having spent several years in the air force where the airplane, b-52 did not have the same kind of pressurazation as todays airlines, I will share a secret with you deal with earpain. It is usually a blockage that can be cleared when you start to feel the pain. To resolve it, breath in, then hold your nose closed with your fingers, close your mouth and exhale very hard. It is called a valsalva action. It is also used by scuba divers to clear the ear blockage/pressure . I am sure my spelling in this will be bad, but you are clearing your escahaution tubes between your ears and your throat. The exhale will actually end up clearing the pressure in your ears as it is forced through these tubes. The pain will disappear instantly with this process as the blockage in your ears will instanly disappear.