Where to find your flight's live location and status

You can track a flight in real time using the airline's own website or app, a flight-tracking website like FlightAware or FlightRadar24, or your phone's built-in flight tracker. Each method shows you where the plane is right now, how fast it's moving, and when it's expected to land. The airline's app is usually fastest for delays and gate changes because the airline updates that information first.

To track on the airline's website, log in with your confirmation number and last name, or search by flight number. Most airlines show a moving map, current altitude, and a timeline of what's happened so far—delays, gate assignments, boarding times. FlightAware and FlightRadar24 work without a booking confirmation; you just enter the flight number or the plane's tail number and watch it move across a map in real time.

If you're using an iPhone or Android phone, open Google Maps or Apple Maps and search for the flight number (for example, "UA 447"). A card will appear showing the plane's current location, altitude, speed, and estimated arrival time. This method pulls data from public flight-tracking sources and updates every few seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Your airline's app or website shows delays and gate changes faster than any other source because the airline updates that data first.
  • FlightAware, FlightRadar24, and Google Maps let you track any flight by flight number without needing a booking confirmation.
  • Real-time tracking shows the plane's location, altitude, speed, and estimated arrival time, but does not always predict short delays caused by ground operations.
  • Turning on notifications in your airline's app alerts you to gate changes, boarding times, and delays as soon as the airline announces them.
  • If a flight disappears from tracking temporarily, it usually means the plane has landed and the tracker is updating; check the airline's app for the actual status.

What information you see when you track a flight

A live flight tracker shows you the plane's current position on a map, its altitude in feet, its ground speed in miles per hour, and how much time is left until landing. You also see the departure airport, arrival airport, and the plane's tail number (a unique identifier painted on the aircraft). Most trackers update this information every 5 to 15 seconds.

The airline's app adds information the public trackers do not have: whether the flight is on time, delayed, or cancelled; which gate it will use; and when boarding will start. This is the information that matters most when you are trying to decide whether to leave for the airport or when to head to your gate. The airline updates gate assignments and boarding times only in its own app and website, not in public trackers.

The difference between airline apps and public flight trackers

Your airline's app is the source of truth for delays, cancellations, and gate assignments. The airline knows these things first and updates its app within minutes. Public trackers like FlightAware rely on data from air traffic control and aircraft transponders, which tell you where the plane is but not whether the airline has decided to delay it or move it to a different gate.

Use your airline's app to answer: "Is my flight delayed?" and "What gate am I leaving from?" Use a public tracker to answer: "Where is the plane right now?" and "How much longer until it lands?" If you are waiting at the airport, keep both open—the airline app for operational changes, the public tracker for real-time position.

Public trackers are also useful when you want to track someone else's flight and do not have their booking confirmation. You can search by flight number or tail number and watch the plane move without needing any ticket information.

How to set up notifications so you do not miss updates

Open your airline's app and look for a "Manage Notifications" or "Alerts" section in the settings menu. Turn on notifications for the specific flight you are tracking by entering your confirmation number. The app will then send you a push notification whenever the airline announces a delay, cancellation, gate change, or boarding time.

Most airlines let you choose which types of notifications you want: some people want every update, while others only want to know about delays or cancellations. You can usually set this preference in the same settings menu. If you turn on notifications, you do not have to keep the app open or check it repeatedly—the airline will tell you when something changes.

If you are tracking a flight for someone else and do not have their booking confirmation, public trackers like FlightAware also offer email or text alerts. You enter the flight number and your email address, and FlightAware will send you a message if the flight is delayed or cancelled. This is useful if you are picking someone up and want to know if they will be late.

Why a flight sometimes disappears from the tracker

When a plane lands, it stops transmitting its location data to the public trackers for a few minutes while it taxis to the gate and the crew shuts down the transponder. This is normal. The flight will reappear on the tracker once the plane is parked and the crew powers up the system again, but by then you should already know the plane has landed because your airline's app will show "Arrived" or the actual landing time.

If a flight disappears from the tracker while it is still in the air, it usually means there is a temporary gap in the data being received—this happens occasionally with older aircraft or in areas with spotty radar coverage. Check your airline's app to see the actual status. If the airline's app says the flight is still in the air, the plane is still in the air; the public tracker is just not receiving its signal at that moment.

What real-time tracking cannot tell you

Live tracking shows you where the plane is, but it cannot predict delays caused by ground operations—things like a late arrival of the incoming aircraft, a mechanical issue found during preflight, or a crew member who has not yet arrived. These delays happen after the plane is on the ground, so the tracker cannot see them coming. Your airline's app will announce these delays as soon as the airline knows about them, usually within 15 to 30 minutes of the scheduled departure time.

Tracking also cannot tell you about weather delays that have not yet caused a visible change in the flight's schedule. If a thunderstorm is moving toward your destination, the tracker will show the plane still on schedule until the airline decides to hold it on the ground or divert it. Again, your airline's app is where you will see that decision first.

Real-time tracking is most useful for flights that are already in the air. For flights that have not yet departed, your airline's app is the only source that will tell you whether the flight is delayed, cancelled, or on time.

How to track a flight if you do not have a booking confirmation

Use FlightAware.com or FlightRadar24.com and search by flight number (for example, "AA 100" for American Airlines flight 100). Both sites will show you the plane's current location and estimated arrival time. You can also search by the plane's tail number if you know it—the tail number is usually printed on your boarding pass or visible on the aircraft itself.

Google Maps and Apple Maps also work: just search for the flight number in the search bar and a card will appear with the plane's location and arrival time. This method is fast and does not require you to visit a separate website.

If you are trying to track a flight for someone else and want to know about delays or cancellations, FlightAware lets you sign up for email alerts using just the flight number. You do not need the passenger's booking confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Use FlightAware, FlightRadar24, Google Maps, or Apple Maps and search by flight number. These tools show the plane's location and arrival time without requiring a booking confirmation. If you want delay notifications, FlightAware will email you updates based on the flight number alone.

How often does the tracking information update?

Public trackers update every 5 to 15 seconds as long as the plane is in the air. Your airline's app updates gate assignments, boarding times, and delay information as soon as the airline announces a change, which is usually within minutes. Once a plane lands, the tracker may show a delay of a few minutes before displaying "Arrived."

What should I do if the tracker shows a different arrival time than my airline's app?

Trust your airline's app. The airline has real-time communication with the flight crew and knows about delays or diversions before the public tracker does. The public tracker shows where the plane is physically located, but the airline knows what the crew plans to do next. Check your airline's app for the official estimated arrival time.

Can I track a flight that has already landed?

Most public trackers do not keep historical data for flights that landed more than a few hours ago. Your airline's app will show your flight in your booking history with the actual arrival time. If you need detailed information about a past flight, contact the airline directly or check your booking confirmation email.

Why does my airline's app show a different status than the public tracker?

Your airline's app shows operational information—delays, cancellations, gate changes—that the airline controls. The public tracker shows the plane's actual location based on radar and transponder data. The airline knows about delays before they show up on the tracker, so the app is always more current for status information. The tracker is more current for real-time location.