Just wanted to add that flying with a cold can cause it to turn into something worse. I flew with a bad cold and had to change planes twice. I thought I would die, the ear pain was so bad. A few days later, I came down with infections in both ears. The infections were so bad that the doctor could see the red, swollen insides of my ears without using the instrument they use for checking ears. She told me I had two "rip-roaring" ear infections. I was on antibiotics and perscription painkillers for a week. The doctor says that infections in the sinuses can actually be pushed into the ears by the pressure when flying, causing ear infections that might not have happened otherwise. The infections were so bad that I could not fly home from Montana to California! I was with my roommate at his brother's house, and we borrowed one of the brother's cars and drove back to California. I agree with everyone about taking Sudafed, etc. before flying. It does help.