How to Use AirPods on a Plane: AirFly Pro 2 Review
Want to use your AirPods on a plane? The Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 is a $50 Bluetooth adapter that connects wireless headphones to seatback screens.
By Team Gimmie
Updated August 27, 2026
THE $50 GADGET THAT FINALLY LETS YOU USE YOUR AIRPODS ON A PLANE
With Memorial Day weekend rapidly approaching, the unofficial start of summer travel season is upon us. For many, that means a frantic ritual of packing suitcases, checking flight statuses, and ensuring every mobile device is topped off with enough downloaded content to survive a cross-country trek. But there is a specific, recurring frustration that plagues even the most prepared travelers: the moment you settle into your seat, look at the seatback entertainment screen, and realize your high-end wireless earbuds are completely useless against that ancient 3.5mm headphone jack.
The airline will gladly hand you a pair of flimsy, plastic-wrapped earphones that feel like sandpaper and sound like a tin can in a wind tunnel. But why should you settle for subpar audio when you have a pair of noise-canceling AirPods or premium Sony headphones in your pocket? This is where Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 comes in. Currently, you can snag this essential travel bridge for $49.99 at Amazon and Twelve South, a well-timed $10 discount just as the travel rush begins.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE DONGLE TRAP
In the early days of the smartphone's transition away from the headphone jack, we were told the future was wireless. Yet, we still find ourselves living in a world of adapters. If you want to use your wired headphones with a modern phone, you need a dongle. If you want to use your wireless headphones with a plane’s entertainment system, you are usually out of luck.
Carrying a dedicated bag of adapters and extra wired "backup" headphones just for the plane is a logistical headache. It’s one more thing to tangle in your carry-on and one more thing to lose under a seat. The AirFly Pro 2 eliminates this "dongle hell" by acting as a universal translator. It plugs into the jack and broadcasts high-quality Bluetooth audio directly to your favorite wireless gear. It’s the missing link that finally brings the airplane cabin into the 21st century.
WHAT SETS THE PRO 2 APART FROM THE CROWD
Twelve South offers a few versions of the AirFly, but the Pro 2 is the model that truly earns its keep. It isn't just a simple transmitter; it’s a refined piece of hardware that addresses the common complaints of earlier Bluetooth adapters. If you’ve used cheaper alternatives in the past, you likely dealt with laggy audio or a constant background hiss. The Pro 2 fixes those pain points with several key upgrades:
