Organizing trips has gone digital, and flying is no exception. Thanks to the power of apps, much of flying’s stress has disappeared. From checking in to conquering your fear of flying, these seven apps make the chaos that is air travel easier.
1. Your Airline’s App
If it’s a good one, your airline’s app will provide some of the most seamless parts of your airport experience. This app is all about the ticket: within it, you can book the ticket, check in and download a scannable boarding pass. Airline apps also offer frequent flyers instant access to loyalty accounts. The Fly Delta app, for example, tracks how many miles you earn on each flight and tracks your SkyMiles member status. These apps are currently evolving to add entertainment you can stream on the plane.
iOS: Free
Android: Free
2. Mobile Passport
If you’ve traveled internationally, you know that U.S. border customs is a nightmare. Mobile Passport makes the customs experience suck significantly less. Simply fill in and submit your passport information ahead of time and the U.S. Customs and Border Protections will send you a receipt. If you’re traveling with family, everyone’s information can be on a single receipt. Once you land, the receipt is a godsend: show it to a customs officer and you’ll be escorted to the front of the line.
iOS: Free
Android: Free
3. Flying
Flying combines essential information and social media for an app that’s equally useful and entertaining. Connect with your friends and earn badges to determine who is the best traveler of them all. Flying also turns your trip data into fun trivia with calculations such as how much time you’ve spent in the air and how many times you’ve traveled the distance to the moon.
iOS: Free
4. TripCase
TripCase allows users to organize vacation plans down to every last detail. In the app, you can get as specific as you’d like, with space to fill out lodging, car rental, activities, dining, attractions and even meetings. When you’re done, you can email the itinerary to a travel companion through the app. Along your journey, TripCase will update you with any changes to your schedule.
