Five Best Airplane Bluetooth Headphone Adapters
As we travel more in 2024, owners of Bluetooth headphones continue to experience the frustration of not being able to use them with an airplane's in-flight entertainment system. But thankfully, there is still a simple and affordable solution.
Instead of resorting to the poor-quality wired headphones handed out by cabin crew, wireless headphones owners can use a simple Bluetooth adapter. This device plugs into the socket of the seat-back entertainment (or sockets if the plane has one for each left and right channel) and then broadcasts the sound over Bluetooth.
Pair your headphones with the adapter over Bluetooth, and you can listen to the in-flight movies and entertainment wire-free. You can use Apple AirPods, Bose noise-canceling headphones, and other Bluetooth options with airplane movies and TV shows.
Here are five options for airplane Bluetooth adapters to consider:
1Mii Miilink Bluetooth 5.2 Transmitter Receiver - $29.99
You must ensure they are compatible when using Bluetooth transmitters with your Bluetooth headsets. Nothing is worse than discovering the devices can't connect because they work on different Bluetooth connections. You will not have an issue with the 1Mii Miilink Bluetooth 5.2 Transmitter Receiver. It works on the latest Bluetooth 5.2 technology but enables your aux Bluetooth adapter to be backward compatible with other Bluetooth versions like 5.0/4.2/4.0/3.0/2.0. It also features advanced aptX Low Latency technology, which helps deliver high-quality sound without any sync issues on your headphones.
The 1Mii Miilink Bluetooth 5.2 Transmitter Receiver is compact and is a "plug and play" device. It supports 3.5mm AUX and USB A output compatible with Windows 7/8/10, Mac OS, Linux, Ubuntu, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. But the best feature is its battery life. Depending on usage, you can get 10-15 hours of battery life on a single charge.
RHA Wireless Flight Adapter - $49.95
The newest entrant to this market is the Wireless Flight Adapter by Scottish audio company RHA. The device has two fold-out audio plugs (depending on whether the plane has one or two sockets), uses Bluetooth 5 to connect to your earphones, and has a battery that is claimed to last 16 hours — enough for nearly the longest flights in the world.
The device is roughly the size and shape of an AirPods charging case and fits neatly against the bezel of the seat-back entertainment display.
USB-C is charging, so you can fill the battery with the same charger you use for your iPad Pro, MacBook, Nintendo Switch, or Samsung Galaxy phone. The Bluetooth range is 33 feet (10 meters), so you could pop into the plane bathroom or walk to the galley without losing the signal. Multiple headphones can be paired to the same device, which is handy if you travel with earphones like the AirPods or Samsung Galaxy Buds and noise-canceling headphones like the Bose QC35.
Away from the plane, you can also use this device (and others featured in this article) to gift Bluetooth to old iPods, home stereos and record players, gym equipment with headphone sockets, or the Nintendo Switch.
TwelveSouth AirFly - $34.99
The AirFly by TwelveSouth works in a very similar way to the RHA adapter. The difference is that it has a short cable instead of fold-out prongs connecting to an audio source. This may be necessary on a plane, but it means the AirFly should work on devices where the headphone socket isn't as easy to reach as on a treadmill at the gym.
According to the company, the battery lasts eight hours and recharges via USB. The device also works on Bluetooth 4.1 to connect with any Bluetooth earphones you might have as well.
The AirFly is a little more compact than the RHA but has just a single audio plug, which means you may have to use an extra adapter on planes that still have two sockets, one for the left channel and one for the right.
Buy AirFly by TwelveSouth on Amazon
TaoTronics Bluetooth Transmitter - $15.80
This option by TaoTronics offers excellent value for money, as it comes with Bluetooth 5 and can pair two headphones at once (so you can share an audiobook or podcast with your partner, for example). It also comes with an adapter cable for connecting to a TV, letting you listen with Bluetooth headphones at night without disturbing anyone who might be sleeping.
The company claims the battery works for 10 hours and can be set to transmit or receive over Bluetooth. This means it works on a plane to broadcast the in-flight entertainment audio to your headphones but can also be used to receive audio over Bluetooth (from a phone, for example) and then send that to a speaker.
Aisidra V5.0 Bluetooth Adapter - $39.99
Finally, the Aisidra V5.0 Bluetooth Adapter has a similar form factor to the RHA model. This means there are two fold-out plugs for connecting to a single or dual socket in-flight system, and battery life should last eight hours, according to the company.
As with the other options in this article, the Aisidra works with all Bluetooth earphones, including Apple AirPods and those from Beats, Bose, JBL, Sony, and any other company you care to mention. Just ensure the Bluetooth headphones/speakers you plan to use support low-latency technology.
TROND Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter Receiver - Honorable Mention - $24.99
Read More:
- Apple AirPods Pro review: Your new everyday essential
- Gift ideas for frequent flyers
- 12 top travel apps
And don't forget to check out The GearBrain, our compatibility find engine for smart devices. It can help you find other smart devices, like Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or smart speakers with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in.
