8 Free Airport Apps to Make Your Travel Experience Smoother

Traveling can often be stressful and frustrating due to factors like bad weather, long waits, and subpar food options. Thankfully, alleviating some of these issues and enhancing your airport experience can be as simple as downloading a helpful app. Whether you're seeking a lounge to relax in during a layover or looking to skip customs lines—for free!—your smartphone can offer unexpected assistance. Here are eight airport apps you should download before your next journey.

1. Mobile Passport Control

Available on Apple App Store | Available on Google Play

Mobile Passport is designed to reduce the time spent waiting at Customs and Immigration by simplifying the re-entry process into the United States. While it doesn’t replace the need for a physical passport like Global Entry, it allows travelers to use a dedicated and quicker line for customs clearance. Unlike Global Entry, this service is completely free and speeds up the passport control process by enabling travelers to fill out entry forms on their phones instead of on paper or at kiosks. Currently, the app is available only to U.S. citizens and Canadian B1/B2 visitors.

2. FlightAware

Apple App Store | Google Play

Some airline applications, such as Delta's, excel at providing updates on flight delays and the origins of your aircraft. However, many do not. This is why I rely on the FlightAware app during delays. Simply enter your flight number and select 'Track Inbound Plane' to find out your plane's actual location. This allows you to see if it's en route to your airport and adjust your expectations as needed. —Lyndsey Matthews, senior commerce editor

3. LoungeBuddy

Apple App Store

No one enjoys a lengthy three-hour layover at the gate. While the ideal option might be to relax in a comfortable airline lounge, finding one—especially at a reasonable price—can be challenging. LoungeBuddy provides a solution by offering information on nearby lounges, taking into account your elite airline status (or lack of it), lounge memberships, and travel itinerary. The app also allows you to share photos and reviews of lounges for the benefit of fellow travelers and for your future reference.

4. App in the Air

Apple App Store | Google Play

App in the Air streamlines your travel experience by consolidating all your flight details across different airlines in one place. You can access your departure date, time, terminal, gate, and aircraft type all within a single app. Additionally, it helps you keep track of all your boarding passes, airline alliances, and rewards.

5. MyTSA

Apple App Store | Google Play

If you find yourself frustrated by endlessly long security lines, download MyTSA. This app provides updates on airport delays before you even set foot in the terminal. It offers estimates of wait times at security checkpoints based on data from the last two hours. Plus, you'll never have to wonder what's allowed through security, as it includes TSA guidelines on what you can and can't pack in your carry-on or checked luggage.

6. Entrain

Apple App Store

Created by researchers at the University of Michigan, Entrain helps you combat jet lag by aligning your sleep patterns with your body's circadian rhythms. By analyzing your reported light exposure, it suggests optimal sleep and wake times for your new time zone. This facilitates a smoother adjustment to your biological clock, reducing the impact of jet lag. To use the app effectively, ensure you accurately enter your current and destination time zones, along with the brightest light level you can handle during your journey. Travel more comfortably and experience less lag.

7. Trippie

Apple App Store

Trippie eliminates the uncertainty of where to dine during a lengthy layover. This app provides a detailed map of 22 airports worldwide, highlighting all dining options available. By tracking your location within the airport, the app shows how far food outlets are from your gate, making it easy to navigate large terminals.

8. SpotHero

Apple App Store | Google Play

Use SpotHero to book your airport parking spot or secure a space in nearby lots ahead of time. Since long-term parking can become quite expensive, the app also lets you compare lower rates at off-airport lots that offer shuttle services. Avoid the stress of parking your car for a week-long trip next time.

This article was first published in 2019 and was updated on June 9, 2022, to include new information.