Tips For A Silent Flight

When traveling on a plane it is important to know these travel tips in order to protect your hearing and have a comfortable flight.

For example, you should know when booking your flight which seat to pick to reduce the chance of damaging your hearing due to the engine noise. While on a flight noise levels are typically around 80 decibels, but can reach an incredible 105 decibels during takeoff and landing. The following list gives examples of how to have a peaceful and enjoyable flight by giving tips on how to try to prevent and reduce the effects of tinnitus.

Sit Near the Front of Plane

A pilot from JetBlue was interviewed and asked which would be the quietest seat on an airplane. The pilot explained that since the engines are located under the wings, passengers will want to sit forward of them in order to reduce the amount of noise. This does not necessarily mean you have to be in first class, you just need to try to get a seat in front of the wings. This is an important tip to keep in mind the next time you are booking your seat on a flight. SeatGuru is a website which shows the seating arrangement for around 700 flights and can be used to find which areas will be the quietest on a flight.

Sit in an Aisle Seat

The pilot from JetBlue also points out that you want to be seated in an aisle seat rather than a window one to reduce the amount of noise you hear from the plane. The window seats are closer to the skin of the aircraft and therefore end up being a louder seat to have. A study from Istanbul University looked at the amount of noise passengers hear while on the airplane and found that an aisle seat is four decibels quieter than a window seat.

Hearing Protection

Adequate hearing protection can help to block out the loud surrounding noise created by the engine while still allowing for conversation with the person sitting next to you. There are many different hearing protection products on the market to suit your needs.

Swallow and Yawn

While on a flight a way to temporarily reduce the effects of tinnitus would be to try and swallow and yawn as much as possible while on the flight. Swallowing and yawning will hopefully lead to your ears popping which means the air pressure is normalized. Chewing gum or sucking on a hard boiled sweet will help you swallow more and will hopefully lead to your ears popping and a more enjoyable and comfortable flight.

Flight Entertainment

If suffering from tinnitus, trying to take your focus away from it can help you relax and hopefully improve your flight. Listening to music or the SoundRelief app can be a great distraction from tinnitus and can help you reduce stress. Airlines sometimes provide passengers with headphones and different music options to listen to. Watching an in-flight film can also be a way to try and take the focus away from your tinnitus. The purpose of these distractions is to try and reduce the stress and anxiety you may feel while flying. This could then actually help to lessen the effects of your tinnitus.

Don’t Travel while Sick

Flying while sick will make it more difficult for your ears to pop. This can end up leading to a less comfortable flight since your ears have a tougher time equalizing the air pressure in the cabin. A nasal decongestant can be used in order to try and reduce the effects of your cold and improve the chance for your ears to release the pressure. If at all possible try and not book a flight for when you are feeling sick.

Do you have any travel tips to share with us? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or email info@lios-group.com.