United Airways simply rolled out new app options to assist flyers make connections at its hub airports.

On June 25, 2025, the airline introduced a brand new devoted part in its app that exhibits particulars about your connection. Now out there to all United app customers, that part consists of real-time flight standing updates, gate-to-gate instructions with estimated strolling occasions and a countdown to your subsequent flight. You’ll additionally discover suggestions for longer layovers, in addition to a notification if United is holding your subsequent flight for you throughout a good connection.

“These features are part of our larger customer experience strategy that’s based on being radically transparent with our customers and sharing information with them in easy-to-understand ways,” United Chief Buyer Officer David Kinzelman mentioned in a media name previewing the updates.

In case you’ve flown on United just lately, these options could look acquainted. Greater than 350,000 vacationers used them within the spring throughout a beta take a look at earlier than the rollout for the busy summer season journey season. With 20 million-plus United passengers booked this summer season on connecting flights, based on the airline, this function may gain advantage many flyers.

These new updates — out there in each English and Spanish — make touring with a connection less complicated. That’s a giant deal, particularly when connections are sometimes the place itineraries are more than likely to go flawed.

Additionally they assist give passengers extra perception into what’s happening with their itinerary. For instance, United now classifies connections in 3 ways and shows totally different info for every kind:

• Comfy connections: For passengers who’ve sufficient time to achieve their subsequent gate earlier than boarding begins, the app exhibits connection info, an airport map with navigation suggestions and different location info like the place the closest United Membership is.

• Tight connections: For many who must hustle to their subsequent gate, the app prioritizes probably the most pertinent info, such because the time till your subsequent flight, how distant it’s and an airport map to indicate you how you can get there. In case your subsequent flight is being held for passengers through United’s ConnectionSaver expertise, you’ll additionally see that on the display screen. (Launched in 2019, ConnectionSaver helps decide if a flight could be held for a couple of minutes to accommodate connecting passengers with out disrupting the journey plans of these onboard.)

• Missed connections: For many who will miss their flights, the app exhibits rebooking choices to get a confirmed seat on one other flight or to face by for an earlier flight that is perhaps bought out.

Whereas different airline apps have useful info like airport maps, they’re typically laborious to seek out within the app or sophisticated to make use of. It is perhaps attainable to manually search for info like estimated strolling occasions by navigating to the airport maps part within the app, however passengers won’t even know such a function exists. Having it multi functional centrally positioned place can assist make journey lots much less aggravating.

Plus, United says it is going to quickly roll out the power to allow location providers, which is able to let you see the place you might be on the map as you journey by means of the airport.

Improvements like these can assist simplify the airport expertise, and United isn’t the one airline investing in these enhancements. For instance, American Airways introduced in Could 2025 that it could be testing out its personal model of connection-saving expertise at its hub airports this summer season. It additionally redesigned its app earlier this yr, which the airline says will assist set the inspiration for future app upgrades.

One function in United’s up to date app I’m particularly trying ahead to: particulars concerning the nearest United Membership. As a result of I maintain The New United Membership℠ Card, I’ve limitless entry to United Golf equipment once I fly on United or a Star Alliance accomplice.

I fly by means of United hubs on a regular basis, however some extra typically than others. Meaning once I land at a hub I’m much less aware of — say, Denver Worldwide Airport — I can depend on the app to direct me to the closest Denver United Membership, as an alternative of fumbling with my cellphone for a couple of minutes to determine the place to go.

“One of the things that customers tell us they really like is just simply knowing when they get off the airplane, do they go left or right?” Kinzelman says.

High picture courtesy of United Airways.