Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about byAir
Flight Tracking & Data
Open the app and tap the "+" button. You can search by flight number (e.g., "BA123") or by route (e.g., "London to New York"). For current and future flights, searches are unlimited for all users. Once you find your flight, tap it to add it to your list and start tracking.
byAir uses official data from airlines and airports (GDS - Global Distribution System), which provides accurate information about terminals, gates, and cancellations. Apps like FlightRadar24 use direct ADS-B radio signals from aircraft, showing real-time physical position but not official gate times. The difference can be 5-15 minutes, especially for arrival times since we show "gate arrival" while trackers show "touchdown."
Our data comes from official airline and airport sources. In many cases, byAir actually receives updates before they appear on airport displays - especially for delays and cancellations. Occasionally, last-minute gate changes may appear on airport screens first, but byAir excels at giving you advance notice so you can plan ahead.
With a Pro subscription, flight information updates in near real-time. Without a subscription, updates occur with a slight delay. On the flight detail page, data refreshes approximately every 3 minutes. Widget updates may take 5 minutes or longer due to system limitations.
This indicates that the arrival occurs on a different calendar day than departure due to time zone changes. For example, "+1" means you arrive the next day according to local time at your destination.
Only manually created flights can be edited. Flights added via search or import from our database cannot be edited directly because the data comes from official aviation sources. If you notice incorrect information on a tracked flight, please contact support with the flight number and date, and we can correct it in our system.
Our database has comprehensive flight data from 2011 onwards. For flights between 2006-2011, data availability is partial (some flights may not be found). Flights before 2006 can only be added manually.
Gate and terminal information comes from our data providers who receive it from airlines and airports. In many cases, byAir shows gate assignments before airport displays update. Occasionally, last-minute changes may take a few minutes to sync. In rare cases, information may be missing if the airport doesn't provide it electronically. If you notice an error after your flight, contact us with the flight number and we can update the data for your statistics.
This usually happens when our data provider doesn't receive the final status update from the airline. We're working on adding additional data providers to reduce these gaps. Contact support with the flight number and date, and we can manually update the status.
Open the flight details screen, tap the menu button in the top-right corner, and select "Share flight." This generates a link and image you can send via any messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram.
Sometimes aircraft information is incorrectly mapped in our database, especially for older flights or when tail numbers are reassigned between aircraft. Contact support with the flight number, date, and the correct aircraft registration number (tail number). We can manually correct the mapping, and it will update for all users.
Currently, our plane tracking has a 5-10 minute delay due to API limitations. We are actively working on implementing real-time plane tracking to provide live position updates.
Some airlines have merged, rebranded, or ceased operations, and their historical flight data may not be searchable. Contact support with the original airline code, flight number, and date, and we'll help you add it to your flight history.
Yellow icons on the flight page indicate terminal, gate, and baggage claim information. These help you quickly identify important airport logistics for your flight.
Currently, each flight can only be added once per account. We're working on a feature to support tracking the same flight for multiple travelers. For now, each person would need their own byAir account to track shared flights.
Long press on a flight to enter selection mode. Select the flights you want to combine, then tap the combine icon in the toolbar. To split flights apart, use the same long press method and select the split option.
Swipe left on any flight in your list to reveal the delete option. Alternatively, long press on a flight to enter selection mode, select the flights you want to remove, and tap the delete icon.
After a flight lands and receives its final status, it automatically moves to the "Finished" section. Access your completed flights by going to My Flights and selecting the Finished tab. All your historical flights and statistics are preserved there.
Pro Subscription & Payments
Pro subscription unlocks: real-time flight updates, unlimited historical flight searches, all notification types (delays, gate changes, etc.), Auto-scan Email for unlimited flights, email forwarding for bookings, calendar sync, Apple Watch notifications, and advanced statistics. Free users can track current/future flights but with limited notifications and only 1 historical search per 24 hours (only successful searches that return at least 1 flight count toward this limit).
For Android: Open Google Play > tap your profile icon > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions > find byAir > tap Cancel subscription. For iOS: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > select byAir > tap Cancel Subscription. Canceling stops future charges; you'll retain access until the current period ends.
We cannot process refunds directly as purchases go through Apple App Store or Google Play. For iOS: Visit reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and select "Request a refund." For Android: Open Google Play > Profile > Payments & subscriptions > Budget and Order History > find the purchase > Report a Problem > select refund reason.
First, try restarting the app completely. If the issue persists, send us a screenshot of the payment receipt email from Google or Apple. We can verify your transaction and restore your subscription status.
Yes! You can use one account on multiple devices across different platforms (iOS, Android, tablet). Just sign in with the same account on all devices. The subscription is tied to your byAir account, not to a specific device.
You need to wait for your current subscription period to end before purchasing Lifetime. Alternatively, if the purchase was recent, you can request a refund through Apple or Google Play, cancel your subscription, and then purchase Lifetime.
Even Pro users have safety limits to protect our system. This typically affects historical flight searches when searching by route (which generates many queries - each date combination counts as a separate query). To avoid hitting limits, search by flight number (e.g., "BA123") rather than route (e.g., "London - New York"). Note that all searches count toward your limit, including failed searches, empty results, and incorrectly entered data. Additionally, tracking more than ~200 flights per year may trigger restrictions as this exceeds personal use. If you believe you're blocked in error, contact support.
Free users get one historical flight search per 24-hour period. Important: empty results and typos still count as your one search, so double-check your flight number before searching. Searching by route uses more queries than searching by flight number. Current and future flight searches are always unlimited for all users.
Flight data is surprisingly expensive. We use multiple industry-leading data providers to ensure accuracy and coverage, and these services cost significantly more than most people realize. We're a small independent team committed to building a sustainable product without showing ads or selling your data. Your subscription directly supports development and keeps byAir independent.
Yes, a free trial is available for the annual subscription plan in all regions. Check the subscription screen in the app to see current offers.
We have a separate payment option available for users in Russia. Check the subscription screen in the app for available payment methods.
Import & Sync
byAir offers several ways to add flights:
- Quick Scan - scan boarding passes, booking confirmations, itineraries, screenshots, or ticket photos (PDF, JPG, PNG up to 10 MB). Pro required
- Auto-scan Email - automatically finds flight bookings in your Gmail (Pro required for unlimited; free users get 5 flights)
- Email Forwarding - forward booking emails to your unique import address (Pro required for unlimited; free users get 5 flights)
- Calendar Sync - import flights from your device's calendar (Pro required)
- App Import - import from Flighty, App in the Air, myFlightradar24, TripIt, OpenFlights, or byAir (to transfer data between accounts)
Auto-scan Email only works with Gmail accounts and must match the email you used to sign into byAir. Free users are limited to importing 5 flights. If your booking emails are from airlines we haven't trained our parser on yet, they may not be detected. You can use email forwarding as an alternative.
Auto-scan Email only works with Gmail. However, you can use the Email Forwarding feature with any email provider - simply forward your booking confirmations to your unique byAir import address (found in Settings > Import & Sync).
We support imports from Flighty (.csv), App in the Air (.txt), and myFlightradar24 (.csv). For custom spreadsheets, contact support with your file and we'll try to help with a manual import.
If your PDF doesn't include the year in the date, our system assumes it's an upcoming flight. Solution: Either edit the PDF to include the year, or add the flight manually with the correct date.
Calendar sync imports flights from one year in the past up to 90 days in the future from when you enable it.
When importing from files (Flighty, myFlightradar24, etc.), we import exactly what's in the export file. If the source app didn't include certain data, we won't have it either. We're working on automatically enriching imported flights with data from our database.
Unfortunately, TripIt closed their API to third-party developers (see github.com/tripit/api/issues/288) and we've been trying to get access since 2024 with no success. However, you can still import your TripIt flights - check the "Import & Sync" section in the app for available options. For custom spreadsheets or CSV files, contact support with your file attached and we'll help you with a manual import.
Calendar sync imports all flight-like events from calendars synced to your device, including shared and work calendars. To avoid this, check which calendars are enabled on your device before syncing. You can manually delete any unwanted flights that were imported by swiping left on them in your flight list.
Statistics
Statistics for unique aircraft are calculated based on tail numbers (registration numbers), not just aircraft models. If you only entered the model (e.g., "Boeing 737") without the registration number (e.g., "N12345"), it won't count toward unique aircraft. Edit your manually-added flights to include tail numbers where known.
You cannot directly edit statistics, but they automatically update based on your completed flights. If you have manually-added flights, editing those flight details will update the corresponding statistics.
