The Tech You Need for Travel Days

Technology changes every industry, but thanks to tech, my experience as an airline passenger has gotten exponentially better in the last 10 years. Whether you’ve got more entertainment, more information, or less stuff to carry around, this is my list of tech-related accessories I face all my travel days with.

The Digital Tech You Need For Travel Days

Airline Mobile Apps

Airlines have made a huge push in the last three years to make their apps more useful. When I flew around the world in 14 days with 21 airlines, I downloaded every single airline’s mobile app before flying with them. Not all of them are particularly helpful, but most will at least allow you to add your boarding pass to a digital wallet easily.

North American airlines, especially United and Air Canada, have created wonderfully useful features embedded within the app. Having the Air Canada app on a travel day is invaluable, especially if you’ve got Air Canada status and are looking for your eUpgrade chances. In fact, there are so many features in Air Canada’s app that it deserves a dedicated article, but for now, here are my favorite features.

Boarding Count Down

Many airline apps do this now if you enable “Live Activities” on your Apple device. You still want to be early at the gate, just in case boarding begins ahead of schedule or there’s a glitch in the software. But I love the convenience of taking a quick glance down at my lock screen to tell me how much lounge time I have left.

Airport Maps

United Airlines has one of the largest collections of airport maps, and even when I’m not flying with them, I often default to their app when I need to know where to go. I’ll also use this to understand how long it will take to get to my gate from wherever I’m lounging. 

The maps are easy to find in their app, but for what it’s worth, most airline apps have this connectivity, which appears to be run by the same service.

Delta’s Lounge Capacity

Delta SkyClubs can be some of the best airport lounges to access as the airline attempts to brand itself as a more premium option compared to competitors. For example, the LAX SkyClub has an open-air terrace, fresh tacos, and a separate bar for terrace guests.

With great lounges comes great responsibility, though, and Delta has implemented a slick tool to see which of their SkyClubs has the shortest wait.

The easiest way to get access to a SkyClub as a Canadian is to hold the American Express Platinum card or the American Express Business Platinum card.

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Incoming Flight with Air Canada

Air Canada has many problems, but its app is not one of them. The “Flight Status” tab, in particular, holds a ton of information.

The most widely applicable information to highlight is the “Incoming Flight” tab, where you can see where your plane is. The flight below is on time, but if your incoming flight is delayed, you can bet on a delay for your departure.

Knowing this info will allow you to get a head start on any other passengers looking to change their plans and might get you a coveted final seat on another flight.

FlightAware

If you’re not flying Air Canada, getting info about your incoming flight can be difficult if you don’t have the right tools. I particularly like FlightAware over other tools because it lets you see your incoming aircraft info with a simple interface. Search your flight number, then click “Where is my plane?” and see exactly where your aircraft is.

Priority Pass & Airport Lounge Apps

We all know and (sometimes) love Priority Pass, but remembering your membership card or carrying the right one, if you have many, can interrupt your travel day. Downloading the Priority Pass App in advance is a vital step for convenience, and on that note, download any of the other lounge apps we’ve seen pop up.

Both Visa Airport Companion and DragonPass require some setup with your card in advance, and it’s better to do this at home rather than standing in front of a lounge entrance.

If you are missing the ability to access airport lounges, look into some of the best cards with free airport lounge access in Canada.

Flighty

Flighty is quickly becoming one of my favorite “just for fun” apps. It tracks all sorts of data around your flying activity that I find fascinating. Here are some of my favorite screenshots from my end-of-year wrap-up.

While those stats are fun, Flighty Pro offers some functionality if you’re willing to pay for it. The best features that almost have me subscribing are Live Activities for all airlines, Late Aircraft Alerts, Connection Assistant, and the ability to add all your historical data.

eSims

eSims are a relatively new phenomenon in travel tech, but ultra-convenient. I use Google Fi for my everyday mobile plan, spending about 150 days in the USA annually. The service can be finicky for people who don’t frequent the USA, though, and it’s not uncommon for Google Fi to shut down accounts with little reason, as it’s meant for US residents. 

A more travel-oriented service is Airalo eSim, which is super handy if you travel internationally to multiple destinations. Getting these services started before your travel day would be the best way to ensure a smooth experience.

We’ve also written an article comparing the top eSIM services, so check that out to find the best eSIM for wherever you are traveling.

The Physical Tech You Need For Travel Days

Apple Air Tags for Checked Luggage

Even though I’ve never had a run-in with a severely lost bag, planning for the worst is always a good idea. Particularly when traveling to a few destinations internationally, I always throw AirTags in my luggage. 

For example, when I went skiing with my parents in the Alps, I ensured our ski gear could be tracked to avoid lengthy delays if lost. Some airlines even allow you to share the data from the AirTag to allow your bag to be found faster.

If you’re not an Apple user, an alternative like Tile can be viable.

Chargers & External Batteries

Working in the travel space, I’ve collected more promo cable organizers than I know what to do with. But when I finally started to travel with a case dedicated to my cables, it made a huge difference in convenience. External batteries are also a lifesaver if traveling on an older plane that doesn’t have in-seat power.

Headphones & Backup Headphones

I carry at least four sets of “listening devices” on most of my trips: two sets of wireless earbuds, a bulky set of noise-cancelling wireless headphones, and old-school auxiliary earbuds as a last resort in case everything fails. 

As airlines upgrade their fleets, we’re seeing more opportunities to connect to in-flight entertainment with our own Bluetooth headsets. This makes extra wireless headphones vital if you forget to charge the primary set.

Conclusion

Technology is always advancing, and tech in the airline passenger experience is no exception. Between mobile apps, tracking software, fun stats, and physical hardware to make your journey more comfortable, it’s a great time to fly. 

Hopefully, your next journey will be less stressful and include more nerdy data!