How to quickly track flights in iMessage for iPhone, iPad, and Mac

An iPhone displaying how to track flights from iMessage
(Image credit: iMore)

If you're looking to track flights, you could use a third-party app but a much easier solution is to use the flight tracker built into your iPhone. Added in iOS 15, it's easy to overlook such useful functionality despite it saving you plenty of effort and the need to find another app.

One of the many great hidden features packed into iOS 17 and before, it's a big favorite among the iMore team. That's thanks to it being incredibly simple to use.

Built directly into the iMessage app, you get a live flight tracker that sends you live locations of flights, along with details about take-off and landing times. If there's a delay, you can check what's going on, while you can even look up departure gate numbers.

All you need to get started is an airline name and a flight number. From there, you can look up any flights taking off within 24 hours. Note, you can't look up planned flight paths for future days but it's great for flights in the coming hours. It works with any of the best iPhones as well as your Mac. Here's how to track flights on either device.

How to track flights on the iPhone or iPad

  1. Open the Messages app. Find the conversation where a user has sent you flight information. They'll need to type the Airline Name and Flight Number in succession. In most cases, this also works with the airline abbreviation and number.
  2. Tap the Airline Name/Abbreviation and Flight Number in Messages.
  3. Choose Preview Flight.

To track your flights on the iPhone or iPad, open Messages and bring up the message with the flight information. Tap on the Airline Name (or Abbreviation) and Flight Number. Choose Preview Flight. (Image credit: Apple)

That's it. You can now see all of the key details about the flight. 

How to track flights on your Mac

  1. Open the Messages app. Find the conversation where a user has sent you flight information. They'll need to type the Airline Name and Flight Number in succession. In most cases, this also works with the airline abbreviation and number.
  2. Tap the Airline Name/Abbreviation and Flight Number in Messages to bring up the flight information.

To track your flights on a Mac, open Messages and bring up the message with the flight information. Tap on the Airline Air (or Abbreviation) and Flight Number to bring up the flight information. (Image credit: Apple)

Whether you're looking to track flights from your phone or your Mac, it's incredibly simple to do so. All you need to do is make sure that those flight details are in iMessage in some form and then it's just a matter of tapping on them to get a more detailed overview of what's going on with it. It's particularly useful to be able to check details like the departure gate involved, or simply keep an eye on the progress of the flight if you can't wait for a loved one to land.

Thanks to being so easy to do, it's the kind of thing that anyone who can use an iPhone can figure out. Sure, you can stumble across such tips but that's why we've also picked out the best iOS 17 tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your beloved iPhone. 

If you're already impressed by flight tracking without needing a separate app, you'll be impressed at what else your phone and Mac can do for you with minimal effort.

Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.