If you ask me the number one thing I need to survive a long flight, the answer is simple. After all, how can one be lethargic for hours on end in a cramped in-flight seat?

But with so many of the best headphones to choose from, and a 13-hour flight ahead of me, I opted for a tried and true pair that had already traveled thousands of miles on my head: the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Before I continue with my experience, I think it is timely to tell you that the Sony WH-1000XM5 is now available on Amazon for $328. This premium headset is normally $399, so you can save quite a bit of money thanks to the ongoing Black Friday sale.

There are several reasons why I chose Sony's WH-1000XM5 over Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or AirPods Max for this flight: Bose's latest flagship model has excellent ANC performance and a portable design but is still a fairly new product. I had yet to try these headphones on a trip of any significant length and was concerned about whether they would be comfortable for hours at a time. Basically, I wanted to eliminate some of the anxiety I already felt from being in a pressurized aircraft.

Compared to the AirPods Max, the Sony WH-1000XM5's battery life is 10 hours longer, allowing for a total of 30 hours of playback. In other words, if you didn't have time (or forgot) to charge your headphones before a return flight of similar length, it shouldn't be a problem. Additionally, the AirPods Max do not have a headphone jack. With the Sony WH-1000XM5, I was able to enjoy the in-flight entertainment system using a 3.5mm audio cable that comes with the headset and can be stored in a carrying case.

I sat in my seat, Sony WH-1000XM5 over my ears, and enjoyed the flight in as much comfort as possible. I alternated between mainly listening to 1989 (Taylor's version) and watching John Wick movies in sequence. As I write this, it's a bit of an odd combination. To each his own, right?

Anyway, the impressive stereo and superb clarity made me feel like I was temporarily on The Eras Tour instead of 35,000 meters above the Pacific Ocean. The screen on the seatback entertainment console kinda sucked, but at least the audio was immersive, and I ended up enjoying much of the movie while resting my eyes.

All the while, the Sony WH-1000XM5 noise cancelling muffled the engine noise and the chatter of a couple of people in the back seat. This feature, called Speak-to-Chat, comes in handy in just such situations.

For long flights, it is worth testing other headphones. That said, when I know I need the most reliable noise-canceling headphones right now, I reach for the Sony WH-1000XM5. If you'll be traveling a lot during the holiday season and next year, I suggest you do the same.