Last month I reviewed 6 hotel booking apps for the iPhone (and other platforms) and talked about how user-friendly they are (or not). This month I'm reviewing airline booking apps that are tied to major airline websites whose names you'll recognize. My interest is in how easy it is to access airline information while on the go as a business traveler.
I don't necessarily think you'll change the airline you fly based on the user-friendliness of their mobile app. But if you read here about a feature that is not available on the airline app of YOUR choice, you can post feedback about the app on the app marketplace for your device, and encourage the app developers to "get with the program."
I have selected 9 airline apps for the iPhone, and my assessments of them are below. Besides the obvious uses for check-in and booking flights, I'm envisioning you running down the concourse while thumb- tapping your device, to find out whether you have any chance of making your connection. In that scenario, it better not take more than a few taps to get the answer!
Opening Screen: has two sections, Manage My Flights, including check- in, flight status, and bookings; and Prepare a Trip, including Book Flight, Contact Us, Flight Schedules and a link to Flying Blue, their frequent flyer program.
Checking flight status by flight number requires only a few taps, and you could probably do that while walking. If you don't know your flight number but you know the Airport code, finding it can also be done single-handed while dragging a bag. The app displays a list of cities, but if you type the code, it will also narrow the list so you can make your selection.
The rest of the interface is pretty easy to use. I have large hands (years of piano lessons) so I'm always struggling with tiny buttons. These buttons are big enough to be quick to use.
Opening Screen: The first thing you're offered is a login box with two buttons: Sign In and Not Now. I don't have an Alaska Air account, so I chose Not Now, which brought me to the next screen. There are 3 big buttons: Reserved/Track Flights, My Account, and Contact Alaska Airlines.
Choosing Reserved/Track Flight brings up Schedules and Tracking, and Existing Reservation. Tapping Schedules and Tracking gives me large buttons to choose the departure city and the arrival city. I tapped in the airport codes and the app immediately filtered out all but the correct location. I'm pleased with the ease of use once you get to the screen, but not how many taps it takes to get there.
Opening Screen: I saw 6 buttons right away, but they were blocked by the login screen. Tapping below the login screen made it switch to another screen; tapping the Back button got me to the first 6 choices: View Reservation and Check In; Check Flight Schedules; Check Flight Status; Book Flights; Aadvantage Enrollment; and Play AA Sodoku.
There is a row of icons across the bottom: Home, My Flights, My Account, Flight Status, and More. I tapped the Flight Status icon and was offered a chance to check status by Airport, Flight, and Departure Date/time. Exiting the application and starting it again brought up the first six choices and 5 icons, so it's mostly 2 taps to get to flight status -- very good.
The first screen I was offered had 3 buttons: Introducing Mobile Booking, with a subsequent choice to Tell Me More or Go To App. I chose the latter. The next screen had three choices: Air Canada, Air Canada Cargo, and Air Canada Vacations. I chose the first one.
The app told me I didn't have any flights added, and that this was the place to do so. Across the bottom of the app were "My Flights" (the current screen), Book Flight, Check In, Find Flight, and More. Tapping Find Flight brought up the search feature by Flight Number, City, and Booking Reference. Exiting the app and restarting it brought me to the My Flights screen, so with 2 taps I can get to flight information.
The opening screen had two choices: Executive Club members could log in to see their bookings. The other selection, All Customers, could find their next booking. Icons across the bottom were Book Flight, My Flights, My Home (current screen), Flight Info, and More. Again, just 2 taps to get to Flight Information, with the options to search by route, flight, or airport. A fourth selection, Search Timetables let me look at flights for a city pair with departure and return dates. It's a quick way to search flights without immediately committing to booking, which I appreciate.
Delta immediately asked for permission to push notifications to my phone. Since I am only testing, I declined. The next screen was the SkyMiles login screen, but above it I could tap Continue as Guest, which I did. I was then offered 5 choices: Find My Trip, Check Flight Status, See Flight Schedules, Track My Bags, and Traveling With Us. Three more icons across the bottom provided Settings, Log In, and Contact options.
Tapping Check Flight Status provided the search feature by Flight Number, leaving Today (as the default). It's the most compact of the search buttons I've found.
It's nice that Delta offers a "Track My Bag" feature, but it makes me wonder how often they lose bags if they felt the need to offer this as an option. Feedback on their track record, anyone?
The first screen I saw on Jet blue also requested the permission to push notifications to my phone. Next it asked to use my GPS location. I declined both because I was just testing their app. Next the home screen had a large area inviting me to sign in or join their mileage program, TrueBlue, with smaller areas to tap for My Trips, Book a Flight, Flight Status, and Notifications.
