How to Track Flights On iPhone using Messages App. How do i track a flight on my iphone

While the airline name / flight number format highlighted above is the best way to go, there are other text messaging options that will lead you to the same result. So let’s say we’re sticking to American Airlines 9707, other options that can trigger flight tracking include:

2 Quick Ways to Check Your Flight Status on Your iPhone

There are two ways to track flight in the air that are baked on iOS.

Apple is lagging behind Google in telling us where and when we are going. And I’m not talking about all the rush of Google Maps vs Apple Maps either. Rather simple act of checking flight status.

There are two ways to track flight in the air that are baked on iOS. The first has been around for a while since iOS 9 and takes you through the Messages app on your phone. The second method came with iOS 11 and uses the Safari browser.

Track Your Flights With Messages

Suppose you received a confirmation message from the airline you intend to travel. Or someone sent you flight information in a message. Here’s how to quickly find flight information for the next 24 hours.

1. Open Messages.
2. Check the flight information sent via SMS.
3. If the airline name and flight number are listed sequentially, select and press (and hold) information or tap 3D. The Flight Tracker window with flight information is displayed.

Or, you can simply enter and send the airline name and flight number in a separate message. Then press and hold the message until the pop-up allows you to select Flight Preview.

This also works for flight numbers listed elsewhere such as Post Office and Notes.

Most of these data detectors work with all proprietary applications that support text input, from Notes, Mail, and Messages to Safari. Try the next time you see an underlined piece of text and you might be surprised to discover a new feature in iOS.

Track Flights on iPhone Using Messages App

To track flights on an iPhone, you need a flight number, which usually consists of an airline code (WS for WestJet, AA for American Airlines) followed by a series of numbers.

You will find the flight number on your ticket, your booking confirmation email and on your boarding passes.

If you are waiting for a friend or relative to arrive, you can ask that friend / relative to send you their flight number.

How to Track Flights Using Messages App on iPhone

In this example, suppose you are waiting for someone to arrive and that person has sent you a message on your iPhone informing you of their arrival along with a flight number.

When you get a message containing a flight number on your iPhone, Apple’s iOS operating system usually detects the flight numbers well and displays the flight number as a clickable link.

To track flights on iPhone, just tap on the flight number. Alternatively, you can also press and hold the flight number to activate the 3D touch menu.

In the pop-up that appears, tap on Flight View and you will immediately see the current flight location in the flight path and other details about that particular flight.

As you can see in the picture above, in addition to the flight route map, you will also see the flight status, departure time, arrival time, arrival airport, terminal as well as the gate number.

You can touch the Airport Code to zoom in on the airport map and touch Departure Time or Arrival Time to see the flight duration or time to arrival.

Tap the Done button at the top right corner of the screen to close flight tracking and return to the Messages app.

tracking flights is a convenience that we often do not pay attention to. However, a quick search helps us to better plan our trip and avoid little things like traffic on the roads and bigger things like a late flight.

Access the hidden flight tracker in different ways

While the airline name / flight number format highlighted above is the best way to go, there are other text messaging options that will lead you to the same result. So let’s say we’re sticking to American Airlines 9707, other options that can trigger flight tracking include:

• AmericanAirlines9707 (no spaces)
• AmericanAirlines 9707 (one seat only)
• AA9707 (the airline name is abbreviated and contains no spaces)
• AA 9707 (shortcut and space)

I would suggest that the name of the airline be fully specified and that you add a space between the two pieces of information – as in the previous section – as for some airlines these alternative options may not work.

Send an SMS with the code to preview your flight.

Track your flight in real time: View flight status, delays, baggage claim and more

Once everything is set, tap on the flight information in the text messages. If the feature is working properly, the following two options should appear in the Quick Action menu:

• Flight View: View flight details. Tap this if you want to see more information about the flight.
• Copy the flight code: Copy the flight code to the clipboard (in case you want to send your flight details to someone else via SMS or email).

If you choose Flight Preview, you’ll see the best part of this feature at the top of the window: Real-time Flight Tracking Map. A line will connect both destinations and a tiny plane will move between them, indicating exactly where the flight is.

Below the map you will see important information about the flight:

• Airline name and flight number
• Flight status (on time, delayed, canceled etc.)
• Terminal and gate numbers (for arrivals and departures)
• Arrival and departure time
• Flight time
• Baggage claim (baggage carousel number)

If you swipe left on the bottom half of the flight tracker, you can switch between flights, but only if there’s a return flight.

Apple is lagging behind Google in telling us where and when we are going. And I’m not talking about all the rush of Google Maps vs Apple Maps either. Rather simple act of checking flight status.

