Reading Time: 3 minAs an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. All prices are accurate as of May 2, 2025, at 8am EST.
If you travel with wireless headphones like Apple AirPods, you’ve probably run into a common problem: they don’t work with most airplane seatback screens. Airlines still use headphone jacks, and Bluetooth support is spotty at best.
But that doesn't mean you're out of luck. Thanks to a small, inexpensive device, you can now use any Bluetooth wireless headphones or earbuds on any airplane with a standard headphone jack.
If you're extremely lucky, you may find you don't need any adapters at all to use your wireless headphones on your flight. There are already a few airlines that have started to roll out Bluetooth capability on their inflight entertainment systems.
United was the first U.S. air carrier to introduce Bluetooth technology back in 2021, but availability was (and still is) limited. Today, about 300 of United's airplanes offer Bluetooth-enabled IFE systems, with a continuous effort to update even more planes in 2025, and a goal of 800 planes by 2032.
Delta has also announced that Bluetooth support is coming in 2026. While the airline did retrofit some of their Airbus A321neo first class cabins with Bluetooth in 2022, the rollout has been limited to only those aircraft so far. Expanding Bluetooth support will mark a major improvement across many Delta planes.
But unless you happen to be on a Bluetooth-equipped United or Delta aircraft, you'll need a little bit of assistance to get your wireless headphones up and running with your seatback screen.
The AirFly Pro is a small wireless transmitter that lets you plug into the audio jack at your seat and connect your Bluetooth headphones in seconds. Just pair your headset and you’re good to go — no wires, no tangles, no problem.
On a recent 12-hour flight, my 11-year-old daughter connected her AirPods to the AirFly Pro on her own and streamed movies with no issues. And we both agreed that the sound quality exceeded our expectations. In fact, it was similar to my Bose wired headphones.
But it's not just for flights. You can use the AirFly Pro at the gym, in the car, on boats — basically anywhere with a headphone jack and no Bluetooth.
Plus, the AirFly Pro can also connect two devices at a time. So if you and your traveling partner want to watch the same show, you can get away with just purchasing one AirFly Pro for two people.
The AirFly Pro costs a very reasonable $41.99 at Amazon as of this writing. I think that's a small price to pay to be able to utilize your personal headphones on your next flight. Though if you're flying on an aircraft that only offers the old-style two-prong headphone jacks, you'll need the AirFly Pro Deluxe, which is priced higher at $61.09.
There are also two updated models — the newly-launched AirFly Pro 2 and the AirFly Pro 2 Deluxe. Both offer some new features, but the differences aren't major. I think you can stick with the original models at cheaper prices.
If you prefer a wireless headset, the AirFly Pro is absolutely worth it. On most flights, it's the only way to enjoy inflight entertainment without dealing with tangled wires or clunky airline headphones.
While more airlines are beginning to roll out Bluetooth-enabled seatback screens, it could still be years before this tech becomes the norm. Until then, a wireless transmitter like the AirFly Pro is your best bet for a seamless, wire-free experience in the air.
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