In brief
- Noise cancelling headphones are an essential investment for anxious fliers, minimising noise and interruptions
- In this article, experienced journalist, engineering writer (and nervous flyer!) Lawrie Jones reviews his favourite noise cancelling headphones
- The headphones have been reviewed for their quality, comfort and cost – and have all been tested in-person (on planes and public transport)
What noise cancelling headphones if you’re afraid of flying?
Noise cancelling headphones are an essential item for anxious flyers, blocking out external noises and engine hum. Here’s my take on the best headphones for anxious fliers based on three key characteristics: quality, comfort and cost.
The views here are based on my experiences as a frequent traveller. I’d love to hear your views. Get in touch and we’ll add them to the article.
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My top 3 noise cancelling headphones for fear of flying
Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 noise cancelling headphones provide the best overall balance between quality, comfort and cost. Noise cancellation is excellent and the Sony build quality and fit are impressive. When I’m flying, these are the ones I reach for first – and so should you.
Premium performance: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Bose is a premium audio company and its QuietComfort Ultra headphones are fantastic. Battery life, noise cancelling performance and comfort are excellent – but that all comes at a price. These are superb headphones for frequent fliers.
Cut-price quality: JBL Tune 770NC
JBL is a budget brand, but these colourful noise cancelling headphones are quality. Choose from beige, lavender and black models and you’ll get a superb set of noise cancelling headphones that will last a long time while looking good.
OK, so performance and battery life aren’t as good as others, but if you’re not a regular traveller these are a great investment.
Why noise cancelling headphones = relaxation for anxious flyers
Noise cancelling headphones provide a distraction from the sounds and sensations of flight, enabling us to become immersed in music, podcasts, films and more. The outside world can stay where it is, while we inhabit our own world that’s calm and relaxed.
Noise cancelling headphones contain Active noise cancellation (ANC) that block low-frequency engine drone (as well as annoying passengers!). For me, this is the most important element. Some noise cancelling headphones are also designed with features that help regulate ear pressure.
There are noise cancelling headphones for a huge range of budgets, so you should find a set that’s suitable for you here!
The process: Noise cancelling headphones reviewed
Noise cancelling headphones may all look the same, but they’re not. There are huge aesthetic differences in the design of the headphones, the ear covers (or ear pads), and the folding mechanism.
Inside the headphones, there are different speaker designs and noise cancelling technology that impact how well they perform. Additionally, there are considerations around how they connect to your device, with some easier than others!
Even at the entry level, noise cancelling headphones aren’t cheap and at the premium end of the market, they can cost hundreds of pounds, dollars and euros.
These are the headphones I reviewed. I used these on some flights as well as on other public transport journeys, including trains, buses and subways that replicate the experiences of being on a plane.
Noise cancelling headphones I reviewed
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless
- Apple AirPods Max
- Sony ULT Wear
- JBL Tune 770NC
Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers world-class noise-cancelling at less than £200 – while providing crystal clear audio quality.
As a child of the 80s, I’ve always been impressed with Sony equipment. These comfortably occupy the middle of the market price-wise, but I found the performance to be fantastic.
These were simple to set up and are super comfortable. A few button presses and the phones were working.
Some reviewers don’t like the feel and have raised concerns about their quality, but this doesn’t resonate with my experiences.
I was given these as a present, but if they were to break or go missing, I’d buy another pair in a heartbeat.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
I’m a big Bose fan (love my Soundlink Plus!) and so I was excited to try these. Reviewers claim that they have the strongest active noise cancellation available, something I put to the test on my flight back from Munich during severe weather. (Don’t worry, the flight was fine!)
I’m not a professional audio reviewer, but even I could hear the difference between the Bose and my usual go-to pairs.
When you strap on the headphones, the silence is a little eerie (but in a good way).
If you’re a frequent flyer who spends a lot of time in the air, the investment in these premium headphones is justified.
Audiophile’s choice: Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless
Sennheiser is known for its studio-quality audio equipment (something I use as a musician). The Momentum 4 Wireless headphones genuinely deliver outstanding sound and exceptional battery life.
On a recent Ryanair flight to Prague, I listened to a variety of audio, from my anxiety-reducing “Plane Playlist” to a quite beautiful performance of Bach’s Cello Suites and the headphones performed flawlessly, even when dealing with the complexity of recorded classical music.
These headphones aren’t cheap but if you’re a frequent flier and you want to invest in the best, they’re worth it.
Apple AirPods Max
I’m unashamedly integrated into the Apple universe, but I haven’t owned a set of AirPods. Straight from the unboxing, the AirPods Max exude Apple quality.
If you’re looking for a set of noise cancelling headphones for travel, I’d go with the Sony or Bose options.
Personally, I didn’t find the noise cancellation to be as good as other headphones, but the sound quality, size and simplicity of pairing them with the iPhone was fantastic.
If you’re embedded in the Apple universe and want a simple, seamless solution, they’re a great choice.
Sony ULT Wear
The Sony ULT Wear headphones are a bass-lover’s dream, with the dedicated ‘ULT’ button, boosting the low-end frequencies significantly.
For me, this was perfect for watching action-heavy films on the plane (and listening to my favourite old school hip-hop). The noise cancelling removed the background hum and made the film more immersive.
They are surprisingly comfortable and would be perfect for longer, with the soft and accommodating ear pads leaving my ears feeling fresh.
Bad bits, well, the noise cancellation is OK but it’s not up to Bose or Sennheiser levels. If you want punchy bass and comfort they’re a great choice.
JBL Tune 770NC
If you’re looking for maximum value-for-money, the JBL Tune 770NC is hard to beat. I love the fact that they come in fun, colorful designs like lavender and beige (not my choice), which makes a nice change from the standard tech-black.
They feel light and easy to wear, even when I was feeling a bit restless mid-flight.
What really surprised me was the battery life. For a budget-friendly pair, they kept going throughout my entire journey (and then some).
Again, they might not deliver the ultimate silence of the Bose, but for the price, the noise cancellation is more than enough to keep an anxious flyer calm.
FAQs
Do noise-cancelling headphones really help with flight anxiety?
Absolutely. For many nervous flyers, the engine drone and cabin noise can heighten stress. Noise-cancelling headphones act as a barrier, creating a personal, controlled soundscape that allows you to focus on calming music, podcasts, or audiobooks. This can effectively dampen the sensory triggers of flight that can cause anxiety for some people.
Can I wear my noise-cancelling headphones during take-off and landing?
Yes. Most airlines allow you to use headphones throughout the flight, including take-off and landing. On all the flights I went on, I was able to use these, turning on my Plane Playlist when we started to move down the runway. You should always keep the volume low enough to hear any essential instructions from the cabin crew.
Will noise-cancelling headphones block out cabin crew announcements?
Premium models, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, feature an “ambient” or “transparency” mode. This allows you to toggle between total noise cancellation and hearing your surroundings, which is ideal if you want to stay aware of in-flight announcements without having to remove the headphones.