This is a mapping error that sometimes occurs during import, especially with older flights. Contact support with the flight number and the correct aircraft type, and we can correct the mapping for you.
Flights appear in your statistics once they receive a "Landed" status. As soon as a flight is marked as landed, its data (distance, duration, aircraft, etc.) will be reflected in your statistics.
Account & Settings
Tap on your profile icon, then tap on your avatar. You can sign in using Google, Apple, or email. Your flight data syncs across devices when you're signed in.
Go to your profile, tap on your avatar, and select "Delete account" from the menu.
Currently, Auto-scan Email only works with the email address linked to your byAir account. We're working on improvements to support additional email addresses.
Contact support to request an email address change for your account. We'll verify your identity and help you update it.
Platforms & Devices
byAir is available on iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android phones and tablets, Apple Watch, and Wear OS smartwatches. Your account syncs across all platforms.
Yes, with an active Pro subscription, push notifications are delivered to your Apple Watch.
Widget refresh rates are controlled by your device's operating system to save battery. The flight detail page in the app updates every 3 minutes, while widgets typically update every 5+ minutes. This is a system limitation, not something we control.
Yes! byAir supports Live Activities on iOS and Live Updates on Android, showing real-time flight status on your lock screen.
Simply add the flight to your list and notifications are enabled automatically. Pro users receive all notification types (delays, gate changes, boarding, etc.). You can customize which notifications you receive in Profile > Settings > Notifications.
Referral Program
Share your unique referral link with friends. When they purchase an annual or lifetime Pro subscription, you earn 1,000 byAir miles. Your friend gets 20% off their first year of Pro.
Go to Profile → "Invite a Friend" to access your unique referral link and code.
Yes! Both free and Pro users can invite friends and earn miles.
You earn 1,000 byAir miles for each friend who purchases an annual or lifetime Pro subscription.
Miles are credited to your account immediately after your friend's purchase is confirmed. You'll receive a push notification when this happens.
There's no limit to invitations. However, your maximum mile balance is capped at 50,000 miles.
You can redeem miles for Pro subscription time:
- 1,000 miles = 1 month of Pro
- 3,000 miles = 3 months of Pro
- 10,000 miles = 12 months of Pro
No, miles can only be redeemed when you don't have an active subscription. The time will be added once your current subscription expires, or you can wait until it ends to redeem.
No, your miles don't expire as long as your byAir account is active.
Your balance and complete transaction history are visible in Profile → "Invite a Friend."
You receive 20% off your first year of Pro subscription.
No, the 20% discount only applies to the annual Pro plan.
No, the referral discount replaces the free trial. You'll pay the discounted price upfront.
If you opened a referral link, the discount is applied automatically. You can also manually enter a referral code on the paywall by tapping "Apply Referral Code."
No, you can only use one referral code per account.
Referral codes are for new users only. If you already have an account, you won't be able to use someone else's referral code.
Miles are only awarded for annual or lifetime subscriptions. If your friend purchased a monthly plan, no miles are credited. Also, it may take a few minutes for the purchase to be verified.
Please contact our support team with your referral code and your friend's email. We'll investigate and credit miles manually if the referral is verified.
If a purchase is refunded or charged back, the associated miles are automatically removed from the referrer's balance.
Try copying your referral code instead and ask your friend to enter it manually on the paywall. If issues persist, contact support.
No. Our system detects self-referrals (same device, payment method, or account), and fraudulent referrals will be blocked without awarding miles.
No, miles can only be redeemed for byAir Pro subscription time.
Yes! Once your friend creates an account, they get their own referral link and can earn miles by inviting their friends.
About byAir
byAir is based in Barcelona, Spain, with team members also residing in Vietnam. We're a remote-first company built by a team of digital nomads who share a passion for travel and aviation.
byAir is built by a small but growing team of around 10 people. We're independent and self-funded, which means we answer only to our users - not investors or advertisers.
We're not actively hiring at the moment, but we're always interested in hearing from talented people who are passionate about travel and building great products. Feel free to reach out at connect@byairapp.com.
You can reach us through the in-app support feature (Profile > Help & Support) or by emailing connect@byairapp.com. We typically respond within 24 hours.
We love hearing from our users! Use the in-app feedback option or email us at connect@byairapp.com with your suggestions or bug reports. Many of our best features came from user feedback.