How to Use the Hidden Flight Tracker in iPhone Messages

“It’s the season with busy airports and huge flight delays that can cause serious headaches when traveling with family and friends. But if you and your loved ones have iMessages, you don’t really need an airline app, a flight tracking app, or even Google’s ability to determine if your flight is out of schedule.

iPhone Messages has a built-in flight status checker with real-time information about departures, arrivals, gate changes and baggage claim numbers. All you need to do is text someone from iMessage with your airline’s name and flight number.

Here you will find flight status information in iPhone News.

How to track flights in Messages

First, you’ll need to text yourself or another person via Messages – not SMS – so make sure iMessage is turned on on your device (Settings> Messages> turn iMessage on). The message must be in one of the following formats:

• Airline + flight number: Delta Airlines 405
• Airline Abbreviation + Flight Number: DL 405
• Airline Abbreviation + Flight Number (no spaces): DL405

The first option – with “Airlines” added to the company name – is the best option among all airlines. Just typing “Delta 405” or “JetBlue 101” is not enough to start flight tracking. You will know your format is correct if the text is underlined (pointing to a hyperlink) after sending the message.

To follow a flight, tap on the underlined text to bring up a menu with two options. You can copy the flight code to your iPhone’s clipboard or select “Flight Viewer” to view flight details. If the flight is active, you will also see the real-time tracking map.

Clicking on “Flight view” opens another window with more flight data, such as punctual status, departure and arrival times, duration, gate and baggage claim information. Depending on the flight, you can also swipe to see the statistics for the same flight number for the coming days.

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If you choose Flight Preview, you’ll see the best part of this feature at the top of the window: Real-time Flight Tracking Map. A line will connect both destinations and a tiny plane will move between them, indicating exactly where the flight is.

Track Flights in Messages

If someone sends you a flight number (say U2502) in Messages, you should be able to tap on the underlined number to get a real-time preview of the flight progress plotted on the map.

You can also find out more by tapping Flight View, which has information such as departure and arrival times, delays, and baggage claim details at some airports. At the bottom of the information card, you’ll find links to the Apple Airline and Maps website.

To increase the chance that iOS will detect your flight number, it’s best to include the full name of the airline along with the number (for example, EasyJet U2502).

Track Flights in Spotlight Search

On iPhones and iPads, you can also track flights in the search engine.

Swipe down from the center of the home screen and simply enter your flight number in the search field to get information about departures and arrivals. Tap the information card for additional information listed above.

Apple put the same data detectors into macOS, which means you can track flights on your Mac as well. Simply invoke Spotlight with the Command-Space key combination and enter the flight number in the input field.

Where does this data come from?

Apple’s confirmation page, available by clicking the link with the Legal label on the embedded map, does not reveal where Apple obtains flight information.

If the history is a clue, you can imagine the company using multiple data sources for flights. In addition, the proactive iOS assistant is unaware of flight delays, so you won’t be notified if your flight has been postponed.

If you need more information about your flights, we recommend that you read our round of the best flight tracker apps for iPhone.

Is this tip useful?

If so, let us know in the comments and pass this article on to your friends. Send us your tutorial ideas at [email protected].

First, you’ll need to text yourself or another person via Messages – not SMS – so make sure iMessage is turned on on your device (Settings> Messages> turn iMessage on). The message must be in one of the following formats:

How to track packages in iOS 15

shipment tracking has become a full-time job as more and more items are ordered online. Luckily, iOS and macOS are here to help with the built-in package tracking features. If you encounter a tracking number in Mail, Messages, or Safari, simply tap on it (or right-click on macOS) and select Track Package (Figure B).

Picture B

After selecting the tracking number, you have the option to track the package or copy the tracking number.

This will open Safari to the carrier’s tracking page and automatically enter your tracking number so you can find out where your shipment is. This works with most major suppliers in the US and overseas, including USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and more.

How to get address directions or apply to contacts in iOS 15

Another data detector that has been around for a while in iOS but has undergone significant changes in the latest version of iOS is the Address Data Detector.

Whenever you come across an address in iOS 15, touch and hold the address to bring up a small minimap showing the location (Figure C), then scroll up to see the actions related to the address. Activities include getting directions in Maps to an address from your current location, opening a destination in Maps, adding an address to a contact, copying an address, or sharing the address in Mail, Messages, or another app.

Picture C

The mini-map and the actions that appear when you tap and hold an address in iOS 15.

This feature is useful if you want to quickly see where the address is on the map but don’t want to fully open the Maps app, or if you want to add the address to a new or existing contact without the intermediate step of copying and pasting the address into the Contacts app.

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