These Headphones Have Saved Me on Hundreds of Flights, and I’m Never Switching

A quality pair of headphones or earbuds is now essential for many travelers. Maybe not so much for listening to music or a podcast, but to tune out the surrounding noise during travel.

When I started traveling heavily in 2018, I knew I had to invest in a solid part of headphones I could keep for a long time. After researching, I selected the Bose QC 35ii Headphones, and they have remained my go-to travel accessory.

With thousands of hours (and miles) on these headphones, they have remained sturdy and are the 1 item I won’t travel without. And if you’re looking into buying a pair of solid headphones, there are plenty of ways to use credit cards to your advantage.

My Bose Headphones Experience

The Bose QuietComfort QC35ii brings everything a traveler needs without breaking the bank. They are light yet sturdy. A simple design with excellent audio quality. However, nothing is ever perfect, so here’s what to know if you purchase these.

First, it comes with a few pieces in the kit. It comes with a carrying case, a 3.5 mm headphone jack (perfect for plugging into an airline in-flight entertainment system), and a charging cord.

After several years and many trips, the zipper on the case finally broke. When I inquired with Bose to get it replaced, it was out of warranty, so I was out of luck. I could purchase a non-Bose branded one, but haven’t done so yet.

Hard Case for Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II), QC35, QC25, QC15 Wireless Headphones Accessories. Travel Carrying Storage Bag -...

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The only other part I had to replace was the earpads. Over time, they will begin to flake and wear out. I ordered a replacement pair on Amazon and paid under $20. Bose charges a premium for theirs, but I’ve found the third-party ones do the job just fine.

Lastly, some people may prefer earbuds, as they are smaller and more portable. I did give the Bose QuietComfort earbuds a shot and I didn’t enjoy them. I don’t enjoy shoving something inside my ears, and found them to be more hassle than anything.

Overall, these headphones have been a lifesaver for me. They drown out noise well, the battery life is excellent, and haven’t noticed any real wear and tear on them despite giving them a thrashing during my travels.

It’s been several years since I purchased them, so I don’t recall where I got them. I paid roughly $300 in 2018, which was quite expensive at the time. Given inflation, that would be $375 in today’s dollars. Now, with some strategic shopping, you can easily find them under $300 after layering in credit card perks and shopping portals.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling, with Alexa Voice Control - Black

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A Strategy for Purchases You Can Make From Various Retailers

The Bose QC35ii headphones are available from an array of vendors, so don’t feel like you must use the Bose website. With this in mind, there’s a variety of plays to think about when using your credit cards, along with shopping portal bonuses.

Here’s an example of how you can buy these headphones (or any well-distributed item) at the best price.

Cash Price First

First, get a lay of the land of the cash price of an item and who sells it. When I type the name of these headphones into Google, I get a laundry list of places to buy them, including Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, and Bose.

Right now, the headphones run for roughly $349, although different colors can cost more. However, there are times when the price can drop. If you’re an Amazon shopper, you can use CamelCamelCamel to find a comprehensive price history for any item. This is a helpful tool to see if you’re paying a higher or lower price for any item.

Additionally, be sure to see if any vendor is running a promotion to save even more. For example, when I visited the Bose website, there was an offer to earn $20 off the purchase.

Get Additional Cash Back or Points by Using a Shopping Portal

For the sake of this example, let’s say each vendor (Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, and Bose) sells the Bose QC35ii headphones at $349 flat. Next, visit CashbackMonitor.com. It’s an aggregator of shopping portals and how much they’re currently offering to shoppers.

At the time of writing, purchasing the headphones through the United Airlines shopping portal looks to be the best option, as you can earn 8 United Airlines miles per dollar spent. This means you would earn roughly 2,800 United Airlines miles, worth about $33.

Be sure to look at each retailer to find which one offers the most lucrative bonus for your purchase.

Using the Right Card

The third part of this equation is the card you use. Much of this depends on the spending categories of the card and any potential spending offers out there. Additionally, the card you use should reflect what earning goal you have in mind. Whether it’s earning more travel rewards or cash-back, you should use this larger purchase to further your earnings goals.

If you have an American Express card, you may come across an Amex Offer for somewhere like Bose or Best Buy that you can stack on your purchase.

However, if you’re simply looking to save money, you could apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card, and earn the welcome offer after meeting minimum spend requirements to offset most of the cost.

So if you have a stack of credit cards (like I do), consider which card would be the best for a large purchase like this.

Protect Your Investment With Extended Warranty

The Bose headphones come with a 1-year warranty in case something goes wrong. With the right credit card, you could extend that warranty even further.

When you use a credit card with extended warranty coverage, you get coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty. Not all purchases are covered, although most policies cover electronics.

When you make the purchase, it’s recommended you register the product so your benefits administrator knows about the item. This isn’t required, but if you need to file a claim, you need the following:

• Your credit card statement reflecting the purchase
• The itemized sales receipt
• The original manufacturer’s written U.S. warranty, and any other applicable warranty you get with the original item

Here are a few credit cards offering an extended warranty and how much they extend beyond the manufacturer’s policy.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an avid traveler, investing in the right equipment is a nonnegotiable. It makes the experience of getting from A to B less of a pain. And this investment doesn’t have to be just for travel. I use these headphones for workouts and coffee shop visits when I’m working on my next news story.

These headphones remain one of the best purchases I’ve made (next to my backpack), and I won’t be switching anytime soon.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.