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United brings popular app feature to Apple's newest Watches

Oct. 02, 2024
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3 min read
United Apple Watch
United brings popular app feature to Apple's newest Watches
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United Airlines travelers who wear one of the newest Apple Watches will have one less excuse for missing their flight.

The Chicago-based airline announced this week that it's adding support for Live Activities on the Apple Watch. This feature allows travelers to conveniently access flight information — such as live boarding times, gate assignments and a countdown clock to departure — just by glancing at their wrist.

Live Activities automatically shows the most convenient and timely information needed during your travel day with United. To find Live Activities, you'll need to view the Smart Stack on your Apple Watch. You can access this by swiping up from the bottom of the watch screen.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

In the Smart Stack, the United compilation will automatically become the first and most prominent thing you see during your travel day. The widget will automatically display the most important information that you need in real time, such as your gate number, seat assignment or baggage carousel number.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Tapping the Live Activity notification will open the United app, where you can view your boarding pass and even more detailed flight information.

United became the first airline to debut Live Activities on its top-notch iPhone app back in 2023. These widget-style notifications pop out of the Dynamic Island on the latest iPhone devices. United says that the notifications have already helped "millions of travelers" since their debut.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

This year, Apple added Live Activities support to the Apple Watch as part of WatchOS 11. To see Live Activities, travelers need an Apple Watch that supports this latest operating system and the most up-to-date United app. Apple's new Watch Series 10, which debuted last month with the company's largest-ever display, comes preinstalled with the new operating system.

I haven't been able to try the new feature on a flight yet, but the airline showed off what the widget looks like before departure in an exclusive media demo.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

I was able to see a live countdown until my flight and a notification reminder to check in. Clicking the widget opened the United app on my iPhone, and it immediately displayed my boarding pass without an issue.

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"United is always looking for ways to leverage technology to improve our customers' travel journey, and this new feature is a game changer for United flyers," the airline said in a statement shared with TPG.

Related reading:

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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