Know the Moment Your Mom's Flight Lands
SkyText sends you a text the second her plane touches down — before she's even turned her phone back on.
By Tom Walsh
Track a FlightMy mom is 68 and she flies about four times a year. Sometimes she's coming out to see us in Portland, sometimes she's heading back to Florida after a visit. She does fine with flying — she's been doing it her whole life — but she's also the kind of person who turns her phone off during the flight and then leaves it in her purse for another twenty minutes after landing because she's "not in a rush." Which I love about her, honestly. I just don't love not knowing if her flight got in.
I started checking the airline website every time she flew. I'd look up her flight number, watch the little plane icon crawl across the map, and then realize I had no idea what "arrived" actually meant in terms of her phone turning back on. The website wasn't helpful on timing. It couldn't tell me she was safe, it could only tell me her flight was listed as "arrived," and somehow that still didn't feel like enough.
SkyText fixed that pretty directly. I pay the fee, put in her flight info, add my number and my brother's — he worries too, he just won't admit it — and we both get a text the second she lands. I don't have to look anything up. I don't have to wait for her to call. I just know.
The part I didn't expect was how much my dad appreciates it. He doesn't fly much anymore, so when my mom travels he's the one at home waiting. I added his number too, so now all three of us get the alert. He texts me "got it" every single time, like he's confirming receipt of an invoice, and it makes me laugh every time.
My mom has no idea we do this. She'd probably find it sweet. Or she'd tell us all to relax. Probably both.
The challenge
What makes this difficult.
- She turns her phone off during the flight and doesn't always call right away
- Airline websites show 'arrived' but you still have to wait to hear from her
- Your dad or siblings are also waiting and someone has to be the one to get news first
- You don't want to call her before she's had a chance to get off the plane
The solution
How SkyText helps.
- You get a text the second her flight lands — before she's even turned her phone back on
- Add your number, your siblings', and your dad's — everyone hears at the same time
- No app needed on her end, no change to how she travels
- Works whether she's flying into your city or heading back home
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.
My mom doesn't know I set this up. Is that a problem?
Not at all. SkyText tracks publicly available flight arrival data — nothing private, nothing on her phone, no access to her location. She doesn't receive any notification. Only the numbers you add to the alert will get the text.
She's flying home after visiting me. Can I still use it?
Yes. SkyText works for any flight, in either direction. Set up an alert for her return flight and you'll get a text when she lands back home.
What if her flight lands early or late?
SkyText sends the alert based on actual landing time, not scheduled time. If she lands early, you'll get the text early. If she's delayed, the text comes when the flight actually lands.
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.