Few products have revolutionized the way we travel. There have been so many products that have enhanced the way we fly – from ultra-supportive neck pillows to blackout goggles, and even AirTags that help us track our luggage every step of the way. The Twelve South AirFly Duo is another game-changing product that every frequent and occasional traveler should have on hand.
In short, with this Bluetooth wireless transmitter, you can watch and listen to movies, TV shows and more from your in-flight entertainment system through your own wireless headphones. In other words, you can say goodbye to the usually crappy airline-supplied wired headphones and leave your favorite noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones in your ears.
A must-have for travelers who bring their own headphones to watch in-flight entertainment
We swear by the small but powerful AirFly Duo. For travelers looking to use their favorite headphones without sacrificing sound quality, a Bluetooth wireless transmitter is an excellent packing addition. It’s small and lightweight, and it’s super easy to pair with Bluetooth devices—including non-Apple devices! — More than 20 hours of use on a single charge. The AirFly Duo is a good investment if you travel a lot.
Finally, AirFly Duo solves one of the most annoying problems of air travel: not being able to listen to your inflight entertainment system using your own good headphones or earbuds. AirFly calls itself the “missing link between wireless headphones and a wired headphone jack,” which means you can also use AirFly in places other than airplanes, including on treadmills, gaming devices, and more. The product works by plugging into the headphone jack of almost any electronic device, connecting to your bluetooth wireless headphones, and that’s literally it.
What we especially like is the simplicity of the AirFly Duo. When you receive your device, you’ll get the AirFly itself (which measures 4.1 inches), a quick start guide manual, a charging cable, and a handy drawstring pouch that fits easily into a travel backpack or even your pocket. Really, no more needed, we thank Twelve South for providing the essentials without being over the top.
Pairing AirFly with your favorite wireless headphones couldn’t be easier. After fully charging the device with the included charging cable, we were able to pair our AirPods Pro within 30 seconds by pressing a few buttons (one on the AirFly and one on the AirPods case). In our tests on an almost completely full plane, the AirFly had no trouble making sound without interfering with other Bluetooth headsets in tight spaces.
One thing we particularly like about the AirFly Duo is that you can share audio with your travel buddies. Since the device can connect to two wireless Bluetooth devices at the same time, you and your traveling companion can watch the same movie at the same time while flying. Say goodbye to starting and pausing movies on each of your screens at the same time – AirFly Duo ensures you stay in sync during a movie or TV show.
When we tested the AirFly Duo on a transatlantic flight from London to New York, the device’s battery lasted the entire journey. According to Twelve South, the AirFly Duo can last up to 20 hours on a single charge. Even if you do need to charge it, we’re glad you can charge it and use it with an external plug. As long as a power source is nearby—including from a TSA-approved battery pack—you can keep your AirFly running.
Even if you’re not an Apple user, AirFly is compatible with devices other than AirPods. And, if the Duo doesn’t fit your needs, there are other AirFly options. There’s also the AirFly Pro ($55 at Amazon), which, in addition to being able to connect two pairs of headphones, lets you put the device in receive mode to send audio from your phone to your car or speakers.
There’s a lot to love about the AirFly Duo. From the small and compact size (including the handy drawstring pouch) to the ease of connecting the device to your favorite headphones, this is a great product for travelers excited to try.
There’s so much we love about the AirFly Duo that it’s hard to find any flaws. What we found a bit annoying, however, was the slight delay in connecting to Bluetooth-equipped wireless headphones when turning the AirFly off and then back on again. After a few seconds though, the two devices paired themselves without issue. If nothing else, you may just have to be patient and not try to “over-pair” your AirFly. Let it do its thing – because it does it well.
If we’re being very picky, the AirFly Duo isn’t cheap.At less than $50 per device, it yes an investment. That being said, we think it’s a worthwhile investment – especially if you travel a lot.
Will we fly again without the AirFly Duo? Probably not. Overall, the ease of use of this device makes it worth taking with you on every trip. It’s small enough to fit in any travel bag, connects multiple devices with ease, and perhaps best of all, you can say goodbye to airline-supplied headphones forever. If you travel a lot—or rarely but have other places to use your transmitter—the AirFly device is for you.
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