To avoid pain in the ear while taking a flight, chew a gum, suck on any type of candy, swallow vigorously, or yawn widely.

Many people get pain in their ears when take a flight. The culprit behind such problems is a part of the middle ear called the Eustachian tube, a tiny but important passageway that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose. Under normal circumstances, the Eustachian tube does its job of maintaining an equal balance of air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. However, when the body is subjected to rapid changes in air pressure, such as flying on an airplane, the Eustachian tube must open frequently and wide enough to try to equalize the quick change in pressure.

One of the best ways to help with that process is either chewing on a piece of gum or sucking on any type of candy, which activates the muscle that opens the Eustachian tube. Yawning is even better since it's a strong activator of that muscle. If you have had, or are currently suffering, from a head cold before flying, try taking some decongestant medication for a few days leading up to the flight as this will also help to clear and unblock the Eustachian tube.