Hardware

Twelve South's AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth adapter hits $49.99 ahead of summer travel

At a glance:

  • Twelve South's AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth adapter is discounted to $49.99 ($10 off), one of its best prices to date, ahead of the Memorial Day travel season.
  • The Pro 2 lets you pair your own wireless headphones with in-flight entertainment systems, supports two pairs of headphones simultaneously, and lasts up to 25 hours on a single charge.
  • Beyond flights, the adapter works with any standard audio jack — connecting wireless headphones to the Nintendo Switch, older car stereos, and compatible gym equipment like treadmills.

What the AirFly Pro 2 does and why it matters now

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer travel in the US, and with it comes a wave of deals on gadgets that make long-haul flights and road trips more bearable. One of the standouts right now is Twelve South's AirFly Pro 2, a Bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack on a seatback entertainment system and lets you use your own wireless headphones instead of the airline's wired earbuds. At $49.99 — $10 off its usual price — the device is available both on Amazon and directly from Twelve South, making it one of the best prices the product has seen.

The core appeal is straightforward: most airline seatback screens still output audio through a 3.5mm jack, and the bundled earbuds are almost universally mediocre. The AirFly Pro 2 bridges that gap by converting the wired output to Bluetooth, so you can enjoy your own noise-canceling over-ears or earbuds during the flight. Setup is minimal — plug it into the seatback jack, pair your headphones, and you're listening. The device also supports two pairs of headphones at once, which is handy if you're traveling with a companion and both want to watch the same movie or listen to the same podcast.

Upgrades over the cheaper AirFly SE

The AirFly Pro 2 sits above Twelve South's more affordable AirFly SE in the product lineup, and it brings a handful of tangible improvements. One of the most immediately noticeable is the inclusion of dedicated onboard volume controls, a feature that was already present on the SE but is carried forward here as a usability win. More importantly, the Pro 2 uses an upgraded processor that enables faster Bluetooth pairing and delivers improved sound quality with less background noise — a meaningful upgrade when you're stuck in a pressurized cabin for hours.

Battery life is another differentiator. The Pro 2 is rated for up to 25 hours on a single charge, which comfortably covers even the longest intercontinental flights without needing a recharge. That endurance also means the device remains useful across multiple trips before you need to plug it in again.

Beyond the airplane seat

The AirFly Pro 2 isn't only an in-flight accessory. Because it works with any standard 3.5mm audio jack, it doubles as a versatile Bluetooth adapter for a range of other devices. That includes the Nintendo Switch, which lacks native Bluetooth audio output; older car stereos that don't support wireless connectivity; and even compatible gym equipment like treadmills that have a headphone jack. This broader utility helps justify the purchase even for travelers who only fly a couple of times a year.

The device weighs in at a compact form factor that slips easily into a carry-on or seat-back pocket, and its plug-and-play design means there's no app, no firmware update, and no configuration step beyond the initial pairing. For frequent flyers looking to upgrade their in-flight audio without shelling out for premium noise-canceling earbuds specifically marketed for travel, the AirFly Pro 2 at $49.99 represents a strong value proposition.

What to watch next

Deals on travel gadgets tend to cluster around major holiday weekends and back-to-school periods, so the current Memorial Day pricing window is worth acting on if you have an upcoming trip. Twelve South hasn't announced any successor model, and the Pro 2 remains the company's top-tier Bluetooth transmitter. If you're comparing options, the AirFly SE is a cheaper alternative that also handles in-flight audio but skips the upgraded processor and onboard volume controls. For most travelers, however, the Pro 2's combination of battery life, dual-headphone support, and post-flight versatility makes it the more future-proof pick at this price point.

Editorial SiliconFeed is an automated feed: facts are checked against sources; copy is normalized and lightly edited for readers.

FAQ

What is the AirFly Pro 2 and how does it work on a plane?
The AirFly Pro 2 is a Bluetooth transmitter made by Twelve South that plugs into the 3.5mm headphone jack on a seatback entertainment system. It converts the wired audio output to Bluetooth, letting you pair your own wireless headphones or earbuds. It supports two pairs of headphones at once and requires no app or configuration beyond initial pairing.
How long does the AirFly Pro 2 battery last?
The device is rated for up to 25 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is enough to cover even the longest intercontinental flights without needing a recharge. It can also last through multiple shorter trips before needing to be plugged in again.
What else can the AirFly Pro 2 be used with besides airplane entertainment systems?
Because it works with any standard 3.5mm audio jack, the AirFly Pro 2 can also connect wireless headphones to devices like the Nintendo Switch, older car stereos, and compatible gym equipment such as treadmills. Its plug-and-play design means it works across all these use cases without any additional setup.

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