American Launches New Mobile App

Airline mobile apps don’t necessarily inspire peals of enthusiasm, and rightly so. They typically consist of basic functions, such as remote check-in, flight status notification, and travel booking. So American should forgive me when I say news of its new app didn’t cause me to fall out of my chair. But upon further investigation, there’s actually a lot to like about the airline’s new toy.

One of the main features touted in American’s statement about the app is its single login function. The app keeps you logged in, meaning updates are pushed to your home screen. No re-logging-in to see if your flight status has changed.

The app also lets you monitor your standby status in real time, meaning you can put in for that earlier flight and then head to the bar or souvenir shop to wait it out.

Another handy feature is the parking reminder. You can snap a photo of your spot and jot down a quick note to help you find your car when you return.

The rest of the features are a bit more standard, including mileage and elite status tracking, flight status updates, and the ability to book or check in for flights. There’s also a sudoku game!

There are a few seemingly useless tools as well, such as a GPS locator to find the nearest airport served by American. Do we really need GPS locating functionality to find an airport? It’s not like looking for a Starbucks in a labyrinth of strip malls. You can also use the app to enroll in AAdvantage, which seems odd simply because I can’t imagine signing up for an airline’s app if I wasn’t a frequent flyer.

Still, the app has some pretty useful features. If you decide to check it out, leave a comment below with your review, and how you think it stacks up against other airline apps you’ve tried.