charging the AirPods 3rd gen

just bought new iPhones and AirPods3rd generation for gifts. Just found out, not from Apple!, that it is a special needs device. So, after buying the phone, the charger, AirPods, case, etc., now I need a lighting cable? To plug it up how? Why wasn't this made clear on the Apple store site?

It's lucky I tried out everything mailed to me before presenting this gift. Apple folks need to think beyond the 1s and 0s. Think like a consumer. Consumers like to know how to hook stuff up when they are choosing a product.