United is ready for peak summer travel season with the official launch of new, personalised mobile app features that make catching connecting flights easier.
Customers with connecting flights at United’s U.S. hub airports can now access a special section of the app that includes a countdown to connecting flights, customized turn-by-turn directions to their connecting gate with estimated walk times, real-time flight status updates, tips for longer layovers, and notifications if United’s ConnectionSaver technology has been activated to hold the plane for them.
These features are exclusive to the United mobile app and expand on the airline’s ConnectionSaver technology – an industry-leading, AI-powered tool that has saved more than 3.3 million customer connections since launching in 2019. ConnectionSaver automatically identifies departing flights that can be held for connecting customers – without delaying the on-time arrival of the customers who have already boarded. Now, customers have full visibility into their connecting flights right on their phone screens.
United trialled these app features during a beta test period this spring, and during that time, more than 350,000 customers used the new features, achieving a 98% success rate making their connection.
“We know that giving people more information, in a transparent and easy-to-understand way, can help de-stress the connecting flight experience,” said David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer. “Our award-winning mobile app is a game-changer during travel, and with these new features, our customers will have even more real-time details about their flight and as a result, have an even better experience flying United.”
More than 20 million United customers have already booked connecting flights this summer. The new features are much more customer-facing and specify personalized details based on connection type, including:
Comfortable Connections: Travelers with comfortable connections are provided personalized status updates to make their connecting flights, including countdown to boarding, gate-to-gate directions and personalized tips to navigate large airports or long layovers such as United ClubSM location details.
Tight Connections: For travellers pressed on time during a connection, the suite of features provides key information to help them navigate to their connecting flight, including boarding time, walking time, gate number and more. Plus, they will get app notifications if their next flight is being held for them with ConnectionSaver, offering more transparency and peace of mind during their travel journey.
Missed Connections: If travel doesn’t go as planned, customers automatically receive personalized re-booking options to get them back on their way, giving them options to rebook on a confirmed flight or join the standby list for earlier flights if a seat becomes available.
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