For years, flying was straightforward for me. Long haul or short haul—no issues beyond the usual travel fatigue.
Then out of nowhere, something changed.
On a short flight in Asia, during descent, I started to feel a mild headache around my left temple. Within minutes, it escalated into intense, focused pain—spreading across the top left of my head and deep behind my left eye.
It was the most severe head pain I’d ever experienced.
As the aircraft continued to descend, it only got worse—intense enough that, for a moment, I found myself wishing the descent would just stop.
And it didn’t disappear quickly either—it lingered for hours after landing.
At the time, I had no idea what caused it—or how to stop it happening again.
Why Airplane Headaches Happen
After the second time it happened, I decided to get it checked properly.
My doctor wasn’t concerned at all and explained that what I’d experienced is quite common during flying—particularly during descent—when pressure changes affect the sinuses. It’s usually not anything serious, but it can feel intense when it happens.
That was reassuring—and it made me look at the problem a bit more logically.
From there, I looked into it further, and what became clear is that there isn’t usually a single cause. Instead, it’s typically a combination of factors that come together at the wrong moment—particularly during descent.
Cabin pressure changes
As the aircraft descends, pressure changes can affect the sinus cavities—particularly around the forehead and behind the eyes. If that pressure doesn’t equalise smoothly, it can lead to sharp or focused pain.
One thing I noticed was that it always happened during descent, not takeoff. Pressure changes tend to feel more intense on the way down, especially if your body isn’t adjusting smoothly.
It can also feel very one-sided, which makes it more alarming. In my case, it was always the left side—temple and behind the eye—which made it feel more serious than it actually was.
Sinus sensitivity
Even mild dryness or slight congestion can make pressure changes more noticeable—even if you don’t normally have sinus issues.
On a flight, the air is much drier than usual, which can affect the sinuses without you realising it. If they’re even slightly irritated or blocked, it becomes harder for pressure to equalise properly as the aircraft descends.
That’s when you can get that sharp, focused pain—often around the forehead or behind one eye.
In my case, the pain was always very localised, which made it feel more serious than it actually was.
Dehydration
For me, though, one factor stood out more than the others—dehydration.
Cabin air is extremely dry—much drier than most indoor environments—which means you can become dehydrated without really noticing it.
On shorter flights, especially with early starts or connections, it’s easy to board already slightly dehydrated.
Looking back, that matched my situation almost exactly.
When You’re Most Likely to Get an Airplane Headache
From my experience, certain situations make it much more likely:
Early morning flights (starting dehydrated)
Short-haul or connecting flights
Minimal fluid intake before boarding
Rushing through airports without stopping to drink
Flying after poor sleep
This explains why I never had issues on long-haul flights—but did on shorter ones.
Long-haul travel naturally creates more opportunities to hydrate, rest, and settle into the flight. Drinks are served regularly, and you can usually help yourself to water or other drinks throughout the flight.
Short-haul flights are very different.
There’s often little or no drinks service, especially on early morning or budget flights, and the overall pace is much more rushed—from boarding through to descent.
That combination—starting slightly dehydrated and not really catching up during the flight—seems to increase the risk significantly.
What Actually Helped Me
After the second episode, I made a few simple changes—and haven’t had the problem since.
That’s something I didn’t really think about at the time—but it’s now one of the main things I account for before every flight.
Hydration before the flight
This was the biggest improvement.
Before boarding, I now drink water with a hydration mix (electrolyte powder), rather than relying on plain water or waiting until I’m on the plane.
👉 I currently use High 5 Electrolyte Hydration Tablets which offer good flavour and value for money:
One thing I’ve learned is that hydration isn’t just about drinking water—it’s about how well your body retains it.
Electrolyte mixes help your body absorb and retain fluid more effectively, which is particularly useful in the dry environment of an aircraft cabin.
For me, the key isn’t drinking more during the flight—it’s starting properly hydrated before I even board.
Staying hydrated in a realistic way
On long-haul flights, this tends to happen naturally—drinks are served regularly, and there’s time to stay on top of it.
Short-haul flights are where I used to fall short.
Now I make a point of:
drinking before boarding
not relying solely on in-flight service
On shorter flights, I also keep a small bottle of water with me—sometimes with hydration mix—and make sure I drink it around 30–45 minutes before descent.
That small change alone has made a noticeable difference for me.
Nasal decongestant before descent
This made a noticeable difference.
Before descent (or a few hours before landing on longer flights), I use a nasal decongestant spray.
Since doing this, I haven’t experienced the same type of headache again.
👉 The one I currently use is Vicks Sinex Soother Nasal Spray (a decongestant nasal spray)
I’m not particularly tied to the brand—it’s more about the type of spray—but this one has worked well for me and is easy to carry.
One thing I like about it is that it provides relief for up to around 12 hours, which can easily cover most short to medium-haul flights from start through to descent.
The key thing is using it before descent, rather than reacting once symptoms start.
