How to Check Flight Reservations

Using the Airline or Travel Service Website

Visit the airline or travel service's website. If you booked a flight through an airline's website or through an online travel service like Expedia or Kayak, you'll find your reservation details in your account profile. If you're using a smartphone or tablet, you can use the airline or service's mobile app if available. If you just want to check the status of a flight and you know the flight number, just open Google or Bing and search for "Flight (flight number) status" for up-to-date results.

Click the Log In or Sign In option. Most websites display SIGN IN or LOG IN options at the top of the page, but you may have to open a menu first.

Log in to your account. If you don't know your username and password, you can usually click a Forgot password? (or similar) link to reset it. If the username is a membership number (e.g., Delta SkyMiles number, United Mileage Plus number), check the confirmation email from your booking to find it, or select the Forgot number link to request it via email. If you can't log in with a username and password, you can usually check your flight with your reservation number—a string of letters and numbers unique to your flight—by clicking a Find My Trip or Trips option. Airlines have different names for this number, including "reservation code," "confirmation number," "reference number," and "record locator." If you received a confirmation message via email after booking your flight, you'll find it in that message, as well as on paper tickets and printed receipts.

Click the My Trips tab. Nearly all travel websites and airlines have a section with this name, although sometimes it'll be called Your Trips or simply Trips, and/or may be buried within another tab called My Account. Clicking this option will display your flight reservations. If you don't see the flight you're looking for on an airline's website, it's usually because you bought it through a third-party (such as a travel website).

Update your flight preferences (if available). Some airlines and websites allow you to make changes to your reservation after booking, which may include seat selection, meal preferences, and sometimes the ability to change flights. If your flight qualifies, you'll usually see an option called Change Trip or Change Flight—click that link to make modifications if desired. If you need to change something and don't see the option to do so, contact the airline directly by phone. Some airlines won't allow you to select a seating preference until you check in.

Check in online (optional). Some airlines and travel websites allow you to check in online during a period of time before scheduled departure (usually 24 hours). Checking in online allows you to skip the curbside, desk, or self-service kiosk check-in options at the airport. It also may give you the chance to choose or update your seating position. If you check in online, you'll may also have the option to print your boarding passes or save them to your smartphone.

Using Amazon Alexa

Install the Alexa skill for your airline or travel service. If you booked your flight through Kayak, Expedia, TripSource, or you're flying United Airlines, you can now use your voice-enabled Alexa device to hear your flight details. Here's how to add your airline or booking service to Alexa: Open https://www.amazon.com/alexa-skills/b?ie=UTF8&node=13727921011 in your web browser. If you're not signed in, click Sign In near the top-right corner of the page and to do so now. Search for your airline or booking service to find out if it has an Alexa skill, or use one of these direct links for the skills available as of October 2020: United Airlines Kayak Expedia TripSource Flight Tracker is not a booking service, but you can use the skill find the status of specific flights on Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, American, Cathay Pacific, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and WestJet. Click the yellow Enable button under "Get this skill." This enables the skill on all your Alexa-enabled devices such as Echo, Fire TV, and Echo Dot.

Click Link Account to connect your airline or account. This appears below the "Disable Skill" button near the top-right corner of the page.

Follow the on-screen instructions to link your account to Alexa. The steps vary from here, but you'll have to enter your login details for the site (such as your Kayak username and password or your United Mileage Plus number and password) and agree to link the services.

Ask Alexa for information about your flight. The commands vary by airline and service, but here are some general commands you can use to find out your flight details through Alexa: United: "Alexa, ask United to check the status of my flight," "Alexa, as United what time my flight leaves," "Alexa, ask United to check me in for my flight." Kayak: "Alexa, ask Kayak when is my next trip," "Alexa, ask Kayak to track a flight." Expedia: "Alexa, ask Expedia to get my trip details," "Alexa, ask Expedia to tell me where I'm staying," "Alexa, ask Expedia when I check in." TripSource: "Alexa, ask TripSource to check the status of my flight," "Alexa, ask TripSource to check me in." Flight Tracker: "Alexa, ask Flight Tracker for United 262," "Alexa, ask Flight Tracker the status of Delta 15."

Using Google Assistant

Forward your flight details to your Gmail account. You can use your Google Home, Nest, Android, or other Google Assistant-enabled device to check your flight reservations as long as you have a Gmail address. If you used your Gmail.com email address when making flight reservations, you should already have the confirmation details in your Gmail account. If not, you can forward the confirmation message to your Gmail account so that it's accessible by Google Assistant.

Make sure "Personal Results" is enabled for Google Assistant. Google Assistant can locate your flight details in Gmail (and sometimes through your web history) if "Personal Results" is enabled. It's on by default, but here's where you can double-check to make sure you didn't disable it: If you're using a speaker, smart display, or smart clock, open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet and navigate to Home > Your Device > Device settings > More. On an Android phone or tablet, say, "Hey Google, open Assistant settings," tap Assistant, select your Android device. On an iPhone or iPad, open the Google Assistant app, tap the compass at the bottom-right, tap your profile photo, and head to Settings > Assistant > your device.

Ask Google Assistant for the details of your reservation. Although you can't check in or make flight changes with Google Assistant, you can find out details about your reservation. Start by saying "OK Google" or "Hey Google," and then ask a question relevant to your flight, such as: "When is my next flight?" "When is my flight to (location)?" "Is my flight on time?" "Tell me my flights in December." "Is my flight delayed?" "When is my United flight?"