Track Your Elderly Parent's Flight
They're flying alone. Get a text when they land safely.
By Tom Walsh
Track a FlightYour mum is 78 and flying to visit your sister. She'll forget to text when she lands. She might not know how to find wifi. You'll be checking flight trackers for hours.
This is a common situation. Adult children tracking elderly parents who still travel but aren't comfortable with smartphones.
Why SMS alerts work for this: - You get the text, not them - No smartphone required on their end - Works even if they forget to call - Confirms landing before you start worrying
The other challenge: they might not remember the flight number. Get it from their booking confirmation or the person who booked the ticket.
For parents who travel regularly (snowbirds, visiting grandchildren), the subscription option means you can track every flight without thinking about it.
Landing at the destination is confirmation they've arrived. You can then call the person meeting them to confirm the handoff.
Ready to set it up?
Enter the flight number. Get a text when they land. $1.99.
The challenge
What makes this difficult.
- They forget to text when they land
- Smartphone use is limited or confusing
- You can't sleep until you know they've arrived
- They might not remember their flight number
The solution
How SkyText helps.
- Text sent to you, not them
- No app or smartphone needed on their end
- Confirms landing even if they forget to call
- Works on any flight, any airline
Subscription option
For parents who travel regularly (visiting family, snowbirds), the monthly subscription covers all flights.
How it works
Three steps to peace of mind.
Enter the flight number
Type the flight number. We verify it against live data.
Add your phone number
Enter the mobile number where you want to receive updates.
Get a text when they land
We track the flight and send you an SMS when it touches down.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Do they need a smartphone?
No. The alert comes to your phone. They don't need to do anything.
What if I don't have their flight number?
Check their booking confirmation or ask whoever booked the ticket.
Can I track multiple family members?
Yes. Add up to 5 phone numbers to receive alerts for the same flight.
Track arrivals at top US airports
From the SkyText blog
What Actually Happens Between Landing and Getting Off the Plane?
Your flight tracker says 'landed.' But the person you're picking up won't walk out of the airport for another 20-40 minutes. Here's where all that time goes.
The Airport Pickup Formula: Exactly When to Leave Home
There's a formula for nailing the airport pickup every time. It's simple math, and it works. Here's how to calculate exactly when to leave home.
How to Track Any Flight in Real Time (2026)
A no-nonsense breakdown of every way to track a flight in 2026, from free websites to ADS-B receivers to plain old text alerts.
Founder, SkyText
Aviation lover who built SkyText because families deserve to know when someone lands safely. Has tracked more flights than he'd like to admit.