Traveling this holiday season? Or anytime during the year?  Here’s a few websites that I like to help me understand what’s happening in the air and at the airports.

Flight Delay Information

This is powered by the FAA.  It shows a map of the US with major cities airports.   The markers can be green (no delays), yellow (some delays) or red (it’s going to be awhile).  You can click on the city for a pop-up of what the issues are with each airport.  Often during November and December there will be gate holds, weather issues, mechanical breakdowns, etc.  Sometimes inbound or outbound flights are affect but not both.  Sometimes the entire airport is shut down while the problems dissipate.  If you don’t see your airport listed, just type in it’s 3 letter code for the same information.

Individual Airline Websites

Air Tran – choose the ‘Flight Status’ tab and enter either the flight number or the origination and destination cities.

American -choose ‘Gates and Times’ (below flight reservations area) and enter either the flight number or the origination and destination cities.

  • Flight Status Notification via e-mail, text, or voice.   We haven’t flown American lately so I haven’t used this service.
  • Give Scheduled, Estimated and Actual departure and Arrival Information

Continental – choose the ‘Check Flight Status’ tab and enter either the flight number or the origination and destination cities.

  • In my experience, Continental isn’t fast about updating it’s website with flight information.
  • Standby list If someone you know is trying to fly standby on a Continental flight you can look and see if they got on.
  • Seat Map -  This shows how full the plane is.  This allows me to be more compassionate to an incoming traveler if I know that there were no extra seats on the plane.
  • Where’s the Aircraft Coming From? — I LOVE this feature.  This helps you understand if there’s going to be a delay based on where the airplane is really at.  Several times a family member has been flying Continental and were just being told that they didn’t know how long it would be before an incoming plane would be there.  I jumped on the web and found out that the plane was stuck in another city and not allowed to leave (via the FAA site above) for 2 hours.  This allowed the family member to get some food, get comfortable and wait it out without worrying that their flight would be called and they’d be away from the gate.

Delta – Flight Status on the bottom left side.  Enter the flight number or the departure and arrival cities for specific flight information.

  • If the flight is a US flight, you can “watch” the plane travel on a Google Map.   Just click “Flight Details.”  The map does not automatically refresh, so you’ll need to refresh your window (F5).
  • In my experience, Delta does a decent job of keeping their flight information updated on the web.

Jet Blue Flight Status tab.  Enter the flight number or the departure and arrival cities for specific flight information.

  • Like Delta, Jet Blue allows you to View a Map of where a plane is, using Google Maps.  These maps refresh every 2 minutes.
  • Shows estimated and actual flight departure and arrival time and gate information.
  • Shows destination weather.  Researching for this post makes me a little said I can just hop on a plane and go to sunny LA with only 9% humidity.
  • Need airport info?  help is just 2 clicks away.  Once you’re in Flight Status select the Airport Info link under the city name.  Lots of helpful information there.

Southwest – Check Your Flight Status Enter the flight number or the departure and arrival cities for specific flight information.  Very basic information with scheduled and estimated departure and arrival information.

Bonus info:

Worried about being stuck in the airport for hours before, during or after a flight?  You might want to bring a laptop with a network card.  Now through Jan 15, 2010 47 airports are offering free WiFi.  Check out the list here.  Some listed airports already offer free WiFi and as far as I know will continue to offer travelers free WiFi after the holidays.

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