I’m Giving This Handy Bluetooth Dongle to Every Traveler on My List This Year. Here’s Why

Like everyone else, I find air travel during the holidays to be incredibly stressful. From long security lines to unpredictable weather and flight delays, it’s a lot. One perk of flying? Watching new-release movies. That makes all the chaos a little more bearable. However, in-flight entertainment on most airlines usually requires a wired set of earbuds. (And the ones the airline hands out are so bad they may as well not even be connected.) 

I’d far prefer to use my wireless, noise-canceling AirPods Pro, but they connect only via Bluetooth. That’s where the AirFly Pro from Twelve South comes in.

The AirFly is a simple Bluetooth dongle that allows me to connect my wireless earbuds directly to the airplane’s entertainment system, eliminating the need for adapters or wired workarounds. 

It’s become a must-pack item in my travel bag. Since I started using it, I’ve stopped dreading in-flight audio and finally get to enjoy movies on the plane. If you know someone who flies often, this little gadget could completely change how they travel. 

The AirFly Pro lets me enjoy in-flight entertainment

The AirFly Pro is a minimally designed dongle that allows me to connect to the 3.5mm headphone jack in my airplane seat, enabling me to listen to in-flight entertainment on my noise-canceling earbuds.

All I have to do is pair the AirFly with the Bluetooth headphones I’m using, such as my AirPods Pro, plug the AirFly into the display in front of me, and I’m all set. I don’t even need to use my phone to connect the two devices.

There are several versions of the AirFly: the AirFly SE, which is currently on sale for $29 on Amazon and connects to just one set of headphones, the AirFly Pro, which costs $55, the Pro 2 ($50) and the Pro 2 Deluxe ($60), which comes with an international headphone adapter and a suede travel case.

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I use the AirFly Pro, which has been a game changer for me on flights. I’ve never had to worry about battery life since the AirFly Pro lasts for over 25 hours and can be fully charged in just three hours. I can also pair two separate pairs of headphones to a single AirFly Pro, in case I’m with someone else on a flight and want to watch the same movie or show. 

And if that’s not enough, the AirFly Pro also doubles as an audio transmitter, allowing me to turn any speaker with a headphone jack, such as my old car stereo, into a Bluetooth speaker.

Why the AirFly Pro makes a great gift 

If you know someone who’s a jet setter or someone who’s planning a big trip this year, the AirFly Pro is one of those can’t-go-wrong gifts. Besides my Anker MagSafe battery pack, the AirFly Pro has become my most treasured travel accessory when I fly, which is why it’s become one of my favorite travel gifts to give people. It’s small and practical — I know they’ll appreciate it when they’re mid-flight. It’s the perfect trifecta for travelers.

For more travel gifts, here are our favorite tech essentials to travel with and our favorite travel pillows.