Sweets On Flights

[Maydup]

We're flying for the first time in ages and I want to avoid ear ache. Any tips?

Second question, if the best I can do is to suck boiled sweets am I allowed to take them in my had luggage? In a plastic bag? Or not at all maybe? Or perhaps I have to buy them airside, I cant figure it from the umpteen web pages I have read on what is and isnt allowed on a plane.

[naomi24]

You can take them in your hand luggage. No problem.

[SPARKPLUGZ]

I would suggest buying your boiled sweets air side. The big airports have shops like WH Smith and they are the same price as in high street shops.

[zebo]

No problems taking sweets, buy before airside, everything hideously expensive. I've never had ear problems for years.

[naomi24]

^Ditto.

[Buenchico]

I've never had any ear problems when flying (and I've never known anyone who has had them).

You can take anything in your hand baggage unless it's an obvious security risk (such as a knife) or comes in liquid (or gel) form. Full details here:
https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions

[jno]

you'll probably only need them for takeoff and landing but you should be fine just buying them at home and taking them into the cabin with you. So far nobody's hijacked a flight with a boiled sweet.

[Buenchico]

>>> The big airports have shops like WH Smith and they are the same price as in high street shops

W H Smith is notoriously expensive! At the rail station where I worked they were charging three times the price for confectionery items than the convenience store across the road. (I also bought a notepad in our local post office for 90p. A few days later I saw the same notepads on sale in W H Smith at Stansted Airport for £4.50).

[SPARKPLUGZ]

I flew out from Gatwick last month and the sweets I bought were exactly the same price airside as I regularly pay for them, so my suggestion was based on my personal experience. Also the meal deals were the same price.

[Prudie]

You can take sweets, cakes, whatever fits in your handbag and you can buy them where you want. It's liquids over 100ml that will get confiscated. With the improvements in cabin pressure systems I think earache is a thing of the past - unless you have a cold or infection so you're already bunged up.

[douglas9401]

Regarding shops airside, Smiths for the Telegraph and a free 500ml bottle of Evian, Boots for a meal deal and sweets, Greggs for something hot.

[gollob]

The first time I flew I was told to take boiled sweets to stop my ears popping . It worked great but after the plane landed I had a terrible problem getting the sugary sweets out of my ears

[Maydup]

LOL gollop, and thanks everyone.

Once when I flew I experienced really painful ears on landing and had ear ache all holiday. i have had tinitus ever since, so feeling a but nervous about it. I'll take my sweets and exercise my jaw to try to avoid it again.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

//We're flying for the first time in ages and I want to avoid ear ache. Any tips?//

Yes...leave your spouse at home.