Originally Posted by
LapLap
I’m going to guess that you haven’t yet got noise reducing headphones, the kind that neutralise the sounds of a plane.
I learned about them here on these Flyertalk forums years ago and it’s the one single purchase that has made the most impact on how I feel when flying.
I’d advise borrowing a pair first if you can before making the investment. If that isn’t possible, consider how you feel when in a changing room or bathroom when the hand dryers are working - even if you don’t sense yourself uncomfortable when the noise is happening, do you get a sense of relief when it stops and a comparative silence is restored? If so, I definitely recommend them for you, and the greater the sense of relief, the stronger my recommendation.
Yes that is something to look for. I have sensitive ears, don't know the medical term for it, but when the plane lands, my ears hurt a lot and can last for 1-2hrs till they pop, due to the pressure changes. So now I travel with earplugs, airlines used to give them out but not all do. If I'm not watching a movie or trying to sleep, I will put them in.
I did happen to try out noise cancelling headphones when someone 2 seats over had one and let me try it, they were the expensive Bose ones, and it did make a difference. My upcoming flight on JAL happens to be on premium economy and they say they give NC headphones, so hopefully they are good quality.