On a long flight, noise canceling earns its keep. Engine drone is a steady low rumble, which is exactly the kind of sound active cancellation handles best. Voices and crying babies are harder, and no headphone removes them entirely.
The two obvious choices are the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). Both are listed at about $450, and both are rated for 30 hours of battery with noise canceling on.
Sony's XM6 launched in May 2025 at $449.99, $50 more than the XM5 it replaced. It has a new noise canceling processor working with twelve microphones, and it folds again, which the XM5 did not. That matters more on a plane than it sounds, because a folding pair takes a smaller case. Sony also says a three minute charge gives about three hours of listening.
Bose's second generation Ultra went on sale on October 2, 2025, at $449. Battery life rose from 24 hours on the first generation to 30, and Bose says it can reach 45 with noise canceling off. It also plays over USB-C audio, which helps with a laptop or a seatback screen that supports it.
Apple's AirPods Max is the other name people consider. It lists at $549 and is rated for 20 hours. That is enough for most flights but tight for a long-haul trip with a connection, and it only makes sense if you live inside Apple's ecosystem.
For flying specifically, comfort outweighs small differences in canceling. Bose has a long reputation for light clamping pressure over many hours, and Sony's folding design packs better. Whichever you pick, bring a cheap two-prong airline adapter or a headphone cable, because many seatback systems still use a wired jack.
The short version: at around $450, either the Sony or the Bose is a sound pick, and a sale on one should decide it. Choose Sony if case size matters. Choose Bose if you care most about comfort and wired USB-C. Skip AirPods Max for long-haul flying unless you already own Apple gear and do not mind charging on the way.
