Can't compare to the WN notifications because I NEVER get them, but the TripIt notifications on a connection will usually pop up on the way to the gate with time between flights and the gate for my next leg. I particularly like these. The pre-flight notifications are set to start at T-4 because I am three hours from the airport. I usually get them about 5 minutes early and it will have the current flight time and gate number. Any changes will generate a new text. You will also get a text at T-24 plus a few minutes informing you that your flight check-in may be possible. I have mine to set for both email and text. If I am on a plane with working WiFi (long shot but let's play pretend for now) I get changes as email while on the plane before a connection.

There are some minor aggravations. Through flights look like connections, so it will send you a text that you connection is at the gate you are sitting at and leaves in 30 minutes or so. It occasionally sends a notice that a lower price ticket is available (maybe 10%-20% of the time) but enough to pay for the "Pro" upgrade as much as I fly. If you buy a BS ticket and AT or WGA is available, it will always text you to let you know you could have bought a cheaper ticket. This may be good if it is last minute and you just bought the BS over the phone not knowing the WGA was available.