June 18, 2025, 4:50 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Before a trip, things often get hectic. Is everything packed? Will the train be on time? Is the flight going as planned, and from which gate does it depart? At least the last question can be answered by the iPhone with a simple trick.
Apple’s iOS hides many features and hacks that many people aren’t aware of. A very practical trick is found in iMessage–it allows you to easily track a flight in the iPhone app. TECHBOOK reveals how it works.
What’s Behind the Flight Trick on the iPhone
To use this feature, simply send the flight number to yourself or another person. iMessage automatically recognizes it as a flight number. You can then click on it to check the status.
The information not only shows the route with departure and arrival airports on a small map. It also indicates whether the flight is on time, delayed, or canceled. Additionally, departure and arrival times, as well as flight duration, are displayed. Terminal, gate, and baggage claim are also noted.
TECHBOOK tested the trick on an iPhone and indeed, we received information about flights from Lufthansa, American Airlines, EasyJet UK, Scandinavian Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
However, the trick doesn’t work with all airlines. For example, we couldn’t get information for flights from Ryanair, Austrian Airlines, Aegean Airlines, Eurowings, and EasyJet Europe.
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iMessage Has More Tricks Up Its Sleeve
The flight information trick on the iPhone is very practical. But iMessage also knows a few other code words that trigger various effects. Send the terms in a message, and you’ll see a little show:
- Pew pew: a laser show appears
- Happy Birthday: balloons float up
- Congratulations/Selamat: confetti rains down
- Happy New Year: fireworks explode on the screen
- Happy Chinese New Year: red fireworks cascade down
Read also: Unlock Hidden Features for the iPhone
iMessage can do even more. For example, after typing a message, hold down the send button to see more options. Not only can you send the message in invisible ink or with force, but more animations are also available, such as hearts or dozens of chat bubbles.