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Whether your family is fond of lots of vacations or you fly frequently for work, there’s no doubt that the process could be a little less painful. Fortunately, there are apps that help you choose a better seat, compile all your different itineraries, and even predict when flight prices will rise and fall.
Hopper
The app: Hopper.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free.
Simple question: when should you book a flight? As you’re well aware, prices for flights can fluctuate wildly, and no one wants to pay $800 for a Vancouver to Toronto flight if it’ll be $600 next week. Enter Hopper. Hopper analyzes historical flight prices, compares them with current rates, and offers you a prediction of when prices will rise and fall. It isn’t fool-proof, but it’s still pretty cool.
Kayak
The app: Kayak.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free.
Kayak searches hundreds of travel sites for the best deals possible. You can discover great deals on flights by using region-specific searches, you can look for mobile-only deals, you can scour for private sales . . . or you can let Kayak do it for you.
GTFO – Get the Flight Out
The app: GTFO.
Platform: iOS.
Cost: Free.
Flying last-minute? Well, don’t get gouged. GTFO (Get the Flight Out) works like this: you enter your home airport. You enter your destination. Then GTFO gives you a list of the best round-trip flights leaving the day of your search or the next morning. All prices listed include all taxes and fees, and you can book directly from the app. Leave the app running if you aren’t impressed with the prices you see quoted; flight prices fluctuate constantly over the day before travel.
TripIt
The app: TripIt.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free.
You want a single itinerary. But you have bookings with airlines, cabs, hotels, car rentals, events, and more. Well, TripIt takes all of your bookings and converts it into a single itinerary. You forward all your confirmation emails to the app and that’s it. The app takes care of the rest and crafts a single itinerary for you that’ll make your trip that much easier.
SeatGuru
The app: SeatGuru.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free.
Want the best seat on the plane? SeatGuru will tell you everything about your seat on your prospective flight. Does your seat come with a power outlet? A screen? Is it near the washroom? All questions can be answered by searching through SeatGuru. The app also helps you search for and buy flights, but the real value is in its comprehensive knowledge of what seats have what amenities. Like SeatGuru says: not all seats are created equal.
GateGuru
The app: GateGuru.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free.
You type in your gate and airport details, and GateGuru will show you everything you need to know about your gate. It starts with arrival and departure times, but it also features information on gate changes, security wait times, flight delays, nearby amenities, weather forecasts, and much more. The app is also partnered with Avis, which means not only will it offer you car rental information, you can get deals up to 30% off.
The Bottom Line
These apps may not make flying fun, but they certainly make it less trying. From gathering sweet deals in one place to giving you as much information about your flight as you can possibly handle, these apps can make a frequently flier a happier flier.
