It’s been a disruptive year for air travel. With last-minute cancellations, delays, route changes and price increases, it’s no surprise many people are keen to be equipped with as much information as possible about an upcoming flight.
To help with this, even some of the most laissez-faire travellers are opting to track their flight. This used to be something only pilots or industry experts would do, but now there is a vast array of apps, websites and in-phone functions that make it easier than ever.
Knowing a flight is set to be delayed before it’s officially announced can make the difference between re-booking onto an alternative swiftly and easily, or feeling stuck and frustrated. It’s easy to be proactive when you’re aware of big changes earlier rather than later.
A good rule of thumb is that most airline mobile apps will share flight news immediately, but passengers can anticipate updates even earlier thanks to flight tracking. By monitoring the plane’s incoming flight, the weather conditions at your destination or connecting airport, and identifying where disruptions are growing.
Thankfully, there are now countless ways to do this…
Do I have to use an app?
First off, there is no need to download a flight tracking app specifically. There is an in-built flight tracking feature on iOS iMessage, which means you can receive real-time updates about departures, arrivals, and baggage claim.
To start this, just text yourself or someone else the flight number via iMessage (crucially, this won’t work over SMS). Important to note is that this has to be done in one of a few formats. The easiest way is to write the airline + flight number, eg British Airways 450. Once you’ve sent the message, tap the text, which should now be underlined, and you’ll see all the tracking info pulled into your message. This is free, but it naturally doesn’t offer the same ability for constant live updates as other apps.
You can also use Google to get real-time updates on a flight, whether for the same day or in the future, which it sources from airline schedules. All you need to do is type the flight number, and all of the main sources of info, like if a flight has been delayed and when it’s expected to land, will be pulled up for you.
Another option for flight tracking is Flightradar24, a specific website built for this. You’ll find even more information on there, including the route distance, historic delays, baggage claim carousels, gate information and more. It also has a higher level of detail, such as an airport’s cancellation rates and the local weather.
