The United Airlines iPhone app with Dynamic Island visible in the top center
United Airlines announced that its smartphone app for the Apple iPhone will support Live Activities and the new feature that is available on top-of-the-line iPhones.
The move makes the Chicago-based carrier the first airline in the United States to do so.
“Live Activities puts all the flight information you need right at your fingertip,” said Linda Jojo, the airline’s chief customer officer.
United’s use of Live Activities will allow travelers to track flight status via a live widget on the iPhone’s home screen or using the Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped space exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max that Apple previously referred to as the “TrueDepth camera array” and many users referred to as the “notch.”
The information available via the feature includes the flight number, on-time status, inbound aircraft status, and estimated departure and subsequent arrival times, as well as departure and arrival gates, pre- and in-flight countdowns, and baggage carousel information.
The Dynamic Island appears whenever the iPhone is unlocked and can support up to two activities. It is also expandable by pressing one’s index finger down on the space.
In addition to alerts, such as from United, the Dynamic Island displays information on music that is currently playing, the timer if in use, an AirDrop connection, and directions from the Maps app.
Earlier in the year, United addressed a long-standing issue that the smartphone screen locks at an inopportune moment, such as when you have your boarding pass open and are waiting on line to reach the TSA document checker and find that the screen has locked in the interim.
The device will no longer auto-lock if a United boarding pass or United Club pass is open.
The new version is available from the Apple App Store at no charge. Membership credentials in United’s MileagePlus frequent-flyer program are required in order to access the app’s features.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
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