As with any decongestant spray, it’s important not to overuse it—always follow the instructions on the label.
A small but useful observation (mask use)
One thing I’ve noticed—although it’s a relatively minor factor—is that wearing a mask can make breathing feel slightly less dry during a flight.
It’s not something I rely on, but in the dry cabin environment, it can help reduce the dryness of the air you’re breathing in, which may help keep your sinuses a little more comfortable.
There are a few other practical benefits too.
If you’re seated near someone who’s coughing, sneezing, or clearly unwell, it’s a simple way to add a bit of protection without overthinking it.
It also helps:
reduce dry lips
keep your face slightly warmer
take the edge off that constant airflow if someone nearby has their air vent on full
None of these are major on their own—but combined, they can make the overall experience a bit more comfortable.
What Didn’t Help
Before understanding the cause, there wasn’t much that worked in the moment.
Drinking water during the headache didn’t resolve it
Changing position didn’t help
Taking paracetamol didn’t make any immediate difference
Waiting it out was the only option
In my case, even pain relief like paracetamol wasn’t particularly useful during the main descent phase. It takes time to work, and by the time it would normally start to take effect, the worst of the pain had already passed.
It may have helped slightly afterwards, but it didn’t do anything to prevent or reduce the intensity of the headache as it was happening.
Once it starts, it tends to run its course.
Prevention is what matters.
One other thing worth mentioning is alcohol.
It’s an easy trap on flights—especially long-haul—but it can contribute to dehydration, which is already amplified by the dry cabin environment. In my case, I either avoid alcohol around flights or make sure I’m properly hydrated to compensate.
Is It Something Serious?
The first time this happened, I’ll be honest—it felt serious.
The pain came on quickly and intensely. I remember being bent forward in my seat, holding my head, with my eyes watering from the discomfort.
Sharp, one-sided pain during descent isn’t something you expect, and it’s easy to assume something worse is going on.
But in most cases, this type of headache is linked to pressure and hydration rather than anything more concerning.
If it’s severe, persistent, or happens frequently, it’s always worth getting it checked.
But if it follows a clear pattern—particularly during descent—it’s often manageable with a few simple changes.
What I Changed (Simple Version)
If I had to reduce this down to the essentials, it comes down to three simple things:
Hydrate properly before boarding
Be aware of descent timing
Stay hydrated during the flight and/or use a nasal decongestant before descent
That’s it.
I now follow the same approach on every flight—short or long haul—so I’m not relying on remembering in the moment.
No complicated routines—just a few small adjustments that remove the risk.
How This Fits Into My Travel Setup
This experience is actually one of the reasons I started refining what I take with me on flights.
Since 2014, I’ve been gradually building up a simple system where everything I carry has a purpose—whether that’s helping me sleep, stay hydrated, or keep on top of things like medication.
Over time, that’s turned into a consistent setup I now use on every flight, rather than figuring things out each time.
I carry it in a small sling that I think of as my Every Flight Pack (EFP)—a simple way of keeping everything I need in one place and ready to use.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve experienced something similar—particularly sharp or focused headaches during descent—you’re not alone.
It can feel quite alarming the first time it happens.
But in many cases, it comes down to a few manageable factors.
And with a couple of small adjustments, it’s entirely avoidable.
If you’ve experienced something similar, I’d be interested to hear how it felt for you or what helped—feel free to share in the comments.
This is based on my personal experience—if you experience any medical issues while travelling, it’s always best to seek advice from a qualified professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Headaches during flights are usually caused by a combination of cabin pressure changes, sinus response, and dehydration.
As the aircraft descends, pressure changes can affect the sinuses—particularly around the forehead and behind the eyes. If your body doesn’t equalise that pressure smoothly, it can result in sharp or focused pain.
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For many people, symptoms appear during descent rather than takeoff.
This is because pressure changes can feel more intense as the aircraft comes down, especially if your sinuses are slightly dry or congested. That’s when the body can struggle to equalise pressure properly.
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In most cases, airplane headaches are not dangerous and are linked to pressure and hydration rather than anything serious.
However, for any medical issue while travelling, it’s always worth getting checked by a medical professional.
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Simple steps can make a big difference:
Stay hydrated before boarding
Drink fluids during the flight
Be aware of descent timing
Consider using a nasal decongestant before landing
Prevention is generally more effective than trying to treat the headache once it starts.
These are the same steps I now follow on every flight.
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Yes—dehydration is a major contributing factor.
Cabin air is very dry, and it’s easy to become dehydrated without realising it, especially on short-haul or early morning flights.
Starting the flight properly hydrated can significantly reduce the risk.
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Masks aren’t a primary solution, but they can help slightly.
They may reduce the dryness of inhaled air and help keep your face and sinuses more comfortable in a dry cabin environment.
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This is often linked to sinus pressure.
As pressure changes during descent, it can affect specific sinus areas, which can result in sharp, localised pain—often around one eye or one side of the head.