How often have you hopped onto a flight only to realize you don’t have a pair of wired headphones for the in-flight entertainment system? Even if the airline provided one, it wouldn’t be of good quality. You can try connecting your AirPods, but most in-flight screens don’t have Bluetooth support. So, what’s the solution? You can pick up any of the best Bluetooth adapters for airplanes mentioned below.
These Bluetooth headphone adapters for flights allow you to use any wireless headphones with the in-flight entertainment system. Thanks to this, you won’t have to carry around a separate pair of wired headphones. Just carry your AirPods and keep any of these best airplane Bluetooth adapters handy in your bag. But before we get to the products –
- Block out the noise when flying using ANC headphones for under $200.
- Listen to music throughout your flight with the help of wireless earphones with long battery life.
1. UGREEN Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver
UGREEN’s Bluetooth adapter is rather smart. Instead of operating just as a transmitter, it can also double up as a receiver. This opens up a plethora of use cases for the gadget since you can use it with your TV, gaming console, or even in your car.
When used in transmitter mode, the UGREEN Bluetooth dongle can be hooked to an in-flight entertainment system. Just plug in the connector to the 3.5mm jack of the infotainment screen, and you should be able to pair your headphones to it seamlessly.
But this is not all. Switch to the receiver mode, and you can now connect the UGREEN Bluetooth adapter to your car’s stereo system. If you have an old car without Bluetooth, this gadget essentially acts as a bridge between your car’s speakers and your smartphone. As per reviews, the dongle is reliable but has a slight latency. So, if you’re watching a movie, it’s not the most ideal accessory. It’s good for just listening to music, though.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Works as both transmitter and receiver
What We Don’t Like
- Latency in videos
2. Lavales Adapter for Airplanes
Like the UGREEN adapter, this one from Lavales also allows you to use it as a transmitter and receiver. However, the difference is that the audio cable is detachable, and as such, you can use a longer AUX cable in select scenarios.
A short audio cable attached to the dongle means it keeps dangling in the flight. However, if you have a long AUX cable, you won’t have to deal with this issue. Simply plug your cable in and store your adapter safely with you while you enjoy watching your favorite shows or movies.
Apart from this, the Lavales adapter supports Qualcomm’s aptX low-latency codec to cut down on any audio delays. However, note that your headphones should also support the codec for this to work. Speaking of headphones, you can connect two of them simultaneously to use with the Lavales adapter. As per reviews, the only downside is the unit’s physical size, which is slightly larger than average.
What We Like
- Supports aptX codec
- Can connect two devices at once
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly large footprint
3. MEE Audio Connect Air
MEE’s Bluetooth audio adapter is one of the best-rated accessories in its category on Amazon. This is primarily due to the extra-long battery life and the fact that the MEE Audio Connect works well with the AirPods 2nd Gen with a USB-C port.
The audio adapters mentioned above do not state if they work with the new AirPods 2nd Gen with a USB-C port on the case. In fact, there are mixed reviews where some users claim the new AirPods work fine, but others claim they don’t. Going by the reviews of the MEE Audio Connect Air, several users have got the receiver to work with the new AirPods.
Now, that’s a huge relief for anyone with Apple’s latest pair of earbuds. However, there’s one downside mentioned by a couple of reviews. The adapter automatically connects to the nearest headphones during the initial pairing process.
If your headphones are the only ones with Bluetooth in the close vicinity, you’re good to go. But if there are numerous Bluetooth headsets, you might have to go through a lot of trial and error. Having said that, once connected, the adapter seemingly works as advertised and relays good-quality audio with low latency.
What We Like
- Works with AirPods 2nd Gen
- Low latency
What We Don’t Like
- Can connect to random headphones for the first time
4. Twelve South AirFly Pro
The AirFly Pro from Twelve South is a rather popular product, going by the number of reviews. In fact, it’s named in a way that indicates it’s meant to be used with Apple’s headphones. It works well with the latest AirPods, too, as per users.
There are a couple of reasons why the Twelve South AirFly Pro is popular. It’s easy to use since it pairs with your AirPods when they’re in the case. From then on, you can simply plug the adapter into any device and use your AirPods seamlessly. Secondly, the battery life is rather impressive at close to 25 hours.
Add to that the adapter’s compact footprint and the AirFly Pro is a solid Bluetooth adapter. You also get support for aptX codecs for low latency. However, some users have still complained of higher-than-expected latency, so you might want to be vary of that depending on which headphones you use.
What We Like
- Easy to use
- Long battery life
What We Don’t Like
- High latency
5. Lavales Flight Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter
Most modern aircraft have a single audio jack. However, if you’re flying a plane that has two sockets, the Lavales Bluetooth transmitter will come in handy. It has two prongs, so you can use it on older entertainment systems, or fold one to use it on newer ones.
The ability to connect to different types of audio jacks on airplanes gives the Lavales dongle a lot of versatility. Moreover, the adapter boasts a beefy battery backup and can last you up to 32 hours at a stretch. Unlike all the other adapters on this list, the Lavales one has the prongs built into the dongle itself.
While this is convenient, it may not fit into all jacks. To tackle this, the brand has also provided two cables that can be attached to the end of the dongle. These cables can then be plugged into smaller sockets. While the latency is low, some users have complained that they encountered random disconnections at times. This meant reconnecting your headphones once again. If you can deal with that and want the added versatility, the Lavales Flight Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter makes for a good AirFly alternative.
What We Like
- Has both single and double prongs
- Impressive battery life
What We Don’t Like
- Can drop connections occasionally
Cut Them Wires
Apart from the fact that the in-flight earbuds may be uncomfortable, it’s a hassle to sit for long durations with a cord attached to you at all times. Thanks to the best Bluetooth adapters for airplanes mentioned above, you can comfortably watch movies and TV shows with your trusty headphones when you’re on the go.
