How to Track Flight Delays and Cancellations in Real Time
Real-time flight tracking lets you know about delays and cancellations before the airline tells you, giving you a head start on rebooking and compensation claims. Here are the best free tools and how to use them.
Best Free Tracking Tools
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[FlightAware](https://www.flightaware.com/): The gold standard. Real-time tracking, delay predictions, historical data. Free for basic use.
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FlightRadar24: Live aircraft tracking on a map. Great for visualizing where your plane actually is.
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[FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center](https://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp): Official US airspace status. Shows ground stops, delays, and restrictions by airport.
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Airline apps: Most airlines push delay notifications through their app. Enable push notifications for your flight.
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Airport websites: Many airports publish live departure and arrival boards online.
Set up alerts before you travel. FlightAware lets you set email or push alerts for specific flights. You will know about delays before the airline's app notifies you.
How to Use Tracking for Compensation Claims
Flight tracking data serves double duty: it helps you react to disruptions in real time AND provides evidence for compensation claims after the fact. Screenshot the tracking data showing your flight's actual vs. scheduled times. This is admissible evidence for DOT complaints and EU261 claims.
For a detailed guide on using tracking data as claim evidence, see our prove your delay guide. For live flight status on the TravelStacks platform, check our Flight Watch page.
Tracking Inbound Aircraft
Most domestic flights use an aircraft that is arriving from a previous route. If the inbound aircraft is delayed, your flight will be delayed too, even if the airline has not announced it yet. FlightAware shows the inbound aircraft for your flight, letting you anticipate delays.
If you see the inbound aircraft is significantly delayed, start researching alternative flights immediately. You can request rebooking proactively by calling the airline before the delay is officially announced. For more on what to do during disruptions, see our airport cancellation guide. To check compensation eligibility, use our tool.