Clint Henderson is a managing editor at TPG who has worked in the journalism industry for more than 25 years. He is obsessed with travel and has used points and miles to explore the world.
April 29, 2026 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
Flight-tracking apps have advanced significantly, often providing faster and more detailed delay and cancellation alerts than airline apps.
Key platforms highlighted include Flighty, FlightRadar24 and FlightAware, each offering unique features such as AI-powered delay predictions, aircraft history and real-time airport activity.
These apps can help travelers make informed decisions, like rebooking flights or adjusting airport arrival times, potentially saving time and reducing stress.
Premium versions offer expanded capabilities, including in-depth travel summaries and enhanced tracking, with various pricing tiers.
What to consider
Some advanced features, like real-time AI predictions or historical aircraft data, may require a paid subscription.
Premium plans can be costly, especially for infrequent travelers, but free versions offer essential tracking functions.
Alert timing and depth of information may vary between apps, so choosing the right tool depends on your travel needs.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of each app's strengths and practical tips for using flight-tracking tools to minimize travel disruptions.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Flight-tracking apps have come a long way in just a few years, and some are now even better than airline apps at notifying you of delays and cancellations. These services can help you beat the crowd when it comes to getting rebooked in the case of long delays and cancellations. Sometimes, having information about your plane's location can help you save time; for example, it can save you from getting to the airport much earlier than you need to. I literally don't leave home without first tracking one of these apps.
These services can do things like tell you how long you're likely to be delayed, where your plane is coming from and even where you are in the line to takeoff.
One especially good tool can even predict when you are likely to take off, using artificial intelligence. Here are some of the best ones we use at TPG to keep one step ahead of the competition.
Flighty
Delayed New Orleans to New York flight. FLIGHTY
Flighty is an Apple iOS app launched in 2019 that helps you track your flights day to day and keeps an ongoing record of your worldwide travels. It has some incredible technology working behind the scenes to keep you informed about your flights. It even uses AI to predict delays.
FLIGHTY
The paid version even gives you a year-end summary, and it can be fun to look back at your adventures over the past year ... or lifetime.
More importantly, it shares real-time updates on your flights, including delays and cancellations. Oftentimes, it knows when a flight is having issues before the designated airline app does.
Flighty tracks your flight for 25 hours before your departure, keeping you up to date on the aircraft types and previous stops so you can see how it's progressing. This gives you the option to change your flight if you see it's delayed at prior airports. This has helped me switch flights a few times to ensure I reach my final destination on time. It will even suggest alternate airlines' flights.
It will also alert you to any schedule changes or aircraft type swaps, so you can make backup plans if needed.
I use Flighty every time I fly. Most recently, I faced long delays on a United Airlines flight home from Charleston, finally giving up after it was delayed by mechanical issues multiple times. Flighty confirmed that the flight was canceled before I heard it from United.
This is by far my favorite airline tracking tool and seems like a bargain to me at $59.99 per year or $299 for a lifetime subscription.
FlightRadar24
The FlightRadar24 website displays empty skies on a computer screen due to closed Iranian airspace. MARCIN GOLBANURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
FlightRadar24 is another app I check every time I fly, though it's more useful for AvGeeks than for those who just want to figure out what's going on with their flights.
I use it to see where my plane is coming from, as well as the plane's ship number and recent history. You can, for example, check whether the plane has had many cancellations and delays in the past year. I like to see how old the plane is that I'm flying on and when it entered service.
The app shows you all flights arriving and departing from almost any airport in real time.
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FlightRadar24 live map. FLIGHTRADAR24
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FlightRadar24 flight history. FLIGHTRADAR24
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FlightRadar24 flight history for specific aircraft. FLIGHTRADAR24
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FlightRadar24 recent flight history. FLIGHTRADAR24
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FlightRadar24 live plane informaiton. FLIGHTRADAR24
Like with Flighty, you can also track live flights with a Gold membership.
FlightRadar24 live flight tracking. APPLE
The FlightRadar24 Gold membership tier costs $34.99 per year.
FlightAware
FLIGHTAWARE
FlightAware is a major resource for reporters at TPG when it comes to tracking mass delays and cancellations, but FlightAware also has a free app that can be useful. I use the desktop tool to see where delays and cancellations are worst, as well as to note total numbers in the event of major technology meltdowns or during storms.
But the service also has a very data-rich app. While I don't use the app myself, it has a slew of useful tools and, like FlightRadar24, it can help you find information about your current flight and where your plane has been. Like Flighty, it tracks the inbound aircraft that will become your flight.
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Tracking Delta flight 1 from New York to London. FLIGHTAWARE
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FlightAware information on a flight from Charlotte to London. FLIGHTAWARE
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FlightAware information on a flight from Los Angeles to New York. FLIGHTAWARE
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FlightAware information on a flight to London. FLIGHTAWARE
It has a cool feature called "Where is my plane?" that keeps an eye on your inbound flight and can notify you of delays up to 30 minutes before your airline does.
The app is free, but premium plans are available for power users or for businesses. Premium+ is $44.95 per month — too rich for my blood, but may be worth it for those with deep pockets or folks who can expense the premium tool.
Bottom line
United Airlines planes at a snowy Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Get ahead of delays and cancellations with one of these three tools that TPG staff use regularly. I really can't emphasize enough how valuable these apps can be when you are traveling, whether it's every week or even just once a year.
With these tools at your fingertips, you can often beat everyone else on your flight by knowing the status of delays, or you can even get rebooked if the flight is canceled.Knowledge is power.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
