United Airlines Adds Live Activities and Dynamic Island Support for Flight Tracking

[alexandr]

Dang, just flew with them a couple weeks ago — would've loved to test it. And my next flight is Delta

 

[jz0309]

Interesting ! I wish I had that when I flew with them a few months ago...

At some point, I don't know how they will sync the arrival time when you're in the sky without connection, but hey, I'll appreciate that over nothing at all.

using the United app connected to in-flight wifi was available without a fee in the past - haven't been on a plane in 2+ years but I would expect that hasn't changed.

 

[GDF]

Used this last Sunday. Was very cool/impressive!

 

[dontwalkhand]

Come on Delta and Southwest! Especially Southwest!

 

[zinacef]

Come on Delta and Southwest! Especially Southwest!

People still fly with Southwest after their recent debacle?

 

[PsykX]

using the United app connected to in-flight wifi was available without a fee in the past - haven't been on a plane in 2+ years but I would expect that hasn't changed.

You're right. I remember about doing this last year. Great solution then !

 

[iGeneo]

Not for free it doesn't.

Correct.. but if you fly other than United, you have no choice and end up with a "oh... can't use it this time, I'm on Delta" Flighty works with all

 

[dampfnudel]

Dang, just flew with them a couple weeks ago — would've loved to test it. And my next flight is Delta

Hopefully, Delta will add it before then. I guess the pressure is on them to add it to the Delta app now. I may travel to Europe in a few months and I’m hoping it’s a new added feature by then.

 

[alexandr]

Hopefully, Delta will add it before then. I guess the pressure is on them to add it to the Delta app now.

Well, they have a couple of weeks

 

[alexandr]

Correct.. but if you fly other than United, you have no choice and end up with a "oh... can't use it this time, I'm on Delta" Flighty works with all

I recon all major airlines will implement this in the near future. Let's not forget that live activities is quite new.

 

[zenntench_oni]

There’s a slim chance Hawaiian Airlines will do this. God, the system and internet melt down they just had. Lolol 😂😂😂

 

[iDrummer3]

I actually used this today. Unfortunately it was delay, delay, updated delay. UA is terrible. I learned my lesson today. The live activities was good though.

 

[jonblatho]

If only Southwest would do the same.

Yeah, but shame you’d have to fly Southwest to use it.

I jest.

…sort of.

 

[jonblatho]

I recon all major airlines will implement this in the near future. Let's not forget that live activities is quite new.

Developer uptake on Live Activities really hasn’t been that great for the most part. That could change, but it’s been several months now. Perhaps the non-Pro iPhones supposedly getting the Dynamic Island this year will give it a boost.

That said, you can do this with about any airline right now with Flighty. Great app. Even when I’m not flying myself but picking up friends from the airport, always nice to have a countdown for their arrival on the lock screen and Dynamic Island to keep an eye on.

 

[KevinVonJames]

Hey Delta, Million Miler here, are you going to let United one up you?

pretty sure they are still working on a functional apple watch app 🤣

 

[alexandr]

Developer uptake on Live Activities really hasn’t been that great for the most part. That could change, but it’s been several months now.

That said, you can do this with about any airline right now with Flighty. Great app. Even when I’m not flying myself but picking up friends from the airport, always nice to have a countdown for their arrival on the lock screen and Dynamic Island to keep an eye on.

Let's be honest — the uptake is far superior to App Clips — remember those?))

It's a fine app, but it's not free, I don't have the need for this feature enough to pay a subscription. Also when I tried it it wasn't 100% accurate, but close enough.

 

[jonblatho]

Let's be honest — the uptake is far superior to App Clips — remember those?))

It's a fine app, but it's not free, I don't have the need for this feature enough to pay a subscription. Also when I tried it it wasn't 100% accurate, but close enough.

It’s always been spot-on for me, both flying and awaiting friends. The only minor annoyance I’ve encountered is the baggage claim being reported for some airports but not others, which I figure probably isn’t Flighty’s fault.

Re: App Clips, I think I’ve actually encountered more App Clips in the wild than apps with Live Activities, not counting the ones that implement them through the Now Playing and CallKit APIs (which require no additional effort to adopt).

Re: subscriptions, a lifetime purchase option is available, but for as rarely as I need Flighty’s functionality I usually just enable and cancel the monthly subscription as needed. If I get to a point where I find myself at the airport more than several times a year, though, I’d certainly consider that instead.

 

[alexandr]

It’s always been spot-on for me, both flying and awaiting friends. The only minor annoyance I’ve encountered is the baggage claim being reported for some airports but not others, which I figure probably isn’t Flighty’s fault.

Re: App Clips, I think I’ve actually encountered more App Clips in the wild than apps with Live Activities, not counting the ones that make use of built-in functionality through the Now Playing and CallKit APIs.

Re: subscriptions, a lifetime purchase option is available, but for as rarely as I need Flighty’s functionality I usually just enable and cancel the monthly subscription as needed. If I get to a point where I find myself at the airport more than several times a year, though, I’d certainly consider that instead.

It didn't show accurate landing time for my wife's flight, but as I kept reloading the google status — I still picked her up on time.

Really?! I encountered ONE)))

Right, I'm not frequent enough of a traveler, although have a few flights coming up this summer. My wife travels far more. I'm hoping flights like Flighty will trigger airlines to implement these features, as UA did.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

People still fly with Southwest after their recent debacle?

It's the only non-stop flight from here to LAX and SEA, so yea.

Leery, though.

 

[PrayForDeath]

Just use Flighty.. does all that and more

Flighty is nice, but too expensive for an infrequent flyer such as myself

 

[ThomasJL]

Can people please stop praising this glorified notch known as Dynamic Island?

Having an ugly notch wasn’t necessary to create a bigger notification message. A literal hole in the screen wasn’t needed in order to create a black status bubble that can change in size.

Please stop encouraging Tim Cook to insult people’s intelligence and rip them off.

 

[pi6xjdskfa]

used it this week. amazing feature for flight i took with delayed layover. didn't have to keep switching to united app.

 

[svish]

Good to hear about this. More apps should support dynamic island.

 

[dominiongamma]

If only Southwest would do the same.

Only if Southwest was a good airline to fly with

 

[beanbaguk]

You might get notifications if you are about to get dragged off due to management incompetence. You'll know ahead of your impending doom...