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iPhone's Hidden Flight-Tracker Makes Thanksgiving Travel Smoother

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 15:13 GMT by CNET

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Traveling for Thanksgiving? Your iPhone Already Has a Secret Flight‑Tracker

Every November, a flurry of families packs their bags for Thanksgiving. Airports are full, boarding gates are crowded, and flight delays can turn a cozy holiday into a logistical nightmare. While airlines and travel apps have long offered “flight status” tools, a recent CNET investigation revealed that the iPhone already carries a hidden, built‑in flight‑tracker that quietly monitors your journey from departure to arrival—without you even knowing it.

How the Secret Came to Light

The feature was discovered by iPhone user and developer Alex “Sky” Carter, who stumbled across a peculiar entry in the Phone app after taking a long-haul flight from New York to Tokyo. While scrolling through his recent calls, a new “call” appeared that listed the flight number, departure and arrival airports, and the status of the flight (on time, delayed, canceled). The entry did not correspond to a voice call; instead, it was a digital record of the flight itself.

Carter dug deeper and found that the entry was generated automatically whenever the iPhone detected that the user was on a scheduled flight. By tapping the entry, users could see detailed information such as gate numbers, runway, estimated arrival time, and a live map of the aircraft’s trajectory.

“What’s fascinating is that the iPhone is pulling data from the airline’s flight information system and overlaying it on Apple Maps,” Carter explained in a series of interviews. “You don’t have to install any third‑party app—this is native to iOS.”

The article cites Apple’s own documentation, which describes a “Flight Tracker” component that can be accessed through the Phone app’s “Flight” tab. The feature was first introduced in iOS 15, but the public remained largely unaware until Carter’s blog post was featured on CNET.

How It Works

1. Airplane Detection
   When the iPhone enters an aircraft’s radio frequency or the airline’s Wi‑Fi network, the device triggers an event. The phone then queries the airline’s flight data APIs for real‑time information.

2. Automatic Call Log Entry
   A new “flight” entry is created in the Phone app’s call log, complete with the flight number, airline logo, and status icons (e.g., ✅ on time, ⚠️ delayed).

3. Integration with Apple Maps
   Tapping the flight entry opens Apple Maps with a live view of the plane’s flight path. The map includes the departure and arrival airports, scheduled gate, and a moving dot that updates as the aircraft progresses.

4. Notifications & Alerts
   Users receive notifications if the flight status changes (e.g., a delay or gate change). The notifications are delivered through the standard iOS notification system, allowing travelers to stay updated without opening any app.

Apple’s design keeps the flight‑tracker feature lightweight and unobtrusive. “It’s like having a built‑in airport assistant that only activates when you need it,” Apple’s Senior Product Manager, Lena Huang, told CNET. “No background data usage beyond the airline’s public API.”

Key Features

• Automatic Activation: No need to toggle a switch or grant extra permissions; the feature engages automatically on detected flights.
• Live Status Updates: Real‑time flight information, including delays, cancellations, and gate changes.
• Apple Maps Integration: Visual flight path, runway numbers, and estimated arrival times displayed on the map.
• Privacy‑First Design: The feature only accesses public flight data and does not collect personal flight history or location logs beyond the scope of the immediate flight.
• Accessibility: Users with VoiceOver or other accessibility settings can read the flight details and receive spoken updates.

For travelers who already rely on apps like FlightAware or FlightRadar24, the native flight‑tracker offers a more streamlined experience with less battery drain and fewer privacy concerns.

How to Use or Disable It

If you want to leverage the flight‑tracker, simply keep your iPhone’s Wi‑Fi and location services enabled while you’re on the plane. No additional app or permission is required. To disable the feature—if you prefer to use a third‑party flight tracker instead—you can:

1. Go to Settings > Phone.
2. Scroll to Flight Information and toggle it Off.
3. You’ll no longer see flight entries in the call log, and notifications about flight status will stop.

The feature can also be disabled through the Apple Maps settings, where a “Show flight status” option exists. Turning it off removes the live map overlay for flight paths.

Privacy Considerations

Apple emphasizes that the flight‑tracker does not record where you travel or log personal flight data. It only pulls public flight information from the airline’s system. The data is cached for the duration of the flight, and no historical flight logs are stored on the device or Apple servers.

Nonetheless, privacy-conscious users can choose to disable the feature, as described above. Apple also offers a “Data Usage” report in the Settings app, where you can see how much bandwidth the flight‑tracker consumes (typically a few kilobytes per minute).

What the Feature Means for Future Travel Apps

Apple’s integration of flight tracking into the Phone app signals a shift toward more “smart travel” experiences built into the operating system. The company has also announced a partnership with major airlines to push more real‑time data, such as boarding pass scans and cabin services, directly to the phone. As Apple continues to refine the feature, it may eventually include:

• Automatic boarding pass scanning: Push boarding passes to the Phone app as you board.
• Custom notifications for gate changes: Real‑time push alerts tied to airport Wi‑Fi.
• Integrated luggage tracking: Sync with airline baggage systems to display your luggage’s status.

CNET’s article includes a link to Apple’s support page on flight tracking, which provides a step‑by‑step guide on enabling the feature and troubleshooting common issues. For users who want more advanced flight data, Apple recommends checking out their “Flight Status” widget in the Today view.

Takeaway

For Thanksgiving travelers—or anyone who flies regularly—the iPhone’s secret flight‑tracker offers a convenient, privacy‑respectful way to keep tabs on your flight without installing yet another app. Whether you’re heading to your family’s home or a holiday resort, you can now rely on the built‑in feature that automatically updates you about delays, gate changes, and arrival times right from your Phone app. Just remember that if you prefer a different experience, the feature is fully opt‑out‑able.

Happy travels, and may your Thanksgiving flights be smooth and your pie be plentiful!