As an avid traveler and owner of AirPods, I’ve often wondered whether I can bring them with me on a plane. I know it’s important to keep up to date with the regulations, but the answer isn’t always clear. After months of frustration and research, I’ve decided to write a blog post to share what I’ve discovered about the use of AirPods on planes. In this post I’ll cover the regulations, security considerations, and other potential solutions.
You’ll be glad to know that it’s perfectly safe to use AirPods on planes. That’s right—you don’t have to give up your music while traveling! Still, there are some factors to take into consideration when using AirPods on planes, all of which we’ll discuss in this article.
Table of Contents
Tips
- It’s safe to use AirPods on planes.
- AirPods must be turned off during takeoff and landing.
- Connect your AirPods to your phone in Airplane Mode.
- Download songs, movies, and podcasts to your phone before boarding.
- Purchase an AirFly adapter to connect your AirPods to the aircraft’s entertainment system.
Are AirPods Allowed on Planes?
Yes, you’re allowed to bring your AirPods on the plane.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), passengers are allowed to carry PEDs (Portable Electronic Devices) on board. AirPods are categorized under PED, so they’re allowed on planes. And since they’re lightweight with a short Bluetooth range, you can use them with little to no issues during flight.
Like other electrically-powered equipment, AirPods can still cause a bit of interference during take-off and landing. So you’ll have to turn them off when the captain or flight attendant requests for all electronics to be turned off.
Note that switching your iPhone to Airplane Mode disconnects your AirPods from the device. As such, you’ll need to manually connect your AirPods via the phone’s built-in Bluetooth.
During this period, you won’t be able to access your songs online, so make sure to download your favorite songs before traveling!
Read more: can you use someone else’s AirPods?
Can I Use My AirPods During a Flight?
Once the first critical stage of flight has passed, it’s perfectly safe to use your AirPods during the flight. But since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prohibits the use of phones on planes, you’ll have to listen to your iPhone tunes on Airplane Mode.
Mobile phones (and other electronic devices) emit electromagnetic radiation that can cause interference with cellular towers and avionic equipment. Even if they don’t cause interference, you can still face extortionate carrier fees when using mobile data on board. Thus, phones should always be inactive during the flight.
With Airplane Mode on, you won’t get access to mobile data. If you depend on mobile data to listen to your music, you might want to download several songs offline prior to your flight so you can enjoy your music in Airplane Mode.
Read more: Can I use AirPods while charging the case?
Can I Use AirPods With the Plane’s Wi-Fi Network?
If you’ve forgotten to download music before your flight, or have gotten bored with the ones you have, you can listen to new music or watch movies with the inflight Wi-Fi.
Since it’s perfectly secure to connect your iPhone to the aircraft’s inflight Wi-Fi, you can use your AirPods to watch movies or listen to songs while connected.
Inflight Wi-Fi is available in most airlines, but some offer better Wi-Fi connections than others. Some of the best inflight Wi-Fi for travelers include the following:
- JetBlue
- Delta
- Norwegian Air
- Virgin Atlantic
- Qantas
- Cathay Pacific
- British Airways
- US Airways
- United Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad
Inflight Wi-Fi is expensive, so make the best out of it during your trip. It can cost anywhere between $7 to $15 per hour, depending on the speed.
Do I Need to Take Out My AirPods at Airport Security?
AirPods are considered lightweight electronic devices, so you don’t need to pull them out and show them to airport security. Just leave them in your carry-on and let them scan your bag. AirPods don’t usually set off the scanner, and even when they do, airport security won’t confiscate them.
Though you can place your AirPods in your front pocket, it’s best to pack them in your personal carry-on as per TSA regulations.
Don’t pack your AirPods in checked luggage as they’re small enough to steal. If you don’t intend on using them during your flight, just place them in the pocket of your carry-on bag.
Do AirPods Work on Airplane TV?
Most inflight entertainment systems allow passengers to connect their Bluetooth devices, including AirPods.
If your airline doesn’t have a Bluetooth-compatible entertainment system, you can use your AirPods with an AirFly adapter. This adapter lets you use your AirPods in place of the headphone jack.
Simply insert the adapter into the jack, then connect your AirPods to the device via Bluetooth.
Conclusion
Passengers are allowed to bring and use their AirPods on the plane, provided they’re turned off during critical stages of flight (takeoff and landing).
During the flight, they should be connected to a phone in Airplane Mode to prevent interference.
Since Airplane Mode blocks your access to mobile data, it’s best to download your favorite songs/movies/podcasts to listen to before boarding your flight to entertain yourself while on air.
Otherwise, you can purchase an AirFly adapter to connect your AirPods to the aircraft’s entertainment system.
