Travel Experts Pick 6 Must-Have Gadgets for Smoother Trips

Q: Why might your favorite wireless headphones fail on your next flight, and what tiny gadget fixes it instantly?

Your wireless headphones may fail with an airplane seatback screen because most in-flight entertainment systems still use a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack and do not pair directly with Bluetooth headphones. In other words, your headphones work fine, but the plane’s audio system often cannot send sound to them wirelessly. The quick fix is a small Bluetooth audio transmitter such as the Twelve South AirFly Pro 2. It plugs into the plane’s headphone jack and rebroadcasts the audio to your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. Travel experts highlighted it as a top pick because it lets passengers keep using their preferred headphones instead of carrying a wired backup or relying on airline-issued sets. The device is designed for travel: it is compact, charges by USB-C, lasts more than 25 hours on a charge, and can connect two pairs of headphones at once, which is useful if two travelers want to watch the same movie. Similar adapters are also commonly used with gym machines, older game devices, and other equipment that still has a headphone jack but no Bluetooth. Bluetooth headphones themselves are generally allowed during flights, though some airlines restrict device use during takeoff and landing. The main issue is not airline permission but compatibility with older onboard entertainment hardware. A pocket-size adapter solves that mismatch almost instantly.

Q: What crucial packing mistake with your high-capacity power bank could get it confiscated at airport security?

Packing a high-capacity power bank in your checked luggage can get it flagged, removed, or effectively confiscated at airport screening. Aviation rules treat power banks as spare lithium batteries, which generally must travel in carry-on bags only because of fire risk. That matters for devices like the Anker 737 mentioned in the story. At 24,000 mAh, it is usually still under the common 100 watt-hour threshold and is typically allowed in the cabin, but not in the cargo hold. If security finds it in a checked bag, the bag may be held back, opened for inspection, delayed, or miss the flight until the power bank is removed. Another mistake is bringing a power bank that exceeds airline limits. Most carriers allow carry-on power banks up to 100Wh without special approval. Units above 100Wh may require airline approval, and those over 160Wh are generally banned. Some airlines also limit passengers to two power banks and may require the watt-hour rating to be clearly labeled. The practical fix is simple: keep your power bank in your carry-on, make sure its capacity is within your airline’s limit, and check the label before you leave. If the rating is only shown in mAh, convert it to Wh using battery voltage—usually 3.7V for lithium-ion packs.

3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Aug 6

Six travel gadgets topped experts’ recommendations for late-summer trips: a wireless in-flight audio adapter, airplane phone mount, universal adapter, white-noise machine, power bank and noise-canceling headphones.
Andrés Serra, who has visited more than 40 countries, said the best gear solves frequent travel problems without adding bulk; his pick, the AirFly Pro 2, streams plane audio to wireless headphones for over 25 hours.
Patrick Hill highlighted a tray-mounted phone holder for hands-free viewing, while Nadia Bess—who spends 20% of the year traveling—recommended a universal adapter and a 5.6-ounce white-noise machine with up to 33 hours of battery life.
Vummy Kihaule, a safari travel expert with 10-plus years in the industry, called power banks essential for long transfers and bush camps, pointing to Anker’s 24,000-mAh 737, and also backed Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones for quieter journeys.
Across the list, the common standard was practical gear that keeps travelers connected, comfortable and organized during unpredictable flights, road trips and hotel stays.