Software That Will Get You Soaring

[Brad Adrian]

One of our readers, Todd, has pointed out some very useful software for anyone who uses Delta Airlines or American Airlines a lot. Each of these airlines now offers Pocket PC applications that provide detailed flight timetables.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/airlines.jpg" /><br /><br />The two applications offer very similar information, but each is updated in a slightly different manner. The <a href="http://www.americanairlines.com/content/aboutAA/AAProducts/electronicTimetable.jhtml">American Airlines application</a> requires the user to go to their Website to periodically download the latest data. On the other hand, the <a href="http://www.delta.com/travel/reservations/flight_sched/elec_time/index.jsp">Delta Airlines software</a> automatically grabs updated data every time your Pocket PC connects to the Internet. There are other slight differences, but they both provide the kind of information that any frequent flier needs.<br /><br />The best part is that both of these applications are free. This is just the kind of convenient service that can very easily make me select one airline over another.

[kevinsb1]

You can find mobile links to other airlines at:

http://www.mymobilestuff.com/x/draw.asp?TOPIC=Airlines

[Arne Hess]

A nice feature is the "Add to Calendar" implementation of both.
This automatically add the requested flight to your Outlook Calendar, pretty nice.

See also my short preview of the Star Alliance Time Table here which is the same like the AA Time Table:

http://www.ppcw.net/stories.php?story=02/05/10/8243003

[Brad Adrian]

...See also my short preview of the Star Alliance Time Table...
Yes, when I saw that review I was very jealous that something like it didn't exist for US airlines.

I also found that the USAirways site provide timetables for download in PDF format, but the one I grabbed was 53 pages long, a bit much for a Pocket PC.

[Arne Hess]

I also found that the USAirways site provide timetables for download in PDF format, but the one I grabbed was 53 pages long, a bit much for a Pocket PC.
53 pages!? 8O Wow... Yes, that's far away from an easy and convenient to use time table... :?

[Perry Reed]

Very nice! I'm flying tomorrow, actually, but on Continental. Too bad they don't have a similar app. I did, however, bookmark their mobile flight status web page, though (http://pda.continental.com/PocketPC/default.aspx).

[Brad Adrian]

There are some other differences that I noticed between the American and Delta apps. Because the Delta app grabs data during each connection, it contains several months' worth of flight info (and creates a larger file); the American data extends for only one month.

Also, if you're not sure of an airport's abbreviation, the Delta app helps you look it up; I couldn't find a way to do that with the American app. I think this is critical, because I can never remember those things.

[obarnes]

We like this :-) BA also offer one here:

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/pocketpcinfo/public/en_gb

You have to download regular updates - no calendar linking as yet!

- Oliver.

[edgar]

Strangely the help file with the Delta application states:
"View the validity range of your schedules by tapping Info/About. You need to update your flight schedules on a monthly basis at delta.com/etimetables."
The FAQ section at this web site refers to auto updating for Palm devices but not Pocket PC.

[cameron]

Here's the link to the United timetable. I was involved a little as a beta tester for Goldenware, the company that developed the app. They didn't fix all the bugs, I still get a few, but it works pretty well.

http://www.ual.com/page/middlepage/0,1454,1891,00.html

[Brad Adrian]

...The FAQ section at this web site refers to auto updating for Palm devices but not Pocket PC.

I'll have to check that out, because when I cradled my iPAQ without a live Internet connection, a Delta screen came up asking how I wanted to handle the missed update.

[Brad Adrian]

Here's the link to the United timetable...

Cool. Thanks for all the links to similar timetables. I'll probably keep several of these available all the time. I'd ultimately like to see something like the OAG guide, but I'm sure it'd have to be offered as a (fairly expensive) subscription.