I tapped Flight Status, and was offered a place to search by City or by Flight. I also noticed a section for "Flight's I'm Watching." To test this, I went to my laptop and found an actual flight I could search for, then tapped that into my iPhone. It found the flight and offered me two choices: Receive Notifications, or Save to My Watchlist. I chose the latter, then went back to the home screen and tapped Flight Status. Sure enough the flight I had selected was now listed in the Flights I'm Watching area at the bottom of the screen. I tapped that flight, and it updated the flight status for me and displayed it on the next screen. I like this feature a lot, because then I imagine I wouldn't have to keep typing the number in
Lufthansa's clever home screen resembled a flight instrument panel, with 3 choices: Timetable, Flight Status, and Check in. Four more icons across the bottom offered me the Boarding Pass (with QR code), Favourites (British spelling), Settings, and More.
Tapping Flight Status offered me a chance to search by Flight Number, Route, or Airport, and by date.
I tapped the Boarding Pass option, and it informed me that no boarding passes had been loaded. It offered me instructions on how the storing of mobile boarding passes worked, so I tapped the options. Apparently, you can having your boarding pass stored during check-in using the mobile app; or you could do so manually if you checked in on your laptop. Pretty cool!
The opening screen asked me to agree to Terms and Conditions before showing me any data. I tapped Yes, then was asked for my country code and phone number. I went ahead and typed them in even though I wasn't a member of their frequent flyer program.
The next screen offered me a chance to Book a Flight, Manage My bookings, Check In Services, Retrieve Boarding Pass, KrisFlyer Services, and Flight Schedules. I tapped Flight Schedules and was told that I would be leaving the SIA application and be transferred to the WAP application. Choices there were for Flight Schedules, Contacts, About, and Agreement. I tapped the Flight Schedules link and was finally given a chance to enter the departure and arrival cities and the date. This app needs a little more work.
I was immediately asked to allow the use of my GPS location, which I declined. The first thing I saw after that was a search box for Flight number, so this app wins the prize for getting me to my Flight Search the quickest. Icons across the bottom included Flight Info (the current screen), Schedule, Passenger, Cargo, and Location.
As an alternative to a flight number the dropdown below the search box let me choose Departure: Domestic, etc, and I could see a list of all the departures from what I am assuming was Bangkok Airport -- it didn't really say. So some work needed on that interface as well.
Last but not least was the airline I fly the most. In this case I allowed push notifications. The first screen I saw had choices like Book Flight, Check In, Flight Status, My Account, Airport Maps, and More. I could also sign in from this screen, check on mobile boarding passes, reservations, and Flight Status Push Notifications. The buttons were a bit small, but usable still.
Got a favorite travel app for iPhone, Android, or other smart phone? Use the comment section on this newsletter's blog post to tell me which apps you like to use.
I don't necessarily think you'll change the airline you fly based on the user-friendliness of their mobile app. But if you read here about a feature that is not available on the airline app of YOUR choice, you can post feedback about the app on the app marketplace for your device, and encourage the app developers to "get with the program."
I have selected 9 airline apps for the iPhone, and my assessments of them are below. Besides the obvious uses for check-in and booking flights, I'm envisioning you running down the concourse while thumb- tapping your device, to find out whether you have any chance of making your connection. In that scenario, it better not take more than a few taps to get the answer!
Air France
Opening Screen: has two sections, Manage My Flights, including check- in, flight status, and bookings; and Prepare a Trip, including Book Flight, Contact Us, Flight Schedules and a link to Flying Blue, their frequent flyer program.
Checking flight status by flight number requires only a few taps, and you could probably do that while walking. If you don't know your flight number but you know the Airport code, finding it can also be done single-handed while dragging a bag. The app displays a list of cities, but if you type the code, it will also narrow the list so you can make your selection.
The rest of the interface is pretty easy to use. I have large hands (years of piano lessons) so I'm always struggling with tiny buttons. These buttons are big enough to be quick to use.
Alaska Air
Opening Screen: The first thing you're offered is a login box with two buttons: Sign In and Not Now. I don't have an Alaska Air account, so I chose Not Now, which brought me to the next screen. There are 3 big buttons: Reserved/Track Flights, My Account, and Contact Alaska Airlines.
Choosing Reserved/Track Flight brings up Schedules and Tracking, and Existing Reservation. Tapping Schedules and Tracking gives me large buttons to choose the departure city and the arrival city. I tapped in the airport codes and the app immediately filtered out all but the correct location. I'm pleased with the ease of use once you get to the screen, but not how many taps it takes to get there.
American Airline
Opening Screen: I saw 6 buttons right away, but they were blocked by the login screen. Tapping below the login screen made it switch to another screen; tapping the Back button got me to the first 6 choices: View Reservation and Check In; Check Flight Schedules; Check Flight Status; Book Flights; Aadvantage Enrollment; and Play AA Sodoku.
There is a row of icons across the bottom: Home, My Flights, My Account, Flight Status, and More. I tapped the Flight Status icon and was offered a chance to check status by Airport, Flight, and Departure Date/time. Exiting the application and starting it again brought up the first six choices and 5 icons, so it's mostly 2 taps to get to flight status -- very good.
