United Airlines has become the first airline to adopt Apple’s new boarding pass enhancements introduced with iOS 26. These updated passes integrate real-time flight tracking (Live Activities), airport maps, and luggage tracking features directly within Apple Wallet.
With the upgrade, users can enable a live flight tracker on their iPhone’s lock screen, which displays updated information like arrival times and gate changes. There’s also option to share this tracker with friends or family—though sensitive details like your seat and boarding group won’t be visible to them.
Additionally, the new boarding pass format allows you to tap into airport maps to navigate terminals and use the Find My network to monitor checked luggage equipped with AirTags. To activate the live tracking feature, users must manually enable it from within the Wallet app.
Apple first revealed these enhancements at WWDC 2025. United’s swift adoption sets a new standard in airline digital services. Other major carriers—including American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, and Lufthansa—have already committed to supporting the feature in the near future.
