A trip abroad seems fun, but how do you survive a flight of a few hours? By making smart use of all the possibilities that the iPhone and iPad have to offer! From watching movies offline to accessories that help you arrive relaxed. With these tips you won’t be bored for a moment and you will still have all the energy to enjoy your destination after arrival.
- AirFly: enjoy movies
- IKEA holder: cheap and good
- AirTag: track your suitcase
- Power bank: always charge
- Travel adapter: always fits
- Charger in bag
- Universal cable
- Cable storage bag
AirFly makes your AirPods suitable for any aircraft
Do you often travel by plane? Then sometimes you want to watch a movie via the entertainment system. It is nice if you can use your own AirPods, instead of the cheap earplugs that are handed out on the plane. This is possible with the AirFly Pro from Twelve South. You connect this to the entertainment system and the AirFly sends the audio to your earphones via Bluetooth. You can also use the AirFly Pro in combination with other devices, such as an older car radio. Also read our AirFly Pro review, with experiences during use.
The AirFly Pro is available from Apple, through Bol.com partners and through Amazon.
IKEA holder for films: cheap and good
This holder for your airplane table proves that smartphone accessories do not always have to be expensive. While you are enjoying a cheese sandwich, you watch your movie with a slanted eye. It only costs €0.79 and is available at IKEA. With the ring you can easily hang it on your backpack as a key ring.
If you are smart, you have prepared well and have some offline movies ready to watch in Netflix. You can also save films and series offline at Videoland, Apple TV+, Disney+ and other streaming video services. No idea what to watch? In our weekly section with Weekend Viewing Tips you will get inspiration about new films and series.
AirTag: track your suitcase
If you are going to check in your suitcase, it is wise to put an AirTag in it, so that you know where your suitcase is if it is lost. But you could also hang an AirTag on your hand luggage to keep track of your belongings after arrival at the hotel.
Power bank: always charge
Watching video for a few hours is quite a drain on your battery and you don’t want to have to look for a power socket immediately after purchase. Therefore, take a power bank with you so that you can recharge while traveling. More and more airlines offer a USB connection at the seat, but then you often have to sit in the front in the more expensive class. With your own power bank you are not dependent on this and you still have enough battery charge left upon arrival to book an Uber or Grab.
Moreover, you don’t have to sit on the floor in the airport if that is the only place where there is a power socket. Nowadays there are extra powerful power banks with a capacity of 20,000 mAh or more, so you don’t need a socket at all during a weekend away: ideal if it turns out that there is no socket at your bedside table in the hotel.
Don’t forget to put any power banks and other devices with large batteries in your hand luggage, because these are not allowed in hold luggage.
AirPods: no buzzing or crying children in your ear
While traveling you want to be able to listen to the music without the constant buzzing sound of the engine. Therefore, use noise-canceling earplugs, such as AirPods. We prefer the AirPods Pro 2nd generation, because they offer even better noise cancellation.
Unfortunately, screaming children cannot easily be excluded, because abrupt sounds still penetrate the sound filter to some extent. Still, it makes a big difference. You could also take the AirPods Max with you, but they are a lot larger while you can easily put the AirPods in your pocket.
Prices AirPods Pro 2022 with Lightning and MagSafe
Travel adapter: always fits
If you are going to a country with different sockets, you will already have a travel adapter in your bag. Contemporary travel adapters often also have a USB-A connection, so you can charge an additional device via the same socket. If you want an attachment for your MacBook charger, you could consider the Twelve South PlugBug Duo. This has interchangeable adapters for every type of socket and it also has two USB-A connections. This way you can charge your MacBook, iPhone and AirPods at the same time. You can buy these from Amazon, among others. Before leaving, check whether your MacBook charger is suitable.
Apple also has a set of international travel plugs, which you can get for €39. The travel plugs are suitable for sockets in North America, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Korea, Australia, Hong Kong and Brazil. This set can be used for iPod, iPhone, iPad and MacBooks. You can also use the set in combination with Apple’s USB-C power adapters, the MagSafe and MagSafe 2 power adapters, the 10 Watt and 12 Watt USB power adapters and power adapters for notebooks.
Mophie: charger in bag
A nice but expensive solution is the mophie 3-in-1 charger for on the road. This comes in a felt bag and looks attractive. You will receive a 15 Watt MagSafe charger for the iPhone, plus charging stations for the Apple Watch and AirPods, which you can charge via USB-C. Of course, it will be cheaper if you purchase these parts separately and put them in a bag you bought yourself. But if you don’t want to think about it too much yourself, you can get it for around 150 euros.
Universal cable from InCharge
Sometimes you need a USB-A connection and other times it must be a USB-C connection. InCharge has universal cables that are suitable for almost any charging job. This way you won’t be faced with any surprises. For emergencies, you can throw a short InCharge cable of a few inches in your bag. If you use the cable more often, there are versions of 2 to 3 meters. The latter is a bit exaggerated when traveling, but can still come in handy if the socket in your hotel room turns out to be far from the bed. We previously discussed the InCharge XL cables in a review. You can find them at Bol.com and at other stores such as Belsimpel.
Native Union: cable storage bag
On the internet you will find many bags in which you can store your cables and adapters. For 10 to 15 euros you can get a practical bag with mesh pockets. If you are looking for a more stylish solution, you can contact Native Union. This bag is made of textile in combination with coated canvas. The bag remains beautiful even after long use. It contains several pockets and elastic bands, a water-resistant pocket and a holder for your Apple Pencil. There is also an easily accessible pocket on the outside. The Native Union Stow Organizer is available from Amazon and Appelhoes for around 60 euros. A slightly larger model with many compartments is this one from Peak Design.
More tips for air travel? Then check this one out!
- Best airport apps with departure and flight information on your iPhone and iPad
- The best apps to book airline tickets with iPhone and iPad
- The best flight trackers for the iPhone: this is how you can track planes
