Air pressure is lower at higher altitudes, which means your body takes in less oxygen. Airlines “pressurize” the air in the cabin, but not to sea-level pressures, so there's still less oxygen getting to your body when you fly, which can make you feel drained or even short of breath.

While flying in a modern 2026 commercial jet, what you "feel" is mostly limited to the transition phases of the flight. During takeoff, you feel the "G-force" pressing you into your seat as the aircraft accelerates, followed by a slight "sinking" feeling in your stomach as the plane levels off or retracts its flaps. Once at cruising altitude, the sensation is remarkably still—similar to sitting in a quiet room—unless the plane encounters turbulence. Turbulence feels like driving over a bumpy road or a sudden "drop," which is simply the plane moving through pockets of air with different pressures. You may also feel your ears "pop" as the cabin pressure adjusts during ascent and descent. For the majority of a 2026 flight, the most noticeable sensation is the subtle, low-frequency vibration of the engines, which many passengers find acts as "white noise," often inducing sleep during long-haul journeys.