How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Mackie MC Series — biggest strength: Wide-band active noise cancelling built around four onboard microphones, tuned to block a wider range of frequencies than typical designs, so engine drone and cabin rumble get knocked down hard. Bluetooth 5.0 with low latency and up to 40+ hours of battery life rounds it out.
• Mackie MC Series — biggest trade-off: It's adult-oriented, over-ear and not cheap-feeling by design — 1.4 pounds, stainless steel enclosure, hard leather-style carry case. Not something you hand to a seven-year-old.
• Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise — biggest strength: A customizable 85dB volume limit plus active noise cancelling, sized and built for ages 7+, with a foldable frame that disappears into a backpack.
• Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise — biggest trade-off: The 85dB ceiling is the whole point, but it also means your child never gets loud, dynamic listening. Battery life is listed at 10 days, not hours, so plan around that.
• Who each pick is for: Mackie MC Series for the adult traveler who wants to mute a plane cabin and actually enjoy the music. Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise for the parent who wants their kid quiet, comfortable and hearing-safe from gate to gate.
The MC Series (specifically the MC-50BT) is built like a working headphone. The enclosure is stainless steel, the earcups are over-ear, and it ships with a premium hard carry case. That combination tells you something about intent: this is a pair meant to survive being thrown in a bag and pulled out on a tray table. The 1.4-pound weight is real — you feel it — but over-ear padding and a full headband are designed for all-day wear, which is exactly the scenario a transatlantic flight creates.
The noise cancelling is the headline for flights. Mackie's MIS wide-band ANC uses four onboard microphones and targets a wider frequency response than typical designs. In practice, that's aimed at the low-end stuff — jet engines, HVAC hum, the constant roar of a cabin at altitude — rather than just higher-pitched chatter. Multiple mics also mean more consistent performance, which matters because ANC headphones tend to behave differently depending on how they sit on your head.
Who should buy it: the adult flyer who wants one pair for the plane, the office and the gym. Who should skip it: anyone shopping for a child, and anyone who wants the lightest possible on-ear fit.
Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise: Who It's For
This one is designed around a single job: letting a kid listen without you worrying. The 85dB volume limit is the core feature, and Altec Lansing describes it as customizable — the audio stays within a safe ceiling no matter how enthusiastically your child mashes the volume control. If you've ever sat next to a child who discovered the volume rocker, you understand why that matters more than any spec sheet number.
It still has active noise cancellation, which the brand frames around exactly the situation you're likely in: a bustling airport or a busy household. ANC on a kid's headphone means the volume doesn't have to fight the environment, which is a quiet but real hearing-protection benefit. The fit is on-ear with soft cushions and an adjustable headband, and the frame folds down for backpacks and carry-on luggage. It's plastic, and it's built for rough handling — IPX4 sweatproof means playground sweat and a spilled drink won't end the trip.
There's a 3.5mm jack alongside Bluetooth, plus a cable and protective case in the box. That wired option is genuinely useful on a plane: no pairing, no battery anxiety, no "my headphones died over Nebraska." The battery is listed as 10 days average life, so for a flight and a hotel stay you're covered, but think of it in days rather than the 40+ hours the Mackie claims.
Who should buy it: parents of kids 7+ who need travel headphones that are safe, foldable and hard to break. Who should skip it: adults. The 85dB limit is a feature for a child and a limitation for you.
• Best for flights, adult listener → Mackie MC Series. Wide-band ANC with four mics is aimed squarely at cabin noise, and Bluetooth 5.0 with 20ms latency keeps streamed video in sync.
• Best for flights, child listener → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. The 85dB limit plus ANC means your kid hears the movie, not the engine.
• Best battery life → Mackie MC Series, rated up to 40+ hours versus a 10-day average life on the Altec Lansing.
• Best for hearing protection → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. The volume ceiling is the entire reason it exists.
• Best for durability under rough handling → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. Plastic body, foldable, IPX4 sweatproof, designed for ages 7+.
• Best for sweat and light weather → Mackie MC Series with IPX5, a step above the Altec Lansing's IPX4.
• Best wired fallback for in-flight screens → a tie. Both include a 3.5mm jack, so neither leaves you stranded when wireless isn't allowed.
• Best for calls and meetings → Mackie MC Series. The built-in mic and touch controls are set up for it.
For my own money and my own seat on a plane, I'd buy the Mackie MC Series. It's the one that does the thing I actually need on a flight: kill the low-frequency drone with wide-band ANC, stay connected over Bluetooth 5.0 with minimal latency, and run long enough that I stop thinking about the battery. The hard case and stainless steel build mean it survives the trip.
I'd buy the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise the moment a child is coming along. Different product, different job, and it does that job well. If you're buying for a kid, this is the pick — the 85dB limit is non-negotiable in my opinion, and no amount of sound quality makes up for hearing damage.
Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both live in very different budget brackets.
are bluetooth headphones allowed on flights
Yes. Bluetooth headphones are allowed on commercial flights, and most airlines now support them for in-flight entertainment. The catch is that some seat-back systems still need a wired connection, which is why it's worth noting both the Mackie MC Series and the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise include a 3.5mm jack as a backup.
do bluetooth headphones work on flights
They work, but with one caveat. During taxi, takeoff and landing, crew may ask you to stow electronics or switch to airplane mode, so wireless audio isn't guaranteed for the whole journey. A wired 3.5mm option keeps you listening through those windows — both of these headphones have one.
are bluetooth headphones ok on flights
They're fine, and ANC is the reason most people bring them. The Mackie MC Series uses four onboard microphones for wide-band active noise cancelling aimed at engine and cabin rumble, while the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise pairs ANC with an 85dB volume limit so a child can listen at a safe level over the noise.
do delta flights have bluetooth for headphones
Some Delta aircraft support Bluetooth audio pairing for seat-back entertainment, but it varies by plane and cabin, so you can't count on it for every flight. Bring a 3.5mm cable or a pair with a wired jack — both the Mackie MC Series and the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise give you that fallback.
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