Your phone’s airplane mode disables Bluetooth, so what’s the deal with Bluetooth on planes?
How can you use those wireless noise-canceling headphones or AirPods during your flight when “flight mode” switches off Bluetooth?
Does Bluetooth even work on airplanes? And can you use your Bluetooth headphones with the airlines in-flight entertainment system? Will turning on Bluetooth cause your plane to suddenly drop out of the sky?
Don’t worry all will be explained. So let’s jump in!
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulate civil aviation in the US.
Here is a quote from a press release they made on the subject of using personal electronics on planes.
Devices must be used in airplane mode or with the cellular connection disabled. You may use the WiFi connection on your device if the plane has an installed WiFi system and the airline allows its use. You can also continue to use short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards.
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration
So, according to the FAA, you can use your cell phones wifi to connect to the plane wifi, but you should turn off the cellular connection.
And you can use “Bluetooth accessories” too. So you can use Bluetooth headphones on a plane as far as the FAA is concerned.
However, that same press release also says, “make safety your first priority” and “check with your airline to see if and when you can use your Portable Electronic Device”.
Bluetooth does work on planes, the FAA doesn’t restrict it, but they leave the final word up to the individual airlines.
So let’s take a closer look at what the airlines have to say about Bluetooth devices.
Not all airlines publish anything about using Bluetooth headphones on their website so in some cases I have checked on Twitter to see what their customer support is saying.
Alaska say that you can use “Noise-cancelling/reduction headsets” but that “Due to foreign government regulations, small electronic devices and short-range Bluetooth accessories (e.g., wireless mouse/keyboard) are prohibited from use below 10,000 feet, and must be turned off and stowed on descent into and on takeoff from Mexico”
Passengers shouting into phones during flights would be incredibly annoying. Just like it is when people do it on trains!
Planes won’t fall out of the sky because of someone using their cell, but cabins are a lot more peaceful and harmonious without cell phone conversations taking place.
So long may the ban on using phones on planes continue!
You can use Bluetooth devices on planes but don’t use them during takeoff and landing, wait until you are above 10,000 feet.
At the present moment you probably can’t use wireless headphones with the seatback in flight entertainment system.
Passengers should keep flight mode turned on so their cellular data is off.
Make sure you charge up your batteries before you travel!
