Do "EarPlanes" really work?
 

I've seen these earplug devices advertised to equalize the pressure on either side of the eardrum while flying. I have alergies and nearly every week I can feel the pressure changes not only in my ears, but in my sinuses -- it's a really strange feeling when your sinus cavity "pops" like your eardrum normally does. Not painful, but certainly enough to keep me from dozing.

Anyone have experience with these plugs? Do they work as advertised?

I use EarPlanes during take off and landing and they seem to help me. They don't eliminate the need to equalize pressure, but they do seem to slow down the pressure change during ascent or descent.

I keep a pair in my carry on bag for those rare occasions when the change in air pressure causes my inner ear to hurt like crazy. It's worked the last few times I've had to use them.

TF

i flew LAX-MUC-TXL in April with a really bad ear infection. My doctor gave me ear-planes, and i must say I had more pain going down my local hill w/out them than w/ the ear planes in the jumbo....I definately think they work as long as you don't take them out until the cabin door is opened at the gate...

Both my wife and I use them since we both have "equalizing" problems. I think they work very well. I agree that you should not take them out until the cabin door has been opened. It takes a little getting use to when you are wearing them - but the lack of discomfort afterwards is worth it to me. P.S. they also make them in children size for kids or your wife's smaller ears.

Ok, you've convinced me - now where is the best place to them from? Hopefully somewhere that qualifies as one of the 20 AA partners http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

You can get them from http://www.earplanes.com/

I've also seen them in various airports (MSP, DTW, CLE).

They also sell them at Walgreen's here, so you might want to check out your local drugstore.

You can find them through Catalog City at http://aolaadvantage.catalogcity.com
I found them there at Megellans. $14.80 with shipping for 2 pairs.

Call me old fashioned.....

I have the same results with regular foam earplugs as I do with Earplanes-- but the foam ones are softer and more comfortable in the ears.

Buy the foam ones at Target or Walgreens for like $1 a pair. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

EarPlanes available at Safeway for $3.60 a pair.

The earplanes definitely work. My ears used to kill me during landings and then it would take about 1/2 hour after getting off the plane for them unclog and pop. What works for me is that I only use them for landings, I don't use them for takeoffs. When we're about 1/2 hour before landing, I put them in. Once the plane lands I can take them out, even before they open the door. My ears no longer hurt, and they no longer feel clogged up after getting off the plane.

Make sure you use a new pair for each flight. When I first used them, I would use the same pair on my return flight that I used going and the results weren't as good. I also used to use them on takeoffs and didn't have such great results. Once I started using them only on landings, and a new pair each time, the results have been great. It's well worth the $5 I spend for each flight