Yes, you can track almost any commercial flight from takeoff to landing

You can see where a plane is right now, how fast it is moving, what altitude it is at, and when it will land. Most airlines show this information free on their own websites and apps. If you do not have a flight number, you can search by airport or airline. Third-party tracking sites like FlightRadar24 and FlightAware show the same data and work even if the airline's tracker is down.

The tracker updates every few seconds during flight. You can watch from your phone, computer, or any web browser. The information comes from the plane's own transponder — the same system air traffic control uses — so it is real and current, not a guess.

Key Takeaways

  • Your airline's website or app is the fastest way to track your flight and see gate changes, delays, and landing time.
  • FlightRadar24 and FlightAware work for any flight and show altitude, speed, and exact position on a map.
  • Tracking updates every few seconds during flight and works on any device with a web browser.
  • If your flight is delayed, the tracker will show the new landing time before the airline updates its own system.

Track through your airline's website or app

Every major airline — United, American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, and others — has a flight tracker built into its website and mobile app. You enter your confirmation number or flight number, and the tracker shows your plane's location, current altitude, speed, and estimated landing time. It also shows gate information, boarding times, and any delays.

The airline tracker is the most reliable source because it pulls data directly from the airline's own systems. It will tell you about mechanical delays, crew changes, or weather holds before the plane takes off. Once airborne, it updates every 30 seconds to a minute. You can set notifications so your phone alerts you when the plane lands or if the gate changes.

To find the tracker, go to your airline's main website and look for "Track Your Flight" or "Flight Status" in the top menu. On the mobile app, it is usually a tab at the bottom of the screen. You will need your confirmation number (the six-character code from your booking email) or your flight number (like UA456).

Use FlightRadar24 or FlightAware for any flight

FlightRadar24 and FlightAware are free websites that track every commercial flight in the air. You do not need a confirmation number or ticket — you just search by flight number, airline, or airport. Both show a live map with the plane's exact position, altitude, speed, and heading. They update every few seconds.

FlightRadar24 has a cleaner map interface and works well on phones. FlightAware shows more detail about the flight history and gives you a better view of delays and cancellations across the whole airline. Both let you search past flights too, so if you want to know where a plane was yesterday, you can look it up.

These sites work when the airline's own tracker is slow or down. They are also useful if you are tracking someone else's flight and do not have their confirmation number. The data comes from the same source — the plane's transponder signal — so it is just as accurate as the airline's tracker.

What the tracker shows you

A flight tracker displays the plane's current location on a map, its altitude in feet, its ground speed in miles or kilometers per hour, and the direction it is heading. It also shows the departure and arrival airports, the scheduled landing time, and the actual landing time once the plane touches down. Most trackers include the aircraft type (like Boeing 737 or Airbus A320) and the tail number.

The tracker updates in real time — usually every 30 seconds to a minute — so you can watch the plane move across the map. If there is a delay on the ground, the tracker will show the plane still at the gate or taxiing slowly. Once airborne, you can see the exact moment it reaches cruising altitude and the moment it begins its descent into the destination airport.

How to find your flight number if you do not have it

Your flight number is on your booking confirmation email and your boarding pass. It is usually two letters followed by three or four numbers — for example, AA1234 or SW567. The letters are the airline code (AA for American, SW for Southwest, UA for United).

If you have lost your confirmation email, you can find your flight number by going to your airline's website, signing in with your name and date of birth, and searching for your reservation. You can also call the airline's customer service line and give them your name and travel date — they will tell you the flight number over the phone.

Once you have the flight number, you can enter it into any tracker — your airline's app, FlightRadar24, or FlightAware — and see where the plane is right now.

Tracking a flight when it is delayed

The tracker is especially useful during a delay because it shows you exactly why the plane is late. If the plane is still on the ground at the departure airport, the tracker will show it parked at the gate or taxiing. If it is already in the air, the tracker will show its current position and calculate a new landing time based on its speed and distance remaining.

Sometimes the tracker will show a new landing time before the airline updates its own system. This happens because the tracker calculates the time based on the plane's current speed and position, while the airline may be waiting for the crew or ground staff to confirm the new time. Check the tracker every few minutes during a delay — it often gives you the most current information.

If your flight is cancelled, the tracker will show the plane never taking off. The airline will notify you separately, but the tracker confirms the cancellation and shows whether the plane is being used for a different flight later that day.

Tracking international flights

International flights work the same way. Enter your flight number into your airline's tracker or FlightRadar24, and you will see the plane's position over the ocean or across continents. The tracker shows the same information — altitude, speed, position, and landing time — whether the flight is domestic or international.

Some international flights cross time zones, so the landing time shown in the tracker is in the destination airport's local time. For example, if you are flying from New York to London, the tracker will show the landing time in London time, not New York time. Your airline's app usually converts this to your local time automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track a flight if I am not the passenger?

Yes. FlightRadar24 and FlightAware let anyone search by flight number with no login required. Your airline's tracker usually requires a confirmation number, which only the person who booked the flight has. If you know the flight number, you can track it on a free site without any ticket information.

Does tracking a flight use a lot of data?

No. The tracker updates every 30 seconds to a minute, and each update is a small amount of data. You can track a flight all day on a standard phone plan without noticing the data use. Using the airline's app or website uses slightly less data than a third-party site because the airline's system is optimized for mobile.

What if the tracker shows the plane landed but I have not landed yet?

The tracker shows when the plane touches down on the runway, not when it reaches the gate. After landing, the plane taxis to the gate, which can take 10 to 20 minutes depending on the airport. You will not be able to leave your seat until the plane stops at the gate and the door opens.

Can I track a private plane or charter flight?

Most private planes do not show up on public trackers like FlightRadar24 because they use different transponder settings. Some charter flights do appear, but not all. If you are tracking a charter flight, ask the charter company directly — they can tell you the flight number and estimated landing time.

Will the tracker work if the plane is flying over the ocean?

Yes, as long as the plane has a working transponder. Modern commercial aircraft transmit their position continuously, even over the ocean. FlightRadar24 and FlightAware show planes over the Atlantic, Pacific, and all other oceans. The tracker works the same way whether the plane is over land or water.