Airport's app takes trouble out of travel

TripIt was launched about six years ago and it helps users keep track of flights, accommodation and rental car bookings on their smartphone or tablet. Photo / Thinkstock

Auckland Airport has teamed up with TripIt to introduce an app that will help visitors move through the airport.

TripIt is a cloud-based travel organising tool with about 11 million users worldwide and in association with the airport's remodelled app it will provide users with a range of new features to ensure their journey to and from the airport, and while travelling, is as seamless as possible.

TripIt was launched about six years ago and it helps users keep track of flights, accommodation and rental car bookings on their smartphone or tablet. Users email their booking information to TripIt, which interprets data from more than 3000 different reservation or booking number systems or codes to compile a detailed itinerary on the traveller's device.

The collaboration is the first between the San Francisco company and an airport.

Auckland Airport's general manager of marketing and communications, Jason Delamore, said the new Auckland app would have a number of additions that gave travellers a one-stop planning tool to make their airport and travel experience better. The basic app gave passengers information regardless of airline or class of travel, he said.

"The app includes features such as live notifications of when to leave home to catch a flight, taking into account real-time flight information and traffic congestion.

"It also provides an easy way to make parking and lounge reservations and duty-free purchases online. Travellers can also access the latest information on the exchange rate, weather and local time at their destination."

The new Auckland Airport app - out soon - also includes information on food and beverage offerings at the airport and the ability to book transport to and from the airport.

Tripit has, since 2011, been owned by Concur, whose senior director of business development, Jugdeep Bal, said the deal with Auckland Airport would help it establish more of a presence in the New Zealand market.

There is a basic version of the app which is free but the US$49 TripIt Pro version offers more features including alerting users to delays and help to manage airpoints.