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How to Use AirPods on an Airplane’s Entertainment System

If you have AirPods, you’ll probably use them as your traveling companion. The best Airpods have unmatched audio quality and may have noise cancellation features, making them perfect for traveling. But how do you connect your Airpods to an airplane’s entertainment system if they aren’t compatible? 

A Bluetooth transmitter is the best way to connect your Airpods to an airplane’s entertainment system. Connect the transmitter to the system via an AUX cable and pair the Airpods to complete the audio connection. 

While some wireless earphones can connect directly to an airplane’s entertainment system, Airpods can only connect via Bluetooth transmitters. Read on for the complete guide on pairing your Airpods with Bluetooth transmitters to connect to any airplane’s audio system.

Steps to Connecting Airpods to an Airplane’s Entertainment Display

airpods

When connecting wireless Airpods to a plane’s entertainment system, your best choice is to use a Bluetooth adapter. While there are other options, many of them will run out of charge much faster than your flight duration. 

You can always carry headphones if you don’t feel like going through a complicated process to use your Airpods with a plane’s entertainment system. However, you won’t get the benefit of the noise-canceling effects of Airpods. 

Let’s take a detailed look at what steps you need to follow to connect your Airpods to an airplane. 

What You’ll Need

  • A Bluetooth Transmitter with an AUX input and USB power
  • AUX cable
  • USB power cable for transmitter
  • Bluetooth earbuds or headphones

You can sometimes connect directly with the Bluetooth adapter, but it’s best to be prepared, especially if you’re using your Airpods with a plane’s entertainment system for the first time. 

Using a Bluetooth transmitter is the easiest way to connect AirPods with any system that supports Bluetooth. The Bluetooth transmitter will receive the system’s audio signals, allowing you to play audio with your Airpods. It’s the fastest way to connect to a plane’s entertainment system. 

How to Connect it

To connect the Bluetooth transmitter to an airplane’s entertainment system, follow these steps: 

1.) Connect Bluetooth Transmitter to Airplane Display 

Use an AUX cable to connect the Bluetooth transmitter to the airplane display. First, connect the USB cable to provide the transmitter with power. Then, connect the AUX cable to the Airpods and the Bluetooth transmitter to get an audio connection.  

If your wireless earphones support an AUX cable, then there would be no need to connect the USB cable or the Bluetooth transmitter. However, since Airpods don’t support AUX cables, you’ll need a connection in between. 

2.) Pair the Bluetooth Transmitter and Airpods

To connect the Airpods and the airplane’s entertainment system, you’ll need to pair the Bluetooth transmitter and Airpods. Press and hold the pairing button on the transmitter until the light begins flashing. Look at the user manual if you are unsure how to start the pairing process.

If the transmitter doesn’t pair with the Airpods despite several attempts, try pairing it from the Airpods pairing system. Then, press and hold the pairing button on the back of the Airpods case with the lid open until the light begins flashing.

Once both are in pairing mode, they should discover each other and pair together. This may take a few attempts before the connection is successful. However, once you use the Bluetooth transmitter regularly with the Airpods, you’ll have more success pairing them on the first few attempts. 

3.) Test the Connection

Put the AirPods in your ears and begin playing a movie or tv show on the plane’s display. Audio should be playing through the Airpods now. If the audio is distorted or isn’t playing correctly, it could be that the devices weren’t paired properly. 

Recommended Bluetooth Transmitters to Use with AirPods

Bluetooth Receiver music player

Not all Bluetooth transmitters are the same, and the last thing you want is your Bluetooth transmitter failing to connect to the Airpods mid-flight., If you’re looking for the best Bluetooth transmitters for Airpods, try these options: 

Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver(on Amazon)

This 2-in-1 transmitter and receiver have low latency and allow you to pair two devices simultaneously. It can pair with most audio and video systems that support Bluetooth and can be used with the entertainment systems of most airplanes. You can also listen to the audio while the transmitter is on charge. 

With both a TX and RX mode, this Bluetooth transmitter has unparalleled audio quality and supports streaming in a range of up to 33ft. It also has a 10 hours working time on a 2-hour charge, making it the perfect Bluetooth transmitter for traveling. 

Twelve South AirFly Duo (on Amazon) 

This wireless Bluetooth transmitter is explicitly designed for Airpods and provides smooth sound effects with minimum distortion. The 3.5mm audio jack allows you to connect with most sound and display systems and supports AUX cables.

With a slim design and simple 3 step pairing process, this is one of the best Bluetooth transmitters. 

The Twelve South AirFly Duo also has a range of 33ft and can support up to 2 Airpods simultaneously. With more than 20 hours of usage time on a single charge, it’s the perfect Bluetooth transmitter for long-distance flights. 

Airplane Bluetooth Adapter for Headphones (on Amazon)

This airplane Bluetooth transmitter is designed perfectly for airplane entertainment systems. It comes with aptX low latency for high fidelity stereo and unmatched audio quality.

The two-pronged connection makes this Bluetooth transmitter genuinely unique, which helps the adapter connect to international flight systems. 

While the adapter only has 6 hours of use on a single charge, the charging case has an additional 30 hours, making it the best adapter for long-distance flights.

This is the best option if you’re looking for an adapter with a sleek design that will connect to an airplane’s entertainment system.  

While many cheaper Bluetooth adapters are available online, always use a reputable brand. Also, select an adapter with a charge capacity of at least 10 hours so you don’t have to connect the USB cable in flight.