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Flying in a commercial aircraft, a miracle of aerodynamics that should feel worthy of immense gratitude, is a tedious chore at best. It’s become notoriously unpleasant, thanks to the barefoot guy snacking loudly across the aisle, anxiety about how sturdy the plane’s exterior actually is, and the cheap, airline-issued headphones that don’t exactly make for a five-star movie-watching experience. Unless you’re a luxury traveler or a credit card points fiend, catching a flight is about the destination, not the journey.
There are uncomfortable details of the flying experience that are inevitable; shitty headphones don’t have to be one of them. That’s where the AirFly Pro from Twelve South, a Chapstick-sized audio accessory that connects any pair of earbuds or headphones to the plane’s entertainment system via Bluetooth, comes in. Introducing this little dongle means there’s no need to sacrifice noise cancellation in order to enjoy the free movies featured on the headrest TV set.
Airfly Pro
The AirFly plugs directly into the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack that’s universally used on airplanes from first class to economy, and it hooks up to your headphones of choice via Bluetooth. It’s a super small gadget that hangs delicately from the jack in the armrest or on the TV screen in front of you. I’ve never worried about it coming loose or falling out.
There is no screen on the AirFly, only a small indicator light, so it can be tricky to know whether it’s connecting or not. But once you get it, it stays connected during the entire flight. When I last used it on a cross-country Delta flight after Christmas I didn’t have any interruptions with my audio connection.
Its battery lasts for 25 hours, outlasting even my longest travel days. You can also use it while it’s charging, a helpful feature, and since many headphone jackets are next to USB ports nowadays this is a realistic possibility.
The AirFly Pro also has a 33-foot connection radius, which I’ve tested by going to the bathroom without pausing my movie. The audio worked the entire time, which was admittedly a little trippy, but nice to know if an emergency evacuation takes place you won’t miss the dialogue in the final scene of the original Jumanji.
The AirFly feels like it should be a required purchase before flying, especially for a long trip over the Atlantic or Pacific or for anyone who has invested in expensive noise-canceling headphones. I love getting to skip using the cheap, disposable earbuds and their handed-out-for-free sound quality. My headphones are also able to transition smoothly from Bluetooth connectivity to the plane TV back to my phone and vice versa. I wasn’t left alone with my thoughts for long, thankfully. Trust me, the $50 price tag will justify itself as soon as the sound of a screaming toddler is blocked out by your fourth viewing of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.
