To Actually Enjoy In-Flight Entertainment Audio, Add This Adapter to Your Bag [CNET]

July 27, 2024July 27, 2024 Kimanzi Constable technology

I spend a lot of time on airplanes and have taken hundreds of flights over the past eight years. And while I sometimes have to work on my laptop during flights, my preferred setup is to relax, stretch out and catch up on movies or TV shows using the in-flight entertainment system.

The headphones that airlines give you for longer flights leave a lot to be desired. I used to travel with a set of Apple wired headphones to overcome this problem, but they too were cumbersome because I would have to awkwardly unplug and plug back in whenever the person next to me needed to use the restroom. I started searching for a solution online, and eventually came across the AirFly Pro Bluetooth Adapter.

This pocket-sized dongle has been so good that I rarely work on flights anymore and spend that time comfortably watching my favorite movies and series, and CNET’s formal review of the product gave it a healthy 8.5 out of 10.

How it works

The AirFly Bluetooth Adapter is an audio transmitter and receiver that works with Apple, Bose and other wireless headphones. Simply plug the gadget’s 3.5mm jack into the headphone port of an airplane, bus or train’s entertainment center and it will create a Bluetooth connection. You can also connect up to two sets of headphones per adapter. I personally pair the AirFly with my AirPods Pro so that I can use the background noise canceling feature.

Watching entertainment with quality audio makes such a difference, and nothing has to be disconnected when I’m sitting in an aisle seat and someone else in my row needs to get past me. The AirFly Bluetooth Adapter can easily fit in your pocket, a backpack or a laptop bag, and it comes with a small sleeve. Since it’s lightweight, it won’t fall out of the headphone jack if it has to dangle.

airfly-in-flight-adapter — Dangle, dongle: The AirFly Bluetooth adapter is light enough to hang freely from a headphone port without being disconnected.

Kimanzi Constable/CNET

How to pair the AirFly Bluetooth adapter

Make sure the AirFly device is charged.
Turn on the AirFly.
Turn off Bluetooth on your phone.
Turn on your wireless headphones.
Pair the device with your wireless headphones.

The reason I turn Bluetooth off my phone is so that my headphones don’t automatically try to connect to my phone whenever I pull it out while watching a show.

Using wireless headphones with entertainment on flights has made travel more comfortable. I can travel with this lightweight, small device that lets me watch entertainment without wires, and the sound is crystal clear. I’ve enjoyed using the AirFly Bluetooth Adapter and will continue to do so for years of travel. Consider this device if you want to better enjoy in-flight entertainment on future trips.

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Small enough to fit in your pocket, but also useful enough that you might actually enjoy the in-flight entertainment the next time you travel. The Airfly Bluetooth adapter creates a pairing point out of any entertainment system’s 3.5mm headphone jack. Simply plug in the device, pair it with your headphones and enjoy wire-free listening.