How to Check Flight Status Online: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Last Updated: October, 2026

The easiest way to check flight status online is to visit the airline’s official website or app and search using your flight number and travel date. You can often check whether a flight is scheduled, on time, delayed, cancelled, departed, or arrived using its flight number and travel date, without entering a booking reference.

You can also check the departure and arrival boards on the airport’s official website. These are useful when you are checking someone else’s flight or planning to collect a passenger.

This guide explains how to check flight status, understand updated flight times, and find the right information when a flight is delayed or cancelled.

The Three Best Places to Check Flight Status

You can check flight status online through the airline, the airport or a third-party flight tracker. Each option provides different information.

1. The airline’s official website or app

Start here for flight-specific updates. Look for a section called Flight Status, Flight Information or Track Flight. Depending on the airline, you may be able to search using your flight number and date, route and date, or booking details. A booking reference usually opens reservation information rather than public flight-status information.

2. The airport’s official website

Airport arrival and departure boards can show scheduled and estimated times, flight status, and terminal or gate information where available.For example, Delhi Airport publishes an official live flight-information page with arrival and departure information.

3. A third-party flight tracker

Services such as FlightAware and Flightradar24 may help you follow a flight and view available aircraft-movement information, depending on the route and data available.

These trackers are useful for additional details, but their information may differ from the airline’s latest operational instructions. For important updates about your flight, always confirm the information with the operating airline.

How to Check Flight Status Using a Flight Number

The simplest way to check flight status is to search using your flight number and travel date.

Follow these steps:

1. Find your flight number in your booking confirmation or itinerary.
2. Visit the official website of the airline operating your flight.
3. Open the Flight Status or Flight Information section.
4. Enter your flight number and select your travel date, if requested.
5. Review the latest departure time, arrival time and flight status.
6. Check any available terminal, gate or delay information.

A flight number usually contains an airline code followed by numbers. For example, UX1234 is an illustrative flight number, not live flight information. Use the exact flight number from your booking or itinerary.

If your flight does not appear, check that you entered the correct number and date. For a codeshare flight, you may need to search using the operating airline’s flight number.

Can I Check Flight Status Without a Booking Reference?

Yes. Many airlines allow you to check flight status using a flight number and travel date. You usually do not need a booking reference to find basic operational information.

If you do not know the flight number, you may be able to search by route. Enter the departure airport, destination airport and travel date if the website supports this option.

You can also use the airport’s official arrival or departure board to find a flight by destination, origin, airline or flight number, depending on the search options available.

If you are checking someone else’s flight, you generally do not need their booking reference. The flight number and travel date are often enough.

How to Check Flight Departure and Arrival Times

To check departure status, use the airline’s flight-status page or the departure board of the airport you are leaving from.

To check arrival status, use the airline’s website or the arrival board at the destination airport.

Pay attention to the difference between scheduled, estimated and actual times.

Flight information	What it means
Scheduled time	The original departure or arrival time listed in the timetable
Estimated time	The latest expected departure or arrival time
Actual departure	The recorded departure time, which may refer to leaving the gate or taking off depending on the source
Actual arrival	The recorded arrival time, which may refer to reaching the gate or landing depending on the source
Terminal	The terminal assigned to the flight, where displayed
Gate	The assigned boarding or arrival gate, where available

Flight times are generally shown in the local time of the relevant airport. Check the date as well as the time, especially for overnight and international flights.

Tip: If the scheduled departure is 6:00 PM but the estimated departure is 7:15 PM, the flight is currently expected to leave later than originally planned. The estimated time can change again.

What Do Different Flight Status Terms Mean?

Flight-status terms help you understand what is happening with a flight. The exact wording may vary by airline or airport.

Status	Meaning
Scheduled	The flight is listed in the timetable. This does not guarantee it will operate as planned.
On time	The latest information indicates that the flight is currently expected to operate close to its scheduled time.
Delayed	The flight is expected to depart or arrive later than scheduled.
Estimated	The latest expected departure or arrival time.
Boarding	Passengers are being called to board, where this status is available.
Departed	The flight has left the departure airport.
Landed	The aircraft has landed at the destination airport.
Arrived	The flight has reached the arrival stage recorded by that airline or airport system, which may be landing or reaching the gate. .
Cancelled	The airline has cancelled the flight.
Diverted	The flight has been redirected to an airport other than its planned destination.

A flight marked as landed may not yet have reached its terminal gate. Similarly, a flight marked as on time can still experience a delay later.

How to Check If a Flight Is Delayed

To check whether a flight is delayed, search for it on the airline’s official website or app using the flight number and travel date. Look for a delay message or a revised estimated departure or arrival time.

If your flight is delayed:

1. Check the latest estimated departure or arrival time.
2. Look for any explanation or instructions from the airline, if available.
3. Review airline notifications for further updates.
4. Check the airport’s departure board for terminal or gate information.
5. Check the status again before travelling to the airport.

A delay estimate is not a guarantee. The airline may revise it as more information becomes available.

Should you arrive at the airport later if your flight is delayed?