Air Canada
The first screen I was offered had 3 buttons: Introducing Mobile Booking, with a subsequent choice to Tell Me More or Go To App. I chose the latter. The next screen had three choices: Air Canada, Air Canada Cargo, and Air Canada Vacations. I chose the first one.
The app told me I didn't have any flights added, and that this was the place to do so. Across the bottom of the app were "My Flights" (the current screen), Book Flight, Check In, Find Flight, and More. Tapping Find Flight brought up the search feature by Flight Number, City, and Booking Reference. Exiting the app and restarting it brought me to the My Flights screen, so with 2 taps I can get to flight information.
British Airways
The opening screen had two choices: Executive Club members could log in to see their bookings. The other selection, All Customers, could find their next booking. Icons across the bottom were Book Flight, My Flights, My Home (current screen), Flight Info, and More. Again, just 2 taps to get to Flight Information, with the options to search by route, flight, or airport. A fourth selection, Search Timetables let me look at flights for a city pair with departure and return dates. It's a quick way to search flights without immediately committing to booking, which I appreciate.
Fly Delta
Delta immediately asked for permission to push notifications to my phone. Since I am only testing, I declined. The next screen was the SkyMiles login screen, but above it I could tap Continue as Guest, which I did. I was then offered 5 choices: Find My Trip, Check Flight Status, See Flight Schedules, Track My Bags, and Traveling With Us. Three more icons across the bottom provided Settings, Log In, and Contact options.
Tapping Check Flight Status provided the search feature by Flight Number, leaving Today (as the default). It's the most compact of the search buttons I've found.
It's nice that Delta offers a "Track My Bag" feature, but it makes me wonder how often they lose bags if they felt the need to offer this as an option. Feedback on their track record, anyone?
Jet Blue
The first screen I saw on Jet blue also requested the permission to push notifications to my phone. Next it asked to use my GPS location. I declined both because I was just testing their app. Next the home screen had a large area inviting me to sign in or join their mileage program, TrueBlue, with smaller areas to tap for My Trips, Book a Flight, Flight Status, and Notifications.
I tapped Flight Status, and was offered a place to search by City or by Flight. I also noticed a section for "Flight's I'm Watching." To test this, I went to my laptop and found an actual flight I could search for, then tapped that into my iPhone. It found the flight and offered me two choices: Receive Notifications, or Save to My Watchlist. I chose the latter, then went back to the home screen and tapped Flight Status. Sure enough the flight I had selected was now listed in the Flights I'm Watching area at the bottom of the screen. I tapped that flight, and it updated the flight status for me and displayed it on the next screen. I like this feature a lot, because then I imagine I wouldn't have to keep typing the number in
Lufthansa
Lufthansa's clever home screen resembled a flight instrument panel, with 3 choices: Timetable, Flight Status, and Check in. Four more icons across the bottom offered me the Boarding Pass (with QR code), Favourites (British spelling), Settings, and More.
Tapping Flight Status offered me a chance to search by Flight Number, Route, or Airport, and by date.
I tapped the Boarding Pass option, and it informed me that no boarding passes had been loaded. It offered me instructions on how the storing of mobile boarding passes worked, so I tapped the options. Apparently, you can having your boarding pass stored during check-in using the mobile app; or you could do so manually if you checked in on your laptop. Pretty cool!
Singapore Air
The opening screen asked me to agree to Terms and Conditions before showing me any data. I tapped Yes, then was asked for my country code and phone number. I went ahead and typed them in even though I wasn't a member of their frequent flyer program.
The next screen offered me a chance to Book a Flight, Manage My bookings, Check In Services, Retrieve Boarding Pass, KrisFlyer Services, and Flight Schedules. I tapped Flight Schedules and was told that I would be leaving the SIA application and be transferred to the WAP application. Choices there were for Flight Schedules, Contacts, About, and Agreement. I tapped the Flight Schedules link and was finally given a chance to enter the departure and arrival cities and the date. This app needs a little more work.
Thai Airways
I was immediately asked to allow the use of my GPS location, which I declined. The first thing I saw after that was a search box for Flight number, so this app wins the prize for getting me to my Flight Search the quickest. Icons across the bottom included Flight Info (the current screen), Schedule, Passenger, Cargo, and Location.
As an alternative to a flight number the dropdown below the search box let me choose Departure: Domestic, etc, and I could see a list of all the departures from what I am assuming was Bangkok Airport -- it didn't really say. So some work needed on that interface as well.
United
Last but not least was the airline I fly the most. In this case I allowed push notifications. The first screen I saw had choices like Book Flight, Check In, Flight Status, My Account, Airport Maps, and More. I could also sign in from this screen, check on mobile boarding passes, reservations, and Flight Status Push Notifications. The buttons were a bit small, but usable still.
Got a favorite travel app for iPhone, Android, or other smart phone? Use the comment section on this newsletter's blog post to tell me which apps you like to use.
2874 Hits
0 Comments