Good noise-canceling headphones are one of the best travel purchases you can make. We liked the idea so much that we bought two pairs: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM5. After plenty of flights with both, the Sonys are the pair we reach for, especially in United business class.
Why we love the Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is our favorite of the two. It’s the pair we pack for long flights, and it does the job we bought it for: quieting engine noise so we can sleep, watch a movie or work without cranking the volume.
Pairing with United’s seatback screens
We use our headphones often in United business class, because many of United’s newer seatback entertainment screens connect to your own headphones over Bluetooth. No more airline earbuds or wired adapters: you pair your headphones with the screen at your seat and watch with the same noise canceling you use everywhere else. United’s newest Polaris suites on its latest Boeing 787-9s, for example, have 4K screens with Bluetooth pairing. Not every United plane has Bluetooth screens yet, so keep a wired cable in your bag as a backup.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are excellent too, and plenty of frequent flyers swear by them. Comfort and fit are personal, so if you can, try both on in a store before you buy. For us, the Sonys simply won out for everyday travel.
How we cut the price with the Amex Business Platinum
We bought both pairs from Dell and paid with our American Express Business Platinum Card, using its Dell credit to take $150 off each pair. If you have the card, look for travel gear on Dell’s website. Dell sells more than computers, and the credit can make premium headphones a lot cheaper.
Our take
You can’t go wrong with either pair, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 is our pick for flying. Pair it with United’s Bluetooth seatback screens and a business class seat, and long flights get a lot more restful. Buy it through Dell with an Amex Business Platinum credit, and it gets a lot cheaper too.
Card credits and terms change; check your card’s current Dell credit terms before you buy. Product photos are stock images of each brand’s headphones and may not show the exact models. Points Capital does not use affiliate links on this page.
Sources: Thrifty Traveler: United’s new Polaris business class; American Express: Business Platinum Card.
