OK - this is what I have learned to do. I put them in just before
take-off, leave them in, and take them out only after we have landed.
I try to minimize chewing and talking because that makes them
wiggle a bit, and not be as effective. I also try to get a direct flight,
to minimize the take offs and landings. Now last year, I tried another
trick and it worked out even better. JUST before boarding the plane,
I went to the ladies' room stall, and used Q-Tips to gently clean out
my ears of any possible ear wax. (yuck). This made the ear planes
fit better with less wiggling. If I DON'T do all this, the pain in my
ears will be so extreme I can barely cope with it. Last year's flight
was OK.