Does Live Flight Tracking work with all boarding passes?

Live Flight Tracking requires iOS 26 and works when Apple can match your flight details with airline data. Your boarding pass needs a flight number and departure date. Not all airlines are supported yet, but more are being added throughout 2026.

What if my airline doesn't support Live Activities yet?

Your boarding pass still works normally in Apple Wallet. You just won't see the live tracking features. Static boarding passes remain fully scannable at security and boarding gates.

Do I need internet for live flight updates?

Yes, live updates require an internet connection to receive real-time data from airlines. However, your boarding pass barcode always works offline for scanning at the airport.

Can I disable Live Activities for my boarding pass?

Yes. You can dismiss the Live Activity from your lock screen, or disable Live Activities entirely in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Allow Access When Locked.

Will my TSA PreCheck status still work?

Yes. Your Known Traveler Number is encoded in the boarding pass barcode. Live Flight Tracking is a separate feature that doesn't affect the barcode data used for security screening.

iOS 26 Live Flight Tracking: Real-Time Updates on Your Lock Screen

Checking your airline app every few minutes for gate changes gets old fast. You unlock your phone, wait for the app to load, scroll to find your flight, and hope the information is current. Multiply that by every update during a layover.

iOS 26 changes this. Boarding passes in Apple Wallet now show live flight information directly on your Lock Screen. Gate changes, delays, boarding times, all visible at a glance without opening any app.

What is Live Flight Tracking?

Live Flight Tracking uses iOS 26's Live Activities feature to display real-time flight information on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Updates come to you automatically, no refreshing, no app switching.

Departure & arrival times

Real-time updates as schedules change

Gate information

Gate changes and terminal assignments

Delay alerts

Notifications when your flight is delayed

Time to boarding

Countdown to when boarding begins

Shareable status

Send flight updates to family via Messages

Dynamic Island

Compact view on supported iPhones

Requirements

To use Live Flight Tracking, you need:

iOS 26 or later
Boarding pass added to Apple Wallet
Flight number and departure date on the pass
Airline with data coverage (more on this below)

NeatPass boarding passes are compatible

NeatPass automatically includes all required flight fields when you create a boarding pass. No extra setup needed, just add to Apple Wallet. For detailed device compatibility, see our system requirements guide.

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How It Works

Once your boarding pass is in Apple Wallet, the Live Activity appears automatically when Apple can match your flight details with airline data. No buttons to press, no settings to enable. The tracking just starts.

Import your boarding pass with NeatPass, add it to Apple Wallet, and the Live Activity shows up on your Lock Screen when your flight is recognized.

Flight number format matters

Use the full flight number format (like UA123 or DL456), not just the number. This helps Apple match your flight with airline data.

Sharing Flight Status

Picking someone up from the airport? They can share their flight status with you. Here's how it works:

Open the boarding pass in Wallet
Tap Share Flight Tracker
Choose a recipient via Messages
They tap Follow to start receiving updates

Privacy-first sharing

Shared status excludes your seat number and boarding group. Recipients see only flight details like departure time, gate, and delays, not your personal booking information.

The recipient needs an iPhone with iOS 26. They don't need the airline app or NeatPass, just Messages.

Airline Support

Not all airlines support Live Flight Tracking yet. Live data availability depends on airline participation. Major carriers are supported, with more airlines adding support throughout 2026.

If your airline doesn't support live tracking yet, your boarding pass still works normally in Apple Wallet for scanning at security and boarding gates.

Major carriers supported

Many airlines supported, more being added

Some limitations

Codeshare, charter, and regional flights may not work

Internet required

Live updates need connectivity to receive data

When Tracking Ends

The Live Activity automatically ends when:

Your flight lands
The flight is cancelled
You manually dismiss it

This is normal behavior. The tracker served its purpose once your journey ends.

Troubleshooting

If Live Flight Tracking isn't working, check these common issues:

Live Activity not appearing: Verify your pass type is set to Boarding Pass (not Event Ticket) and the pass is in Apple Wallet
No live updates: Check your flight number format (UA123, not 123) and verify departure date is correct
Updates delayed: Data comes from airline systems. Airport monitors remain the authoritative source for gate info

For detailed troubleshooting, see our Live Flight Tracking help guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get your boarding pass in Wallet

Download

Your Flight Info at a Glance

iOS 26 Live Flight Tracking turns your iPhone into a real-time flight monitor. No more checking apps constantly or missing gate changes. Once your boarding pass is in Apple Wallet, live updates come to you automatically.

NeatPass makes it easy to get any boarding pass into Apple Wallet. Works offline for scanning, accessible from your Lock Screen, and now with live tracking on iOS 26.

Planning a trip? Check out our guides on converting PDF boarding passes and organizing travel passes.