United's app just got even more useful for iPhone users
Tracking your flight is much easier if you're flying with United Airlines and using an iPhone.
The Chicago-based carrier became the first U.S. airline to enable Live Activities on its iPhone app on Monday. Live Activities is a feature that lives on your lock screen and is essentially an up-to-date notification that keeps you informed of what's going on (without needing to open a separate app).
In United's implementation, travelers can see an up-to-the-second flight status tracker on their home screen. Before boarding begins, you'll see a countdown until boarding time, along with your confirmation code, flight status and departure gate.
Once boarding commences, the live activity will display a countdown until departure time. It'll also show your seat number. Once the flight departs, the notification will switch to a live flight tracker.
Throughout your journey, clicking this notification will open your boarding pass within the United app. When it's time to land, the notification will update with your arrival gate and baggage carousel number.
Those with the top-of-the-line iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max will even enjoy unfettered access to their flight status thanks to the phone's Dynamic Island, which appears when the phone is unlocked.
Regardless of which app is in the foreground, you'll always see the countdown to your flight departure and your seat number in the Dynamic Island. Clicking the top of the screen will also open the United app for easy access to your boarding pass.
United says that travelers check their mobile boarding pass and flight status nearly 800,000 times daily, so this neat new feature should make it even easier and faster to receive timely updates and find important flight details.
Live Activities is a feature that debuted in iOS 16.1, which was released in October. Since then, we've seen a few travel companies, including Uber and Lyft, build customized Live Activities into their apps. However, this is the first time an airline has added something similar.
To take advantage of United's new notification feature, be sure your iPhone is running iOS 16.1 or later. Remember to update the United app via the Apple App Store as well.
United's mobile application is arguably the most robust of all the U.S. airlines. It's packed with features and lets you manage your entire travel journey without picking up the phone or speaking with a phone or airport representative. You can even drop your checked bags and skip the line at the airport with Bag Drop Shortcut, all accessible through the mobile app.
It's great to see United implementing Apple's Live Activities, even if the move comes nearly nine months after the feature debuted. When Apple announced iOS 16 last June, Live Activities was one of the top travel-focused improvements.
Though many first-party apps were updated with Live Activities support at the outset, third-party developers haven't been as quick to implement this functionality. Now that United has built this support, hopefully, other airlines will follow.
Until then, all eyes turn back to Apple, as the tech giant is expected to unveil its next generation of mobile software in less than two weeks at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
Hopefully, more travel-focused upgrades are on the way.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees