Going Mobile With Airline Apps
On my last blogger summit trip I was very surprised at how many of the bloggers did not know about using apps and mobile sites via their smartphones. Several major airlines offer iPhone apps and most have mobile friendly websites. This gives you the ability to check flight status, check in, book flights, and more right there in the palm of your hand. With the apps you get some extra bells and whistles, too.
Southwest Airlines offers an iPhone App and a mobile site. Within the app you can not only check in and check flight status, you can also make air and car reservations, view details of your Rapid Rewards account, and set up DING! Fare Alerts.
American Airlines offers mobile access via mobile.aa.com and an iPhone/iPad app. With the app you are once again able to check in, check flight status, book flights, and they even have a nifty AA Sudoku game built into the app.
Delta also offers an iPhone app which allows you to see a map of flight status even in mid-flight plus a great parking reminder portion so you can remember where you parked at the airport. They also have downloads available of their flight schedules which many of you might find helpful.
Continental Airlines offers a wide variety of mobile services including an iPhone app, plus Sudoku games, DirecTV listings, and even their Twitter stream which I find interesting.
Not all of the airlines have opted to create apps; instead some of them just offer only mobile friendly sites. They don’t have the extra goodies like the apps, but they will get the basics done for you. I personally prefer the apps, that’s just how I fly, but it is handy to bookmark the other mobile sites for when you need them.
JetBlue mobile.jetblue.com
US Airways mobile.usablenet.com
United Airlines mobile.united.com
Obviously, I have not listed every airline. If you are planning on a flight on a different airline soon, take a moment to search to see if they have an app or a mobile friendly site so you can have everything in the palm of your hand during your trip.
Do you have a favorite airline app or mobile site? Share which ones you love and why.
While it’s not an airline specifically, I live by the app TripIt (actually using it at the moment, as a matter of fact).
It puts all of your travel info (ground transportation, hotel, flights etc.) in one place, and you can even do it by simply forwarding e-mail confirmations, and the app puts the information in for you.
You can dial pertinent phone numbers from it, map your destination and more.
I don’t work for them or anything, I just love it that much.
It’s funny that I didn’t even think about using apps or mobile sites for this. I love paperless coupons and sales/offers, but never thought of these. I’ll definitely remember the next time I travel!
I really wouldn’t have known any of this. I am one of those still in the dark ages who calls.
Thank you for educating me!
Thanks for the app info. now I need to download a few for hubs. business travel.
Awesome! Thanks for the info! I will look into it! :D
Good info! Its amazing what you can do with a smart phone. Great article Robyn, will be sure to share!!!