Air travel can often be a source of anxiety for many.
Ensuring your flight is still on schedule, knowing which gate to head to, and being aware of your landing time – particularly if you have connecting flights or further transport arrangements post-flight – are all crucial.
There may also be instances where you need to relay this information to friends or family, perhaps if they’re picking you up from the airport or simply for their peace of mind.
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to manage all these details at the touch of a button, according to a travel expert on TikTok.
For iPhone users, a lesser-known feature tucked away in the Messages app can provide all the necessary flight information and more.
In a video shared by Lou, known as @loulouexplores on TikTok, she reveals that all you need to do is open the Messages app and send your flight number to any contact of your choice.
By pressing on the sent message, you’ll then have the option to view the flight details corresponding to that number – providing information on the boarding gate, estimated landing time, and whether the flight is on schedule.
Lou explained: “I use this small trick every time I fly. If you paste your flight number into your messages and send it to someone, you can hold down on the flight number and it brings up all your flight details. Just press ‘preview flight’ to view.
“I find this so useful, especially if someone is picking me up and they can use it [too]. You can check your terminal and gate, whether it’s on time, departure time, arrival time, and how long the flight is.”
Some commenters noted that this trick doesn’t work for every flight, a point Lou conceded. She revealed that she couldn’t get it to work when she flew with RyanAir, but has successfully used it on British Airways flights.
Many expressed gratitude for the tip, vowing to use it for their next flight. One person exclaimed: “This is brilliant, thank you so much!” Another said: “So smart.” While a third wrote: “Thanks for the tip! I’m going on holiday in two days with family and friends so thank you so much.”
