Ceppo
With regards the swallowing and clearing your ears thing - I think most people can equalise the pressure that way. It's all to do with opening the eustacian tube that links the back of the throat to the inner ear. I can certainly do it, and have no previous ear complaints.
If the pressure is too great for the swallowing bit, you have to use the 'Valsalva Manoeuvre' - which is holding you nose, closing yoiu mouth and blowing. It works for both +ve and -ve pressure.
We all know how to do it, and now we know what it's called!
