Where to find your flight's live location and status

You can track a flight in real time using the airline's website or app, a flight-tracking website, or your phone's built-in maps. The airline's own tools show the most detail—gate number, boarding time, delays, and cancellations—because the airline controls that information. Third-party trackers like FlightAware, FlightRadar24, and Flightstats pull from the same air traffic data and show you the plane's actual position on a map, which is useful if you want to watch the flight move across the country or see how close it is to landing.

Most airlines let you track by flight number or by booking reference. If you booked through a travel site like Kayak or Expedia, you can usually track from there too, though you may need to enter your confirmation number. The airline app is fastest if you have it installed—push notifications alert you to gate changes and delays without you having to check.

Key Takeaways

  • The airline's website or app shows gate numbers, boarding times, and official delay notices; third-party trackers show the plane's live location on a map.
  • You can track by flight number (like AA 447) or by your booking reference, depending on which tool you use.
  • FlightAware, FlightRadar24, and Flightstats are free and work for any airline; they update every few minutes during flight.
  • Text and email alerts from the airline notify you of changes without opening an app, which is useful if you are waiting at the airport.
  • If a flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline's app or website will show the reason and new departure time before third-party trackers do.

Using your airline's website or app

Go to the airline's home page and look for a "Track Your Flight" or "Flight Status" link, usually near the top. Enter your flight number (the two-letter airline code plus the number, like UA 156 for United) or your booking reference and last name. Within seconds you will see the current status: on time, delayed, boarding, in flight, or landed.

The airline's tools show information you cannot get anywhere else: which gate the flight is using, when boarding starts, seat assignments, baggage claim carousel numbers, and the reason for any delay. If the flight is delayed, the airline will also show the new departure time. read the airline's app if you fly with them regularly—most send push notifications when your gate changes or when a delay is announced, so you do not have to keep checking manually.

Third-party flight trackers and how they work

FlightAware is the most widely used free tracker. Enter the flight number or the airline and route, and you will see a map with the plane's current position, altitude, speed, and direction. The map updates every few minutes while the plane is in the air. FlightAware also shows scheduled and actual departure and arrival times, which gate the flight left from, and how much time remains in the flight.

FlightRadar24 works similarly but focuses more on the live map view. You can zoom in and out, see the plane's tail number, and watch multiple flights at once. It is useful if you want to see where a plane is right now without needing a booking reference. Flightstats combines both approaches—it shows the map and also lists historical data, so you can see whether a particular flight is usually on time or often delayed.

All three are free and do not require you to log in. They pull data from air traffic control systems and aviation databases, so the information is the same across all of them. The main difference is the interface: FlightAware is the most detailed, FlightRadar24 is the most visual, and Flightstats is the most historical.

What information you can and cannot see

You can see the plane's location, altitude, speed, and direction from any tracker. You can see scheduled times, actual times, and delays. You can see which gate a flight departs from and which carousel baggage comes out on. You cannot see passenger names, seat assignments (except on your own booking), or the reason for a delay until the airline announces it officially.

If a flight is cancelled, the airline announces it first, and third-party trackers update within minutes. If a flight is diverted to another airport, you will see the new destination on the map and in the tracker's status before the airline's website updates, because the tracker is reading live air traffic data. If you are waiting for a connecting flight, tracking the incoming plane tells you whether it will arrive on time, which affects whether you have time to make your connection.

Setting up alerts so you do not have to check constantly

Most airlines let you sign up for text or email alerts when you enter your booking reference. Go to the airline's website, find the flight status page, and look for a checkbox that says "Notify me of changes" or "Send alerts." Enter your phone number or email, and the airline will text or email you when the gate changes, when boarding starts, or when there is a delay.

Third-party trackers also offer alerts, though they are usually available only if you create a free account. FlightAware lets you set alerts for specific flights, and you can choose whether to receive notifications by email or through the app. If you are at the airport and do not want to keep your phone out, text alerts are faster than checking the website every five minutes.

Tracking a flight when you are not the passenger

If you are picking someone up or dropping someone off, you can track their flight using the flight number alone—you do not need their booking reference. Go to the airline's website or any third-party tracker, enter the flight number, and you will see the current status and arrival time. This tells you when to leave for the airport or when to expect them at baggage claim.

If you do not know the flight number, you can search by route: enter the airline, departure city, and arrival city, and the tracker will show you all flights on that route. If multiple flights are running that day, you may need to ask the passenger which airline they are flying or what time they depart.

What to do if the tracker shows a delay or cancellation

If the airline's official website shows a delay, that is the confirmed information. If a third-party tracker shows the plane is running late but the airline's website still says on time, wait a few minutes—the airline updates less frequently than the trackers do. Once the airline officially announces a delay, check your booking to see what your options are: most airlines let you rebook on a later flight to the same destination at no extra cost.

If a flight is cancelled, the airline will contact you by phone, email, or text if you have provided those details. Do not wait for the notification—check the airline's website or app as soon as you see the cancellation on a tracker, because rebooking happens first-come, first-served and seats fill quickly. If you are at the airport when a cancellation is announced, go to the ticket counter or use the airline's app to rebook when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track a flight if I do not have a booking reference?

Yes. Use the flight number (like Southwest 447) on any airline website or third-party tracker. You will see the status, times, and gate information. You will not see seat assignments or baggage details unless you log in with your booking reference.

How often do flight trackers update?

Most trackers update every few minutes while a plane is in the air. The airline's own website updates less often—usually when there is a change like a delay or gate assignment. Third-party trackers pull live air traffic data, so they are often faster.

Why does my airline app show a different arrival time than FlightAware?

The airline shows the scheduled arrival time until the flight actually lands. FlightAware shows the estimated arrival time based on the plane's current speed and distance, which changes as the flight progresses. Once the plane lands, both will show the actual time.

Can I track a flight on an international airline?

Yes. All major international airlines have flight status pages on their websites. FlightAware, FlightRadar24, and Flightstats track international flights too. Some smaller regional airlines may not appear on third-party trackers, so the airline's own website is your best option.

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

The plane landing and baggage arriving at the carousel are different things. After landing, the plane taxis to the gate, passengers disembark, and ground crews unload baggage—this usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. Check the airline's website for the baggage carousel number, or ask a gate agent.