How to Track Flights in Real Time with FlightAware

FlightAware shows you exactly where any airplane is right now, when it will land, and whether your family's flight is on time.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Download FlightAware
2.Search for a specific flight
3.Read the flight status screen
4.Watch the live map
5.Set up flight alerts

Download FlightAware

~15s

Search for "FlightAware" in the App Store or Google Play and install the free app. You can also use it without downloading at flightaware.com on any computer or phone browser — no account required.

Search for a specific flight

~23s

In the app, tap the Search icon and type the flight number (for example, "Delta 1450" or "DL1450"). You can find the flight number on the ticket confirmation email or boarding pass. Tap the correct result to see the flight's status and live map.

Quick Tip

If you don't have the flight number, search by route — type the departure city and arrival city and FlightAware will show scheduled flights between them.

Read the flight status screen

~15s

The flight details page shows departure airport, arrival airport, scheduled and actual departure times, current altitude and speed, and estimated arrival time. A green status means on time; yellow means slight delay; red means significant delay or cancellation.

Watch the live map

~25s

Tap "Track Flight" to open the live map. The plane icon moves in real time, showing exactly where the flight is. The dotted line shows the planned route; the solid line shows where the plane has already flown. Pinch to zoom in and out of the map.

Quick Tip

The estimated arrival time is much more accurate than the airline's official estimate because it's based on the plane's actual position, speed, and altitude — not just the schedule.

Set up flight alerts

~15s

Create a free FlightAware account to set up notifications. Tap the bell icon on any flight to receive alerts when the plane takes off, lands, or experiences a delay. This way you'll know exactly when to leave for the airport to pick someone up.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Track Flights in Real Time with FlightAware

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FlightAware is a free flight tracking service available as an app and website. It shows you the real-time position of any commercial airplane on a live map, along with its departure and arrival times, altitude, speed, and whether it's running late.

If you're picking someone up from the airport, FlightAware tells you exactly when their plane will land — not just the scheduled time, but the actual estimated arrival based on the plane's current location in the air. This helps you avoid long waits at the airport.

FlightAware tracks flights from almost every airline in the world. You can search by flight number (like "AA 1234"), by route (New York to Los Angeles), or by departure or destination airport. The live map shows the plane's current position as a small airplane icon moving along its flight path.

FlightAware is especially useful for parents and grandparents waiting for family to arrive, anyone meeting a traveler at the airport, people tracking their own flight status before heading to the airport, and aviation enthusiasts who enjoy watching planes.

The app is free. A paid subscription called AeroAPI unlocks additional features for professional users, but the free version covers everything most people need.

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