The free app that’s becoming as essential as your passport this summer
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Holidaymakers are ditching airline updates for a free app that can reveal delays early, track where your plane really is and even help uncover compensation you didn’t know you were owed.
More than one million travellers have now downloaded a free app that can warn of flight delays before airlines send an update, as summer holiday disruption continues to hit millions of passengers.
New figures from AirHelp show its free flight tracking app has passed the one million download mark just 12 months after launch. The milestone comes after travellers collectively lost almost seven million hours to delayed flights during 2025, prompting many people to seek independent flight information before heading to the airport. Download AirHelp free here
Travel expert Jen Carr, known as The Travel Mum, is among those who now relies on the app before every trip.
She said: “I never travel without the AirHelp app. It alerts me to delays or cancellations and explains exactly what I’m entitled to claim, which has sometimes ended up being the full cost of the trip.”
The app has evolved well beyond a basic departure board. One of its newest features, “Where Is My Plane?”, lets passengers see exactly where the aircraft due to operate their flight is currently located, helping reveal potential knock-on delays before airlines officially announce them. You can download AirHelp here
It can also scan historical travel bookings across multiple email inboxes to identify flights from the past three years that may qualify for compensation following delays or cancellations, potentially uncovering money passengers never realised they could claim.
AirHelp says an estimated 21 million passengers were eligible for flight compensation during 2025, yet many never submitted a claim because they were unaware of their rights. The app is designed to explain exactly what passengers may be entitled to if disruption strikes. Check whether you’re eligible here
The data also reveals travellers are increasingly checking flights for other people rather than themselves. Almost half of users (46%) are monitoring the journeys of friends or family members, whether they’re meeting someone at the airport or keeping an eye on loved ones travelling abroad.
During the past year alone, travellers carried out more than five million searches for flights, airlines and airports through the app, with users spanning countries from Fiji and Laos to Kyrgyzstan. Find out more about the free AirHelp app
The company’s latest figures also reveal Ryanair is Europe’s most tracked airline, while Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick are the UK’s most closely watched airports. Dubai is the international route UK travellers monitor most, suggesting passengers are becoming far more proactive about managing travel disruption before it affects their journey.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck at a noisy departure gate with nowhere to sit, this could be a game-changer. Priority Pass is offering discounted access to its worldwide network of airport lounges – and right now you can unlock membership from just £5. That means entry to more than 1,700 lounges in over 600 cities, with perks like free Wi-Fi, snacks, drinks and quieter spaces to relax before your flight. It’s valid at most major airports, and you don’t need to fly business class to use it.