Frankly, I usually preferwatching moviesand TV shows on myiPadwhen I travel. I can’t count on every flight having an in-flight entertainment system, and even when there is one, I have very particular tastes. A Delta plane operating in 2025 probably isn’t going to have The Witch or The Empire Strikes Back in its library.
I do take advantage of entertainment systems sometimes, though, particularly if it lets me watch something I might not have access to at home. If you’ve got a pair ofAirPods, it’s increasingly easy to avoid boredom on long flights without bringing an 11- or 13-inch tablet everywhere you go.
Apple AirPods (4th Generation)
Apple should just bite the bullet and make its own Kindle-like e-reader
It would give two of Apple’s services a lot more raison d’etre.
How to use your AirPods for in-flight entertainment
If the plane has built-in Bluetooth compatibility
Because wired headphones are less and less common, some airlines are upgrading their entertainment systems to support Bluetooth. Access may further depend on what seat class you’re in, however. While First Class passengers will definitely have Bluetooth if a plane supports it at all, the option might be missing in Economy seats.
Check included seat amenities before booking a ticket, if that’s a priority for you.
If you do luck into a seat with Bluetooth, follow these steps:
If you’re having trouble pairing, you may need to disconnect yourAirPodsfrom your phone, tablet, or computer first. On an iPhone or iPad, go toSettings > Bluetooth, tap the ‘i’iconnext to your AirPods, thenDisconnect. On the ground, you should be able to reconnect via Settings without re-pairing.
Packing light? Do these 4 things on your iPhone first
How I travel-proofed my iPhone.
What to do if the plane doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth
You have a couple of options
Some in-flight systems may only have wired options, like USB, a 3.5mm headphone jack, or that dual-prong port exclusive to airplanes. What you’ll need to do depends on which port you encounter.
If there’s a USB port:
If there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack:
If there’s a dual-prong port, you’ll probably need to buy a specialized wireless airplane adapter such as the Twelve SouthAirFly Pro, regardless of which AirPods you own. Though there could hypothetically be a compatible cable for the AirPods Max, airlines have been shifting away from the dual-prong format, so there’s not much call for adapter cables.
Clamshell foldable phones are the wave of the future - here’s why
Book-style foldables might be sexier, but pragmatism is going to win the day.