Do not assume that a delay means you can arrive later. Follow the airline’s instructions and allow enough time for check-in, baggage drop, security and boarding.   A revised departure time does not automatically change check-in, baggage-drop, security, or boarding deadlines unless the airline or airport specifically says so. 

How to Check If a Flight Has Been Cancelled

You can check flight cancellation status through the operating airline’s official website or app. Search using your flight number and travel date, then look for a cancellation message or an updated itinerary.

If your flight is marked as cancelled:

1. Confirm the update through the airline’s official channel.
2. Check your email, text messages or airline app for instructions.
3. Review the rebooking, refund, or other options the airline provides for your specific disruption and booking. 
4. If you booked through a travel agent, check the provider’s instructions as well.
5. Keep your booking confirmation and cancellation messages.

Do not assume that every cancelled flight is automatically rebooked or refunded in the same way. Your options depend on the airline, ticket conditions and applicable rules.

For more information about contacting an airline, see our airline customer service guide.

How to Check the Arrival Time for Someone Else’s Flight

If you are collecting someone from the airport, check the destination airport’s official arrivals board or search the flight on the airline’s website.

Follow these steps:

1. Ask for the flight number and travel date.
2. Open the destination airport’s official website.
3. Find the Arrivals section.
4. Search for the flight, if the website provides a search tool.
5. Check the latest estimated arrival time and terminal information, where available.

You can also use a third-party flight tracker to view available aircraft movement and estimated arrival information.

Keep in mind that the estimated arrival time can change while the flight is in the air. Check again before leaving to collect the passenger, and follow any airport pickup instructions.

How to Check the Status of a Connecting Flight

For a connecting journey, check each flight separately using its flight number and travel date.

Each flight segment has its own status. Your first flight may be on time while your connecting flight is delayed or cancelled.

If your first flight is delayed:

• Check the status of your connecting flight.
• Review the scheduled departure time and any available updates.
• Check your itinerary for the connecting airport and terminal.
• If you may miss your connection, follow the airline’s instructions or contact it for guidance.

Do not assume the connecting flight will wait for you. If the flights are on one itinerary, the airline or booking provider may provide instructions or alternatives, but the available options depend on the itinerary and applicable conditions.

If you cannot access your reservation to review your options, see our guide on Manage My Booking not working. That guide covers booking-access problems rather than live flight-status updates.

Why Is My Flight Status Not Showing Online?

A flight may not appear in a flight-status checker because the details are incorrect, the website does not support that search method, or the flight information is not currently available.

Try these steps:

Problem	What to do
Flight number not found	Check the number in your itinerary and enter it again.
Incorrect travel date	Select the correct departure date, including for overnight flights.
Codeshare flight confusion	Check which airline operates the flight and search using its flight number if needed.
Route search shows several flights	Compare the airline, flight number and departure time.
Flight information is unavailable	Try the airline’s official app or check again later.
Airline and airport show different times	Check the latest flight-specific information from the operating airline.
Third-party tracker shows different information	Confirm important updates with the airline.
Website or app is not working	Try another browser or device, or use the airport’s official flight information page.

Flight-status availability varies by airline and flight. There is no universal period during which every airline or airport publishes flight-status information. Some flights may appear well before departure, while operational updates may become more detailed closer to departure.

If you still cannot find the flight, use the airline’s official website or app and check the departure or arrival airport’s website.

How Often Should You Check Flight Status?

Check your flight status before leaving for the airport and again on the day of departure. If your flight is delayed or disrupted, check for further updates.

A practical approach is:

• Before travel day: Confirm that you have the correct flight number, date and itinerary.
• On departure day: Check the latest status before leaving for the airport.
• Before boarding: Review the airport displays and airline notifications for gate or timing changes.
• When collecting someone: Check the latest arrival estimate before travelling to the airport.
• During a disruption: Follow official updates and check again before making travel decisions.

These are practical suggestions, not fixed airline rules. Your airline may provide specific instructions for your flight.

You can also enable notifications in the airline’s app if this feature is available.

What Should You Do If Your Flight Status Changes?

If your flight status changes, confirm the update through the operating airline’s official website, app or notification. Then follow the instructions for your situation.

If the flight is delayed: Check the revised estimated time and monitor airline notifications and airport displays. Do not rely on an old screenshot or assume the new time cannot change.

If the flight is cancelled: Review the airline’s rebooking or refund options. Follow the instructions provided for your booking.

If the gate changes: Check the airport displays and airline notifications before proceeding to the gate.

If the arrival time changes: Update anyone collecting you or meeting you at the destination.

If a connecting flight is affected: Check the status of the next flight and follow the airline’s instructions if you may miss the connection.

Flight-status updates help you plan, but they do not guarantee a particular departure or arrival time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Checking Flight Status

Disclaimer: FlyTripInfo is an independent travel information website. It is not an airline, airport, flight-tracking operator or official airline support department. FlyTripInfo does not have access to airline reservation systems or independently verified real-time operational data. Flight times, gate assignments, delays and cancellations can change. Always confirm flight-specific information with the operating airline or relevant airport before making travel decisions.