These four flight apps can keep you ahead of the curve—and gate/pilot announcements—on your flight status.
FlightRadar24
FlightRadar24 gives you an overview of all flights arriving and departing from almost any airport in near real time. The app makes tracking easy via plane icons; each displays the flight’s airline and registration number, as well as the plane’s altitude, speed, heading, and coordinates. You can see how many planes are ahead of you for takeoff and which runway configuration is in use at a particular moment. You can even watch as planes descend to land. The app has a built-in augmented reality view, which works when you tilt your phone to the sky. The app will then overlay the tracking information for the planes that you’re seeing.
Alternative: If you’re only interested in the essentials, you may want to consider FlightAware. You can view real-time flight statuses and route maps, as well as other handy details like speed and altitude.
Flighty
Will your flight be delayed? With Flighty, you might know before everyone else on your plane. The app monitors your inbound aircraft, predicts delays, and promises to share live push notifications before they are announced by the gate agent or pilot. You can even import prior flights to create an automated annual flight log.
AeroWeather
If you’re serious about the weather, then AeroWeather is for you. The app provides an easy-to-understand look at detailed weather information, including wind speed, visibility and atmospheric pressure. It’s helpful for determining the weather conditions at your departure and arrival airport, and can often offer a look at whether Mother Nature will delay or possibly cancel your flight.
LiveATC
Have you ever waited in a long line for takeoff wondering how much longer it’ll take until you’re airborne? While you could look at the real-time map on FlightRadar24, you can alternatively listen to the air traffic controllers at your airport as they clear planes for takeoff, thanks to LiveATC. With live feeds at airports and control centers worldwide, LiveATC lets you listen to what’s going on in the cockpit of planes overhead. I’ve listened in on commentary that was, um, quite colorful, and have heard pilots request (and receive) clearance for special approaches.
Twist’s Take: These four flight apps can keep you ahead of the curve—and gate/pilot announcements—on your flight status.
