW]

Hi - I'm tempted to try these as I suffer really badly with my ears when landing - but do they muffle out sound so that you couldn't use headphones during the flight?

From what people are telling me NO. You can still hear announcements and your companions.

 

[Earstou]

Before I started using Earplanes, my left ear would be clogged for a few hours, but my right ear would be clogged for a few days after flying. Not a good way to spend a vacation, yelling "what?" because I can't hear anything!
I've been using them for about 4 years now and love them. I also am one that puts them in before takeoff and leaves them in until landing.
The last time I flew, I did have a little trouble with my right ear being stuffy for a very short time, but it was very slight.
Using headphones is just different because you have these things sticking out of your ears, so you may need to adjust the headphones to accomodate the Earplanes.

 

[blessedby3]

We got them at the airport last year after DD7 and DS11 were in tears landing at MCO. We bought them for the return flight and they worked for DD7, but DS11 still had pain in one of his ears. I dont know if it wasnt in right or not. My DH flew to Vegas last month and used regular ear plugs and said that they worked for him. I dont know....it always makes me nervous to fly for the kids because it seems so painful for them. I dont suffer from ear problems on flights.

 

[DelitefulDory]

Where can you buy these? I've never heard of them before.

 

[Yzerbear19]

Where can you buy these at?

When I flew to Chicago for the first time last time my one ear wouldn't pop for a few hours and it was so annoying.

Another question, if you wear them, do you still have to chew gum? I hate chewing gum, but did so last time and I don't think it worked all that well. My sister didn't have any problems with her ears at all. When we fly to Disney we will probably be leaving early in the morning so I am going to try to sleep some adn can't sleep and chew gum at the same time. Though I think I have my sister talked out of the 6:40 am flight!

 

[MouseyMin]

You can get them at Walmart, any drugstore, and at the airport (more expensive obviously!) My ENT doctor told me never to fly without them again. I believe they work by slowing the change in atmospheric pressure that reaches your ears - there's a very thin tube down the middle of them. Yes, you can hear with them in, but hearing is reduced. It probably wouldn't be comfortable to use headphones, as they would press the EarPlanes in too much. And you couldn't use ear buds at all!!

I put them in about 1 hour before landing - I don't need them before that. Sometimes I get a little bit clogged, but it's only a fraction of what it would have been without them. I recommend you read the instructions carefully before putting them in, as it's not obvious where the ear canal is if you've never used them before.

Oh, and another trick I was given by the ENT - swallow some water while holding your nose. This also helps clear the ears.

 

[720L]

Another Earplane lover here. I just wanted to mention that there is a children's size--the original ones say "universal fit" but they were too big for my 5 year olds ears. Also, my pediatrician told me that the swallowing is the part that helps your ears, not the chewing.

 

[hoosll]

I have used them for years now and will not fly without them. I have trouble in the mountains of VA much less in an airplane.

I put them in before we takeoff and take them out after the cabin is depressurized and door is opened.

I also take a sudafed about 20 minutes before the flight and use a nasal gel to keep my nose moist.

 

[aviva5675]

These sound good. I dont get clogged, but last few years Ive flown anywhere Ive gotten inner ear infection after the trip. Anyone know if these will make a difference? How are these different than regular ear plugs??

 

[Lynne M]

Hi - I'm tempted to try these as I suffer really badly with my ears when landing - but do they muffle out sound so that you couldn't use headphones during the flight?

I can't use headphones with them. Not because of the sound-muffling, but because part of the plug sticks out of your ear, a bit.