Headphones for flying: ANC, a 3.5 mm cable and battery
Noise on a plane
Engine noise is steady and low, exactly the kind active noise cancelling (ANC) reduces best. With less noise, you listen at a lower volume and arrive less tired.
Over-ear or in-ear
Over-ear headphones cover the whole ear and stay comfortable for hours. The TESNA Pods Ultra have adaptive ANC up to 45 dB, 48 hours with ANC on and memory-foam cushions. In-ear buds take less room: the TESNA Ultra have adaptive ANC up to 50 dB, and the TESNA Free7, at 3.9 g a bud, are small enough to sleep in sitting back.
The seat screen
In-flight systems usually have a headphone jack, not Bluetooth. The Pods Ultra come with a 3.5 mm cable for them. Some planes have a two-pin socket, which needs an adapter.
Battery
For a long flight with a stopover, hours with ANC on are what count. The Pods Ultra last 48 hours. The Ultra last 8 hours with ANC on plus 32 from the case; the Free7 6 hours plus 24 from the case.
Pressure in the ears
At take-off and landing the cabin pressure changes and your ears "pop". Headphones do not cause this, but tips that seal very well can make it feel worse for some people.
If it happens to you, take the buds out for landing and swallow, yawn or chew gum to equalise the pressure. With over-ear headphones, which do not go into the ear, the feeling is usually milder.
Long flights and sleep
On a night flight comfort matters more than any figure. Over-ear headphones such as the Pods Ultra, with memory-foam cushions, are comfortable for hours, but awkward if you sleep with your head on one side.
Small buds such as the Free7, at 3.9 g a bud, suit sleeping in the seat better: they sit in the ear, and the ANC of up to 38 dB cuts the roar of the engines.
A tip: download music or podcasts before you fly, and switch ANC on without music just for the quiet.
Battery on the way
On a long flight with a connection, battery is a real issue. The Pods Ultra last 48 hours with ANC on, enough for several return flights. The Ultra lasts 8 hours with ANC plus 32 with the case, and the Free7 6 hours plus 24.
Charge everything before you leave and pack the USB-C cable in your hand luggage. A small 5,000 mAh power bank can go in hand luggage and charges both the phone and the earbud case.
At the airport
At security, earbuds and their case usually go through the scanner with your hand luggage without being taken out separately; follow the staff's instructions.
In the airport, to hear gate announcements, take one bud out or switch ANC off: TESNA earbuds have no transparency mode. On the plane, listen to the crew; take the buds out for the safety briefing.
What to pack in hand luggage
A short list for the flight: the buds charged, the case, the USB-C cable, the 3.5 mm cable if your headphones use one, and a two-pin adapter for the audio system on some planes.
Power banks go in hand luggage only, never in the hold. Music, films and podcasts downloaded in advance save you from worrying about in-flight internet.
Children on the plane
For children, noise-cancelling buds have one advantage: the child no longer turns the volume up to drown out the engines. Choose a pair the right size, such as the Free7 with XS tips, and set the volume limit on the phone or tablet.
For long journeys, charge the child's buds before you leave too, and download films and cartoons in advance: in-flight internet is not always available.
Every model is in the shop, under noise cancelling earbuds and over-ear headphones.