How to Track a Flight in Real Time

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 find one through the airline's booking confirmation, your email receipt, or by calling the airline directly.

The tracking data comes from radar, satellite signals, and aircraft transmitters that broadcast position updates every few seconds. Commercial flights are tracked continuously once they leave the gate, and the information updates live on your screen. Military flights, private jets, and some cargo planes may not appear on public tracking sites.

Key Takeaways

• Your airline's website or app is the fastest way to track your own flight — search by confirmation number or flight number.
• Free public sites like FlightAware, FlightRadar24, and Flightstats show real-time position, speed, altitude, and estimated arrival for any commercial flight.
• Tracking updates every few seconds once the plane pushes back from the gate, so you can see delays or changes as they happen.
• You need either a flight number or the departure and arrival airports to search on public tracking sites.

Track your flight through your airline

Every major airline offers flight tracking on its own website and mobile app. Log in with your booking confirmation number and last name, or search by flight number. The airline's tracker shows your specific flight's status, gate number, boarding time, and estimated arrival.

Airline apps often send push notifications when your flight is delayed, cancelled, or boarding. This is the most direct route if you booked the flight yourself, because you already have the confirmation number. The airline also shows whether your luggage is loaded and, on some carriers, real-time seat maps so you can see which seats are still open.

Use free public flight tracking websites

FlightAware is the largest public flight tracker in North America. Go to flightaware.com, enter your flight number or search by departure and arrival city, and you see a map with the plane's current position, ground speed, altitude, and the time it will land. FlightAware also shows historical delays for that flight number and whether the aircraft has mechanical issues or crew problems.

FlightRadar24 (flightradar24.com) displays a live map of nearly every commercial aircraft in the air. Search by flight number or airline, and you see the plane's exact location, heading, speed, and altitude. The free version shows most information; a paid subscription removes ads and adds features like 3D flight paths and historical playback.

Flightstats (flightstats.com) tracks flights and shows on-time performance data. Search by airline and flight number, and you see current status, gate information if available, and how often that flight is delayed. Flightstats also tracks airport conditions, so you can see whether weather or congestion is affecting your arrival.

What information you see when tracking

Once a flight is in the air, tracking shows the plane's latitude and longitude on a map, its current altitude in feet, ground speed in miles per hour, and the direction it is heading. You also see the estimated time of arrival, which updates as the plane gets closer. If the flight is delayed on the ground, the tracker shows the new departure time.

Tracking does not show the reason for a delay — you have to call the airline or check their app for that. The tracker also does not show seat assignments, meal service, or whether the flight is full. For those details, use your airline's app or call the airline directly.

When tracking becomes available and when it stops

Tracking starts once the plane pushes back from the gate and the aircraft's transponder turns on. For most flights, this happens 15 to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. The tracker updates every few seconds while the plane is airborne.

Tracking stops once the plane lands and the wheels touch the runway. Some trackers show the plane taxiing to the gate, but once it parks, the real-time position updates end. If you need to know whether the plane has arrived, check your airline's app or call the airline — they will have the gate number and whether passengers are deplaning.

Track a flight without a flight number

If you do not have a flight number, you can still track a flight on FlightAware or FlightRadar24 by entering the departure airport code and arrival airport code. For example, if you are tracking a flight from New York to Los Angeles, enter JFK or LGA for New York and LAX for Los Angeles. The site shows all flights between those airports in the next few hours.

If multiple flights are listed, look for the airline name and departure time to find the right one. Once you find your flight, click it to see the live map and tracking details. You can also search by aircraft tail number if you know it — the tail number is printed on the back of the fuselage and appears on your airline's app.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Public tracking sites like FlightAware and FlightRadar24 show any commercial flight's location and status. You only need the flight number or the departure and arrival airports. The airline's own app requires a booking confirmation number, so you cannot track someone else's flight that way unless they share their confirmation with you.

Why does the estimated arrival time keep changing?

The tracker updates the arrival time based on the plane's current speed, wind conditions, and distance remaining. Headwinds slow the plane down and push the arrival time later; tailwinds speed it up and move the arrival time earlier. Air traffic control also issues holding patterns or reroutes that change the time. These updates happen in real time as conditions change.

Can I see why my flight is delayed on the tracking map?

No. The tracker shows that a flight is delayed, but not the reason. Call your airline or check their app for the cause — it could be weather, a mechanical issue, crew scheduling, or airport congestion. FlightAware sometimes notes mechanical delays in its flight details, but the airline is the source of truth.

Does tracking work for international flights?

Yes, for most international flights. FlightAware and FlightRadar24 track flights across the Atlantic and Pacific, though coverage is better over land and coastal areas. Over the ocean, tracking may have gaps because there are fewer radar stations. Your airline's app will always show your international flight's status.

What is the difference between ground speed and airspeed?

Ground speed is how fast the plane is moving over the ground, including the effect of wind. Airspeed is how fast the plane is moving through the air. A plane flying into a headwind has a lower ground speed than airspeed. Trackers show ground speed because that is what determines when the plane will arrive.