How to Listen to Music on a Plane?

Elevate Your In-Flight Music Experience

How to Listen to Music on a Plane

Do long plane journeys leave you exhausted and feeling sick? Do you struggle to take a nap to kill your time on a plane? Is chit-chatting during a long plane journey not your thing? Well, then you probably need some good music to soothe your ears, calm your mind, and escape from the in-plane environment. But how to listen to music on a plane?

We’ve got all the answers right here. Keep reading to know more. 

Top Ways to Listen to Music on a Plane

Here are some interesting ways to listen to music on a plane and enhance your in-flight experience!

1. Leverage the In-Flight Entertainment System

The most convenient way to listen to music on a plane is to use the in-flight entertainment system.

Leverage the In-Flight Entertainment System
Leverage the In-Flight Entertainment System

Most airlines these days install entertainment systems or screens at the back of their seats. You can make the most of these entertainment systems or screens to enjoy movies, music (different genres), TV shows, and more by using touch controls. 

Bid Goodbye to Battery Drainage Issues

One of the key advantages of in-flight entertainment systems is that you don’t need to worry about battery drainage, a worrisome aspect when you are using your own device. The in-flight entertainment systems are typically powered by the plane’s electrical system. Therefore, you can stream music as long as you wish to, without any interruptions.

However, most of these entertainment systems are only compatible with the headphones provided by the airlines. Therefore, it may not work with your headphones (you may need a separate adapter if you want to use your personal headphones).

2. Use Your Smartphone/MP3 Player/Tablet

Use Your Smartphone/MP3 Player/Tablet
Use Your Smartphone/MP3 Player/Tablet

If you are not satisfied with the audio quality or music variety offered by in-flight entertainment systems, use your own device to listen to music on a plane. You can even use your personal headphones or earbuds with these devices.

Download Your Favorite Music on Your Device

If you are looking to use your personal device to listen to music on a plane,download the music files on your device before boarding the flight.

Airlines’ Wi-Fi networks do not allow music streaming. Therefore, ensure you have all your favorite music saved on your smartphone, MP3 player, or tablet. 

Use Your Streaming Apps’ Offline Mode to Download Music

If you use music streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal, use their offline mode to download music on your smartphone, tablet, iPad, etc. 

Make sure you have ample space on your device to store the downloaded music files. 

How to Use the Offline Mode on Apple Music
  • Add your favorite song or music album to your library or playlist.
  • Click the red arrow facing down on the top right corner of your library or playlist’s screen to download the song or music album.
  • Ensure your iPhone’s “Sync Library” function is turned on to download songs or albums from Apple Music to your library. 
Add your favorite song or music album to your library or playlist
Step 1
Click the red arrow facing down on the top right corner of your library or playlist’s screen to download the song or music album
Step 2
Ensure your iPhone’s “Sync Library” function is turned on to download songs or albums from Apple Music to your library
Step 3
How to Use the Offline Mode on Spotify
  • Choose the song, playlist or album you want to download.
  • Switch on the download toggle button (it will turn green when switched on).
  • Open “Your Library,” followed by the “Downloads” section to listen to your favorite downloaded music on your smartphone, tablet, or iPad.
Choose the song, playlist or album you want to download.
Step 1
Switch on the download toggle button (it will turn green when switched on).
Step 2
Open “Your Library,” followed by the “Downloads” section to listen to your favorite downloaded music on your smartphone, tablet, or iPad.
Step 3

Not a Fan of Music? Listen to Your Favorite Audiobooks and Podcasts on a Plane!

If you are not a fan of music, you can keep yourself occupied on a long flight by listening to your favorite audiobooks or podcasts. 

Whether you are a fan of horror stories or thriller books, you can easily find a wide variety of top audiobooks online (e.g. on Audible). Ensure you download them on your device before boarding your flight! 

Similarly, you can also listen to podcasts and learn something new while you are traveling!

You can download podcasts from different platforms, such as Spotify. 

PRO TIP: Use Noise-Canceling Headphones on Your Flight!

Whether you are listening to pre-downloaded music on your device or your favorite podcast, consider using noise-canceling headphones. 

Use Noise-Canceling Headphones on Your Flight!
Use Noise-Canceling Headphones on Your Flight!

Here’s how noise-canceling headphones can elevate your flying experience:

  • They minimize ambient noise in your in-flight surroundings. Therefore, they enable you to enjoy clear and crisp audio, without increasing the volume. 
  • They allow you to sleep better. If you are someone who loves (and looks forward to) sleeping on a plane, noise-canceling headphones are a must. You can use these headphones to block ambient noise and play soothing music to get a sound sleep. You can also try music-based meditation by downloading and listening to calming, soothing and relaxing tracks. 
Noise-cancelling headphones minimize ambient noise in your in-flight surroundings
Noise-cancelling headphones minimize ambient noise in your in-flight surroundings

We also recommend using Bluetooth headphones to avoid the hassles of wires. Yes, you can use Bluetooth headphones on a plane. Most airlines nowadays allow travelers to use Bluetooth headphones. However, it’s best to check with your airlines to be double sure. 

Additional Tips for Listening to Music on a Plane

Here are some extra tips to ensure you have a relaxing and stress-free time listening to your favorite music on a plane!

Monitor Your Volume 

This one’s a must to ensure you are not disturbing fellow passengers on the plane. Ensure your volume is not becoming a nuisance for the passenger next to you.

Also, avoid listening to music on your device’s speaker. Consider using headphones for an immersive and hassle-free audio experience. 

Don’t Ignore or Miss Important Announcements

Avoid using headphones when flight attendants are briefing you regarding safety instructions or making important announcements. 

Final Thoughts

As you have seen in this post, there are different ways to listen to music on a plane. However, you must make the right music choices, prepare your playlists well in advance and use the right headphones to enjoy a stellar in-flight audio experience. 

Also, ensure you are not disturbing your fellow passengers by listening to music at high volumes or using your device’s speakers instead of headphones. 

We hope you found the post help. The next time you are traveling on a plane, amid beautiful cotton clouds and picturesque views of the surrounding areas, listen to your favorite melodies to turn your long journey into a tuneful adventure.