The frequent flyer’s day

You fly most weeks and you know the airport. What you want is the change, said once, with what it means for you. Here is a day out of O’Hare in the app’s own words.

The night before

Most trackers UA1961 · Scheduled 3:21 PM

Skycap

Departs 3:21 PM
Expect a typical ride, with the usual few bumps.

The Flight page for ORD to DEN the night before, over a dusk sky and mountains: Now, the night before. Departs 3:21 PM. Expect a typical ride, with the usual few bumps. — The Flight page, the night before

The same time Home shows, and one sentence on the ride. Nothing to read twice before bed.

Leaving

Most trackers Delayed 25m

Skycap

Leave by 10:56 AM
Running about 25 min late
Security usually takes 30 min or more at this hour.

The Flight page for ORD to STL over the Chicago lakefront: Leave by 10:56 AM. Running about 25 min late. Security usually takes 30 min or more at this hour. — The Flight page, on the way out

When to leave and how late the flight is running, on one screen, with how long security usually takes at O’Hare at that hour.

At the airport

The airline On time · 3:09 PM

Skycap

Your plane is about 25 min late, coming in from Houston. United still shows 3:09 PM.

The Flight page at the airport, Chicago skyline behind: Boards in about 1 hr 50 min. Your plane is about 25 min late, coming in from Houston. United still shows 3:09 PM. — The Flight page, at the airport

The plane that becomes your flight is the usual reason a flight leaves late. You see where it is coming from and how late it is running, beside what the airline still shows, and decide whether to sit down.

Boarding

The departures board Delayed

Skycap

Boards about 3:47 AM
Running about 1 hr late

Home over a night map of Chicago and St. Louis: Boards about 3:47 AM. Running about 1 hr late. — Home, at the airport

“Boards about” is worked out from the airline’s own departure time. It never counts down to a boarding call nobody has made.

In the air

Most trackers En route · 37,000 ft · 512 mph

Skycap

Lands 4:35 AM
Expect a calmer ride than a typical flight.

The Flight page at cruise over city lights at night: Now, cruise. Lands 4:35 AM. Expect a calmer ride than a typical flight. — The Flight page, at cruise

One landing time, the same on Home, the Lock Screen and the page. Then it leaves you to work.

Landed

Most trackers Landed 3:52 AM

Skycap

At the curb about 4:00 to 4:20 AM
About 11 to 25 min after landing. A checked bag adds about 10 min.

The Flight page after landing in St. Louis, the Arch behind: At the curb about 4:10 AM. Below, at the curb about 4:00 to 4:20 AM, with taxi to the gate about 5 min, getting off about 5 min and walk to the curb about 8 min. — The Flight page, after landing

Landed is not outside. The taxi to the gate, getting off from your row and the walk out are each counted, so you can book the car for the right few minutes.