You can now check more information about your connecting flights from the United mobile app

United is ready for the summer travel season with the official launch of new personalized features on its mobile app that make connecting between flights easier.

Customers with connecting flights at United's U.S. hubs can now access a dedicated section within the app, which includes a countdown to their next flight, personalized step-by-step directions to the gate with estimated travel times, real-time flight status updates, recommendations for longer layovers, and notifications if
United's ConnectionSaver technology has been activated to hold their aircraft.

These features are exclusive to United's mobile app and expand on the airline's ConnectionSaver technology: an industry-leading, artificial intelligence-powered tool that has rescued more than 3.3 million connections since its launch in 2019. ConnectionSaver automatically identifies departing flights that may be delayed to accommodate connecting customers, without impacting the on-time arrival of those already boarded. Passengers can now view all the information about their connecting flights directly on their mobile screen.

United tested these app features during a beta testing period this spring, and during that time, more than 350,000 customers used the new features, achieving a 98% success rate on their connections.

“We know that providing passengers with more information, in a transparent and easy-to-understand way, can help reduce the stress of connecting flights,” said David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer. “Our award-winning mobile app revolutionizes travel, and with these new features, our customers will have even more real-time information about their flights and, as a result,
enjoy an even better experience when flying United.”

More than 20 million United customers have already booked connecting flights for this summer. The new features are much more customer-focused and specify personalized details based on the connection type, including:

Convenient Connections: Connecting travelers receive personalized status updates for their flights, including boarding countdowns, gate-to-gate directions, and personalized tips for navigating large airports or those with long layovers, including details on the location of the United Club SM.

Tight Connections: For travelers short on time during a connection, the suite of features provides key information to help them make their next flight, including boarding time, travel time, gate number, and more. Plus, they'll receive in-app notifications if their next flight is delayed thanks to ConnectionSaver, offering greater transparency and peace of mind during their travel.

Missed Connections: If travel doesn't go as planned, customers automatically receive personalized rebooking options so they can continue their journey, with the ability to rebook to a confirmed flight or waitlist for earlier flights if seats are available. United will continue to develop and improve these features to offer even more functionality to customers, including:

Additional languages: These features are currently available in English and Spanish, and the airline plans to add more languages in the future.

Enhanced Navigation Assistance: Customers will soon be able to activate location services to display their current location at the airport and get even more detailed turn-by-turn directions, making airport navigation even easier.

Text Message Updates: Currently, United notifies customers who opt in to receive text messages (SMS) about flight delays and informs them about connecting flights only if they have a tight connection. In the coming months, United will use SMS to inform customers with connecting flights in real-time about their connecting flight status and relevant details for making their flights. These more personalized updates will provide greater transparency into customers' travel plans, reassuring them if they have a comfortable connection or providing tips for managing a tight or missed connection.

United continues to lead the airline industry in implementing new technologies to enhance the customer experience, including:

Automatic rebooking assistance: Instead of waiting in line to speak with an agent or manually searching for alternatives, United's self-service tools automatically provide travelers with personalized options for rebooking, baggage tracking details, and, when available, meal and hotel vouchers if their flight is delayed or canceled.

Real-time updates on weather delays: United sends real-time radar maps via text message to help customers understand how bad weather in one part of the country could affect a flight in another. United is the first and only U.S. airline to currently offer these types of messages to its customers, and they are delivered with the help of generative artificial intelligence tools.

Industry-leading connectivity in the air: United has begun rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi, the world’s fastest and most reliable connectivity in the air, free for MileagePlus SM members and includes groundbreaking inflight entertainment experiences including streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. United’s two-cabin regional jets will be equipped with Starlink by the end of the year, and United’s first mainline jets will be equipped with Starlink by the end of 2025.

Baggage Tracking Improvements: United has integrated Apple’s Item Location Sharing feature for AirTag, so customers around the world traveling with an AirTag or FindMy accessory can easily share the accessory’s location with United’s customer service team to help
locate their lost baggage.

Source: United Airlines.