Traveling on an airplane often means hours of potential boredom. Luckily, many flights these days come equipped with seat-back entertainment systems to help pass the time. But enjoying movies and shows to the fullest means blocking out the loud drone of the airplane engines and background chatter. That‘s where noise-cancelling headphones like Apple‘s AirPods come in very handy.
You‘re probably wondering if there‘s a way to connect your own headphones like AirPods to those in-flight TVs. The answer is yes, but it takes a little prep work. In this guide, we‘ll explain everything you need to know to connect AirPods or any Bluetooth headphones to airline seatback screens.
Why Use AirPods on an Airplane TV?
There are a few key advantages to using your own headphones on a flight rather than the cheap, wired ones airlines hand out:
Better audio quality: AirPods and quality over-ear headphones offer far superior sound compared to dollar-store airline headphones. You‘ll get richer bass, clearer mids and highs, and active noise cancelling.
Comfort and hygiene: Airline headphones are one-size-fits-all, meaning they‘re unlikely to be comfortable for long periods. And you never know how well they‘ve been cleaned. With your own earbuds, you avoid those issues.
Convenience: Since you‘re traveling with AirPods anyway, it‘s convenient to use them rather than rely on airline headphones. You don‘t have to worry about returning airline headphones and can seamlessly switch between devices.
Entertainment on your terms: You can start watching as soon as you sit down rather than waiting for headphone distribution. Similarly, you don‘t need to stop in the middle of a movie if the flight crew collects headphones early.
Using your own headphones does come with a couple small trade-offs:
You need an adapter or transmitter to connect, which is an additional thing to pack.
Airline headphones are free, while you have to buy your own headphones and adapter.
Overall though, the sound quality and convenience benefits usually make bringing your own headphones worthwhile.
Which Airlines Have TVs Compatible With AirPods?
Whether you can use AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones on an in-flight entertainment system depends entirely on the airline. Here‘s a quick rundown of which major domestic US airlines offer TVs compatible with your headphones:
Delta: Most Delta aircraft have seatback TVs with standard 3.5mm jacks and Bluetooth support. You can pair AirPods directly or use an adapter.
United: United‘s seatback screens have 3.5mm jacks. Bluetooth is available on some planes but not guaranteed fleet-wide. Adapters are a safer bet.
American: American Airlines offers Bluetooth and 3.5mm jacks on all Airbus A321s and Boeing 737 MAX planes. Other aircraft still have wired-only TVs.
JetBlue: Most JetBlue planes feature DirecTV with 3.5mm jacks. Some A320 and A321 aircraft also offer Bluetooth connectivity.
Southwest: Southwest has no seatback TVs at all. You‘ll need to stream entertainment on your own device.
Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant: Like Southwest, these bare-bones airlines don‘t provide seatback screens. You‘ll need your own device and headphones.
The key takeaway is that almost all major airline TVs will work with Bluetooth transmitters, while only some natively support direct Bluetooth connections. When in doubt, bring an adapter.
AirPods Airplane TV Adapter Options
Since Bluetooth isn‘t universally available on airline systems, your best bet for guaranteed compatibility is a headphone jack adapter. There are two main types:
Bluetooth Transmitters
Bluetooth transmitters plug into the headphone jack on the airplane seat and then wirelessly pair with Bluetooth headphones like AirPods. Popular options include:
Twelve South AirFly: The AirFly is purpose-built for airplane use and our top recommendation. It‘s lightweight, charges via USB-C, and easily pairs with two headphones simultaneously.
TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter: Budget-priced option that gets the job done. The lower Bluetooth 5.0 version has slightly worse range than the AirFly‘s 5.2 spec.
Anker SoundSync Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter: Anker‘s version is similar to the TaoTronics pick but offers better build quality. The 12-hour battery outlasts most flights.
{{< pros-cons title="Bluetooth Transmitter Pros & Cons" >}}
Pros
- Works on virtually all airline TV systems
- Easy pairing process
- Allows moving around the cabin
Cons
- One more thing to charge
- Can introduce audio lag for video
- Weaker Bluetooth range than direct connection
{{< /pros-cons >}}
Overall, Bluetooth transmitters provide the most compatibility for around $15-$25. They‘re a great universal solution.
Airplane Headphone Splitters
Another wired option is a headphone splitter like the Airfly Duo. These plug into the airplane jack and split it into two 3.5mm outputs.
This approach allows using wired headphones instead of wireless Bluetooth ones. You won‘t get the freedom of wireless, but it guarantees zero latency.
{{< pros-cons title="Headphone Splitter Pros & Cons" >}}
Pros
- Works on any wired headphone jack
- No battery to charge
- Prevents audio sync issues
Cons
- Limited to wired headphones only
- Less portable than tiny transmitters
- Can‘t move around the cabin
{{< /pros-cons >}}
Overall, splitters work in a pinch but transmitters offer more flexibility. The choice depends on your headphones.
How to Pair AirPods with an Airplane TV
Once you have your adapter or transmitter, the process of pairing AirPods is quick and easy:
Put your Bluetooth transmitter or adapter into pairing mode. There will be a button to press and hold. The lights will flash.
Open your AirPods case next to the adapter and hold the button on back. This also puts the AirPods into pairing mode, indicated by the pulsing white light.
Wait for both devices to show a solid light. Once paired, the flashing will stop. You may get a pairing confirmation sound or message.
Plug the transmitter or adapter into the airplane‘s headphone jack.
Enjoy your in-flight entertainment! Movies will now play perfectly through your AirPods.
Most Bluetooth transmitters will remember previously paired devices like your AirPods. But it never hurts to manually pair again before each flight just to be safe.
