My Favorite Travel Apps for Booking Flights and Surviving the Airport

Navigating the airport, even during a trip you’re looking forward to, almost always feels like a chore. But I’ve found that if you have the right tools ready to use, you can really make the whole process much more bearable. Here are some of my favorite travel apps to try the next time you’re planning a trip.

Best Travel Apps for Booking and Tracking Flights

Here are the apps I use to book cheaper, better quality flights and then track their status before takeoff.

Hopper and TravelArrow

Stress-free travel starts with a great price, and the Hopper app tracks airfare prices and advises you when the cheapest time to buy (or when to wait and when you can expect prices to rise). You can also complement your search with the TravelArrow Chrome extension , which can help you decide which airline to book your flight with.

TripIt

If you’ve ever booked a flight or hotel on the wrong date, or realized there were unintended gaps in your itinerary, consider using TripIt . The planning app allows you to sync all your flight, hotel, car rental and tour bookings into one itinerary. Simply send a confirmation email to plans@tripit.com that you want to appear on the itinerary and it will save all your confirmations and flight numbers in one place. It will also show you all your plans in a clear timeline (along with any gaps).

The app has a free version with everything you need and a Pro version for $49 per year with real-time alerts and additional features.

Fickle

With the increasing number of flight cancellations we have experienced over the years and the unhelpful response of many airlines, it has become increasingly important to have better flight tracking tools. Flighty is a flight tracking app that will alert you to flight cancellations and delays every second (much faster than some airlines alert their passengers), helping you be more proactive than reactive. The app also tells you how your flight has performed over the past couple of months, giving you data on its on-time performance ( similar to what Flightera does, but not as detailed). You can also track other people’s flights like your own.

Although Flighty has a free limited version, you get valuable features with the paid version. It costs $49.99 per year or $249 for a lifetime membership. You can also sync it with TripIt to show your itinerary in the Flighty app. If you’re looking for a similar app, but completely free, check out App in the Air . Just keep in mind that App in the Air tracks changes, but doesn’t have the same near-real-time updates as Flighty. If you want a free app that simply tracks flights, try FlightAware .

Best travel apps for airport navigation

When you’re physically at the airport, there are many apps that can help you spend less time in lines and worry less about missing your flight. Here are the best ones.

Book via CLEAR

You don’t have to have a membership in a fancy airport precheck program to save time during the security process (though I still recommend TSA PreCheck). You can use the CLEAR app to take advantage of the free reservation program to reserve your seat in advance and get through security much faster if you’re flying domestically. If you’re flying internationally, you can use the Mobile Passport Control app to do the same .

LoungeBuddy

If you have access to airport lounges through one or more of the programs you participate in, you’ll need the LoungeBuddy app. It will tell you which lounges you have access to, as well as their opening hours, amenities, locations, policies, and more. You can also purchase access to some lounges if you have an American Express credit card.

Starbucks

Look, it’s convenient: The Starbucks app lets you pre-order mobile at multiple airports so you can get your order without waiting in line. If you’re in a hurry and know you don’t have time to wait in the usual long line at Starbucks, order your breakfast or coffee in advance using the app. (You’ll need to be a member of their loyalty program to do this.) You can find the location closest to you using the three-digit airport code. Once you place your order, the app will tell you when you can pick up your order before your flight.

Google Maps

Google Maps does more than just get you from point A to point B by car. This is also extremely useful at airports. If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation where you weren’t sure whether you’d be able to go to the restroom, store, lounge, restaurant, terminal, or any other place in time for a flight, then you probably haven’t used Google Maps. Navigating airports is confusing and time-consuming, and although you know how to follow the signs, chances are you don’t know how long it will take you to get where you’re going, especially if you have to use any other vehicle. the type of transport you can use to get there.

Converter+

If you’re at an international airport, you’ll need an app to transfer currencies (and other conversions). The Converter+ app helps you convert currencies: Celsius to Fahrenheit, kilometers to miles, liters to ounces and much more. You can also save your favorites, use automatic exchange rate updates and other features.