Changes to onboard flight tracker map
#31
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
Yayyyyy. The cartoonish flight tracker is gone!
A real flight tracker map has reappeared today that accurately depicts the airplane path. ^ Also a few other nifty features like superimposing city streets etc.

A real flight tracker map has reappeared today that accurately depicts the airplane path. ^ Also a few other nifty features like superimposing city streets etc.

#33
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,454
For those that like to sit at the window and know what they are looking at, I found a good IOS app : http://fc.umn.edu/
It's called flyover country. You tell the app your city pairs and it downloads a map before you fly. Then, in the air with airplane mode on, it uses your GPS to show where you are on the map. In addition to roads and towns it shows you points of interest on the map and tells about them, with geology being the largest part of what it shows. It works quite well, though does eat through the battery.
It's called flyover country. You tell the app your city pairs and it downloads a map before you fly. Then, in the air with airplane mode on, it uses your GPS to show where you are on the map. In addition to roads and towns it shows you points of interest on the map and tells about them, with geology being the largest part of what it shows. It works quite well, though does eat through the battery.
#34
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,691
Thanks, really appreciate it! Going to try it out cross country next week. We've certainly come a long, long way from the days when I would hide a bluetooth GPS in the window shade and track flight on my aviation mapped pda.
#35
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,454
Actually you never had to hide it. Southwest was one of the few airlines that use to explicitly allow GPS.
Remember that it will eat away at your battery. I suggest bringing a charging brick if you are going cross country.
Remember that it will eat away at your battery. I suggest bringing a charging brick if you are going cross country.
#38
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: MR LT Titanium, SPG LT Plat & Plat 100, SWA A+ & CP
Posts: 1,093
Firstly... A few weeks ago Inwas on a flight and had the new flight tracker. It was much improved over the old one. However, since that time, I have had the old cartoon tracker. So, as someone said, maybe they're rolling it out plane by plane.
Secondly... If you are sitting near a window, you can now open up the Google Maps app on your iPhone (and I presume android) and see where you are. You'll see the blue dot. Zoom in as far as you want. It works well but does not provide the line on where you've been.
Secondly... If you are sitting near a window, you can now open up the Google Maps app on your iPhone (and I presume android) and see where you are. You'll see the blue dot. Zoom in as far as you want. It works well but does not provide the line on where you've been.