Pairing Multiple Headsets
A benefit of Bluetooth transmitters is the ability to pair two headphones simultaneously. This lets you share audio from the TV with a friend or significant other.
To pair two AirPods cases to a single transmitter:
Pair the first AirPods case following the steps above.
With the first AirPods still on, put the second case in pairing mode. The transmitter will pair to both.
Each set of AirPods can now play audio from the airplane TV independently!
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This makes it easy to enjoy a movie together without disturbing others on the plane.
Tips for Using AirPods on Planes
Here are some handy tips for a smooth experience using AirPods or headphones with in-flight TVs:
Fully charge devices beforehand. Bring your AirPods, transmitter, and any necessary chargers. In-flight power outlets can be scarce.
Pack the transmitter/adapter accessible. You‘ll need to pair and plug it in after boarding.
Pair early in the flight. Don‘t wait until after takeoff when everyone else starts using the TVs.
Use over-ear headphones on planes when possible. The additional noise isolation makes a huge difference versus earbuds.
Enable airplane mode on your phone so it doesn‘t interfere with the transmitter connection.
Adjust audio lag if needed. A Bluetooth transmitter can sometimes cause lip sync issues. Try adjusting the TV‘s audio delay settings if video and sound are misaligned.
With a little planning, you can enjoy quality audio from takeoff to landing.
Can You Use AirPods on Specific Airlines?
Since compatibility varies between airlines, let‘s look at some specifics on using AirPods or Bluetooth headphones with the most common domestic US carriers:
Using AirPods on Delta Airlines
Most of Delta‘s planes feature Boeing‘s industry-standard Panasonic or Thales entertainment systems. These include Bluetooth support which allows direct pairing with AirPods and Beats wireless headphones without any adapter.
If your aircraft doesn‘t have Bluetooth, simply use a transmitter plugged into the 3.5mm jack. All Delta seatback screens are compatible.
Using AirPods on American Airlines
Select American Airlines planes on Airbus A321 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft offer Bluetooth connectivity. But support varies greatly between plane models, so bring an adapter just in case.
Otherwise, you can connect AirPods through the 3.5mm jack on all American Airlines seatback screens using a wireless Bluetooth transmitter.
Using AirPods on United Airlines
United has no universal Bluetooth support across its fleet. While some newer planes may offer Bluetooth, it‘s not guaranteed.
Your safest bet is packing a wireless adapter and using the universal 3.5mm headphone jacks installed at every seat. Even the oldest United planes with DirecTV support the wireless transmitters.
Using AirPods on JetBlue
JetBlue offers live TV and movies through the DirecTV system. It features a standard 3.5mm headphone jack at every seat on all JetBlue aircraft with seatback screens.
Some of the newer A320 and A321 planes also offer Bluetooth connectivity. But you‘ll want a transmitter adapter on hand as backup for Bluetooth-less jets.
Can You Plug AirPods Directly Into Airline Screens?
As you can see, direct wired connections using the AirPods Lightning cable won‘t work on the vast majority of airline entertainment systems. There are a couple exceptions:
Some newest-generation planes on select airlines have USB-A ports that support Lightning cables. But there‘s no guarantee you‘ll get these planes.
You can use a USB-C to Lightning cable on planes with USB-C ports. For example, some American Airlines Airbus A321neo jets have this configuration in first class.
In both those cases, wired USB connections let you plug AirPods directly into the screen. But it‘s very hit-or-miss based on the specific aircraft.
A Bluetooth transmitter that works across all airline TVs is a much safer choice for guaranteed compatibility. Plus it allows you to move freely rather than having a cable tethered to the seat.
Troubleshooting AirPods and Airplane TVs
Using AirPods on in-flight screens is usually straightforward, but occasionally issues pop up:
Devices won‘t pair: Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both and they‘re in pairing mode. Move closer together and clear/forget old pairings if needed.
Keeps disconnecting: Ensure any cases are open and there‘s line-of-sight between devices. Avoid seating areas with lots of interference from other electronics.
Volume too low: Fully turn up volume on source device. Headphones volume may also need to be maxed out, as airplane jack outputs aren‘t amplified.
Sync problems: If video and audio are mismatched, try adjusting the TV‘s sync settings or use a wired connection instead.
No sound in one ear: Check headphone balance settings on your phone or tablet. Reset the headphones by re-pairing or checking for obstructions.
Adapter or transmitter died: Always charge before flying. Use remaining battery conservatively once low.
As with most electronics gremlins, turning devices off and on again, re-pairing, and changing batteries usually resolves AirPods and airplane TV issues.
Best AirPods Models for In-Flight Use
All Apple AirPods models will work fine on airplanes when paired to a transmitter:
2nd generation AirPods offer great sound and portability at an affordable price.
AirPods Pro add excellent noise cancellation to block airplane noise in a compact design.
AirPods Max over-ear design blocks ambient noise even better, though less portable.
You‘ll get the best audio isolation (important in loud plane cabins) from the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max models. But any modern AirPods have clear sound superior to airline disposable headphones.
Similarly, any portable Bluetooth on-ear or over-ear headphones from brands like Sony or Bose make excellent travel companions. Just pair them to your adapter or transmitter and enjoy.
The Bottom Line
Being able to use your own headphones makes flying vastly more enjoyable. Thankfully getting AirPods or any Bluetooth headphones working with those seatback screens is quick and painless.
Just remember to bring along a Bluetooth transmitter or headphone jack splitter as your adapter. That guarantees compatibility with virtually every airline‘s in-flight entertainment system.
Following our pairing tips above, you‘ll be all set to pass the time with your own audio gear. Now if they could only make it as easy to get comfortable and sleep on those tiny economy seats!
