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Travel apps worth having.

26 apps and sites for every stage of the trip, from the delay alert to the taxi. Picked, not paid for.

Install Flighty to track your flights, Flightradar24 for the live map, TripIt for one itinerary, AwardWallet for your points balances, the official ESTA Mobile and UK ETA apps for entry, Airalo for an eSIM and Citymapper to get around. 26 picks below, none paid for.

Your flight

Know about the delay before the gate agent does.

FlightyTracks your flights with delays, gate changes and where your inbound plane is, often before the airline tells you.The one to install first.Flightradar24The original live flight map: where any plane is now, its route and its history.Point your phone at a plane overhead and it tells you which one it is.FlightAwareFlight tracking with airport delay maps and the full history of a flight number.Google Flights WebsiteCash fares across airlines, a price calendar and alerts when a route gets cheaper.The cash side of points or cash.aeroLOPA WebsiteAccurate seat maps by aircraft and airline, with window positions, so you pick the seat that actually has a view.

Points and miles

Keep track of what you hold and find the seats it can buy.

AwardWalletAll your loyalty balances and expiry dates in one place.seats.aero WebsiteAward seat availability across many programs, searchable by route and month.point.me WebsiteAward search that shows which of your card points can book a given flight.

Planning the trip

One itinerary instead of twelve confirmation emails.

TripItForward your confirmation emails and it builds one itinerary: flights, hotels, trains and cars.WanderlogPlan the days on a map with friends: places, routes and bookings in one shared plan.Google MapsSave places to lists, and download offline maps before you land.Download the offline map on the hotel wifi, not at the gate.

Borders and arrival

The official apps. Skip the lookalike sites that charge a fee on top.

ESTA MobileThe official US app to apply for an ESTA from your phone. From CBP.Mobile Passport ControlThe free US customs app for a faster line on arrival. From CBP.UK ETA appThe official app to apply for the UK electronic travel authorisation. From the UK Home Office.

Money and data

Pay like a local, stay online without roaming.

AiraloBuy a local or regional eSIM before you land, instead of paying roaming.WiseHold and spend many currencies at the exchange rate you see, with a card to match.RevolutMulti-currency card and account. In Europe its points also transfer to airline programs.See the ratios in the Points Ratio Index.XE CurrencyLive exchange rates, with offline rates for when you have no signal.

Getting around

From the airport to the door, and between cities.

CitymapperPublic transport directions in the big cities, with the exit to take and the car to board.TrainlineTrain and coach tickets across Europe on one app.Check our train or plane guide first.Rome2Rio WebsiteEvery way from A to B (flight, train, bus, ferry, drive) with rough times and prices.UberRides in most big cities, with the price set before you get in.BoltRides, scooters and bikes, widely used across Europe.

Lounges

Know which lounge your card opens before you get to the door.

Priority PassYour membership card and the lounges, restaurants and spas in the network, by airport.

Language

Menus, signs and taxi drivers.

Google TranslatePoint the camera at a menu or sign. Download languages for offline use.DeepLNatural translations for longer text, like an email to the hotel.

And ours

Free guides from Points or Cash for the same trip.

Mila LoungeYour lounge at every stop, from your cards and ticket.Passport IndexWhere your passport gets you without a visa.Before you fly to the USESTA, Mobile Passport Control and Global Entry, by passport.Flight delay compensationWhat EU261 owes you, with a claim letter.Train vs planeWhere the train beats flying in Europe.

Picked by us, not paid for: no app on this page pays to be listed, and the links are not affiliate links. Know an app that belongs here? hello@pointsorcash.app.

Questions

What is the best app to track a flight?

Flighty for your own flights: it warns you about delays and gate changes, and shows where your inbound plane is. Flightradar24 for the live map of any plane in the sky. FlightAware is a good alternative to both.

Do I need an app to get into the US?

No app is required, but two official ones from US Customs and Border Protection help: ESTA Mobile to apply for your ESTA, and Mobile Passport Control for a faster line on arrival. Avoid third-party ESTA sites, which charge extra for the same form.

How do I keep track of my points and miles?

AwardWallet keeps your loyalty balances and expiry dates in one place. To find award seats, seats.aero and point.me search across programs. Points or Cash then tells you whether the award beats paying cash.

Which apps work offline?

Google Maps (download the area first), Google Translate (download the language), and XE Currency (last rates saved). TripIt keeps your itinerary on the phone too.

The apps get you there. Mila decides how you pay.

Tell Mila the trip and the points you hold. She checks the award and the cash fare, and tells you which way to pay.

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