As the song goes:
“I’m leaving on a jet plane.
Don’t know when I’ll be back again.”
Just kidding…
I won’t be back for a while.
Now that I found a way to connect my AirPods to the plane TV.
Shh, don’t worry. I’ll tell you my secret.
Keep reading to discover:
- 3 easy steps to use AirPods on an airplane.
- Why you need to turn on Airplane Mode to connect to your AirPods.
- What’s AirFly, and how can it help my AirPods to connect to the plane TV.
- And so much more…
Can you use AirPods on a plane TV?
You can use AirPods on a plane TV if you have an AirFly device. AirFly allows you to turn any headphone jack into a wireless headphone transmitter. That means that you can connect your AirPods to the AirFly instead. And then the AirFly transmits the sound from the plane TV.
How to use AirPods on a plane TV
Step #1: Buy an AirFly
“Money can’t buy you happiness…”
But it can buy you convenience…
And isn’t that something that we’d all enjoy?
Things that make our lives just a little bit easier.
Case in point:
I was boarding my plane the other day, and I realized that I had forgotten my wired headset.
However, I had my AirPods Pro with me.
So I looked around the flight infotainment to see if there was anything I could connect my AirPods to…
Spoiler alert: There was none. And I also didn’t want to disturb my seatmate by playing movies at a loud volume.
What can you do to avoid situations like this?
Buy an AirFly.
“Wait, what’s that?”
Glad you asked.
Essentially, it turns any headphone jack into a wireless headphone transmitter.
Furthermore, the company behind the product also promises:
- Up to 16 hours of battery life.
- Can be used as an AUX adapter.
- Can connect to 2 pairs of headphones simultaneously.
Now, I know what you’re going to say:
“That sounds good, but where’s the catch?”
It isn’t cheap. At all.
In fact, let me show the prices to you. Here are all of the AirFly products and their respective prices and features:
| AirFly Classic | AirFly Duo | AirFly USB-C | AirFly Pro |
| $39.99 | $59.99 | $64.99 | $54.99 |
| Connects to headphone jack. | Connects to headphone jack. | Connects to USB-C. | Connects to headphone jack. |
| Maximum of 1 pair of earphones. | Up to 2 earphones. | Up to 2 earphones. | Up to 2 earphones. |
| – | – | – | Turns AUX into wireless audio. |
| 8 hours battery | 20 hours battery | 20 hours battery | 16 hours battery |
So, yeah. Those are steep prices…
But it may be the price you need to pay if you want to use your AirPods on a plane.
Step #2: Activate airplane mode
Got your AirFly? Nice.
Now, you’re seated on a plane.
You have the AirPods on 1 hand and the AirFly on the other.
And you’re asking yourself:
“Great. So what do I do with these?”
Well, before you connect them, there’s 1 more thing left to do…
And that’s to turn on Airplane Mode on all of your iPhone products.
You might ask:
“Okay. I get why I need to turn the Airplane Mode for flights. But why do I need them for the AirFly?”
Great question.
You see, AirPods doesn’t do a great job of connecting to non-Apple devices. Like, for instance, the AirFly.
And they’re tough to connect when there’s a nearby Apple device that it’s paired with.
So, to bypass that issue, it’s better to use Airplane Mode on your Apple devices. How?
It’s quite easy, actually. Just:
iPhone, iTouch, iPad
- Open the Control Center.
- Tap the Airplane logo.
Macbook
Note: There’s no Airplane Mode on Macbooks. You can, however, turn off both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
- Press the Apple logo on the top-left corner of your screen.
- Head to System Preferences.
- Tap Network.
- Click Turn Wi-Fi Off.
- Go back to Network.
- Press Bluetooth.
- Click Turn Bluetooth Off.
You may also be interested in: How Long Do AirPods Last Before Breaking?
Step #3: Connect your AirPods
Now for the reason why you’re here:
It’s time to connect your AirPods to the plane infotainment system.
Let’s dive in, shall we? Don’t worry.
I promise you this will be quick and easy.
First, insert your AirFly device into the infotainment system.
Now, proceed to:
- Hold the button in the front of your AirFly for 5 seconds to bring it into Pairing Mode.
- Next, open the lid of your case with the AirPods inside.
- Long press the button at the back of your case or until the light flashes green.
It’s that simple…
Or is it?
Like I previously said, AirPods connection to non-Apple devices will be difficult.
Chances are, the pairing has failed.
But no worries. We can swiftly deal with this issue too. How?
The first thing you should try is to reset your AirFly device. Simply:
- Hold the button at the front of your AirFly device for 4 seconds.
- Then, hold the button at the bottom of the AirFly for 4 more seconds.
If the reset is successful, your device should flash an amber light. And then quick flashing white lights after a couple of seconds.
Now, try again. Is it working now?
No? Darn it.
In that case, we should also reset your AirPods.
- Place your AirPods in their case with the lid open.
- Open the Settings app on any connected Apple device.
- Head to the Bluetooth menu.
- Tap the More Info button next to your AirPods.
- Scroll down and select Forget This Device.
- Hold the button at the back of your AirPods case until the light shows amber.
This should solve all of your connectivity issues.
What’s that? It’s challenging to get the written instructions?
Don’t fret. We’re inclusive here.
So, if you’re a visual learner, watch this video instead:
Can you wear AirPods on a plane?
You can wear AirPods on a plane. Since it’s a Bluetooth device, there are no FAA violations of regulations when it comes to AirPods. However, you may not be able to use it unless your plane TV has Bluetooth or you have an AirFly.