I spent $54 on a game-changing gadget for in-flight entertainment, and now I never travel without it
- I always forgot to pack my wired headphones and ended up paying for cheap airline ones.
- But now with an AirFly Pro, I can always use my AirPods to watch in-flight entertainment.
It's a moment we know all too well — you've sat down in your (probably) tiny plane seat, pulled out your bag, and realized you've left your cord headphones at home. Now you're stuck with the cheap airline ones.
I never remembered to pack my old Apple EarPods after switching to wireless headphones, and I've handed over my credit card an embarrassing number of times to watch in-flight entertainment (aka "Legally Blonde" or "Miss Congeniality"). The headphones were always terrible, and they almost always ended up lost or in the trash afterward.
But one day I found a solution while scrolling through Instagram stories. My friend Emanuel had posted a picture from his airplane seat, and I spotted a little gadget plugged into the headphone jack of his plane's TV. When I messaged him asking for more details, he called it a "game changer."
His gadget was the AirFly Pro, a Twelve South product (which is also sold by Apple) that lets you use AirPods or Beats wireless headphones for in-flight entertainment. The $54.95 tool is super simple to use. You just plug it into the headphone jack on a plane and, with the press of a button, connect it to your AirPods.
My favorite aspect of the gadget is that it can pair two sets of AirPods so two people can listen to the same movie or show at the same time. The product is described on Apple's website "as a headphone splitter for wireless headphones."
I bought the AirFly Pro before my boyfriend and I flew to NYC for a wedding, and we were able to connect both of our AirPods to his iPad and have a "Vanderpump Rules" marathon — truly the best way to fly.
According to Apple's website, you can also use the AirFly to connect your iPhone to rental cars, boats, and any other non-Bluetooth speakers with an AUX port.
The AirFly Pro's battery lasts 16 hours and recharges with a USB cable (just make sure you charge it before first use).
As someone who travels all the time, the AirFly Pro has been a lifesaver. It has a permanent spot in my carry-on bag, and now I never travel without it.