What the Tech: App of the day ‘Flight Tracker’
Flight delays are nothing new, but lately they seem to be happening more often. Anyone who has ever shown up at an airport ready to go, only to find out they will be waiting for hours, knows the frustration. That is where an app called Flight Tracker can make travel a little less stressful.
As the name suggests, Flight Tracker lets you follow any commercial flight in real time. You can search your flight by number or route and instantly see where it is on a live map. You will see whether it is taxiing on the runway, flying over the ocean, or delayed at the gate.
If that sounds like something your airline’s app already does, Flight Tracker goes further. The app displays every flight around the world in real time. You can zoom in on your flight or watch hundreds of planes moving across the map.
Flight Tracker also sends notifications with updates to your flight schedule, such as departure times, gate changes, or delays. iPhone users can see these updates in the Dynamic Island and tap for details. Apple Watch users get the same information on their wrist.
The app even helps after you land. It tells you which gate you will arrive at and where to pick up your bags. One of its best features is the option to share all of that information with the person picking you up. Send them a link and they can follow your flight and see any changes in real time.
The free version is perfect for most travelers. Those who spend a lot of time in airports might prefer the Pro version, which offers more tools with a monthly or yearly subscription.
Flight Tracker will not prevent flight delays, but it can make dealing with them much easier. For anyone who travels often, this is one app worth downloading before your next trip.
