Essential Business Travel Apps

The big story in travel these days seems to be the weather. Severe storms are impacting flights across the U.S., and the eruption of the volcano in Iceland is a painful reminder of last year's travel woes as millions were stranded for days when flights were cancelled due to the volcanic ash. As of last Thursday, Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, said a total of 900 flights had been cancelled between the 23rd and 25th. While an extreme case, this does bring the need for proper planning front and center. So, what to do when your flight is delayed or cancelled?

The first order of business, of course, is to contact your airline to see what they are doing to handle your travel. If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than six hours, the airline should re-book you on an alternative flight (either on the original carrier or another airline) or provide a full refund. If you have opted for trip insurance, you will likely be reimbursed for non-refundable payments on hotels, airline tickets, and other pre-paid expenses. Check your insurance policy: After last April's volcanic disruption, many insurance companies added the option to purchase coverage that specifically covers cancellation, delay, and curtailment due to ash cloud disruption. (On a personal note, the more I travel, the more I see the value in travel insurance.)

European Union regulations state that when a flight is cancelled with an EU airline or from an EU airport, the airline is obligated to pay for hotel and travel expenses for stranded travelers until a replacement flight is booked. If you are traveling from overseas on a U.S. carrier, however, your options may be limited. There will be some persuasion needed to get the airline to help without charging you a fee or full fare, as volcanic ash falls under "extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken."

In the case of bad weather in the U.S., many airports are preemptively cancelling flights and offering alternatives after the massive delays grounded so many flights this winter. Subscribe for airport alerts and stay ahead by checking with your airline before you head to the airport.

Short of having a personal travel agent on call, your smartphone may be your best friend in all cases. Here are eight of the best tools to help you stay on top of things good and bad, like flight status, airport information, last minute accommodations, and personal needs.

1. FlightTrack Pro

Mobiate, http://www.mobiata.com/
A live international flight status tracker, this is an essential app even if bad weather isn't threatening your trip. Enter your confirmation number and data is pulled in real-time. Track the status of your flight, from departure and arrival updates to gate changes. If there are changes to your flight, you can search for alternative flights or connections while on the ground, and you can access route-maps offline when you're in the air at 33,000 feet. FlightTrack covers more than 5,000 flights and 1,400 airports worldwide.
Compatible with iPhone, iPad (FlightTrack Live, $4.99, FlightTrack Pro, $9.99) Android, Blackberry, Palm (FlightTrack $4.99).

2. FlightBoard

Mobiate, http://www.mobiata.com/
This app from Mobiata turns your phone or tablet into an arrivals and departures board. The design was based on the flight board at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, and provides real-time information for 4,00 airports and 1,400 airlines around the world. FlightBoard's information is updated every 5 minutes.
Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Android ($3.99).

3. GateGuru

Mobility Apps, http://gateguruapp.com/
GateGuru endeavors to arm travelers with a "great in-airport experience" by providing comprehensive information on airport amenities. The app was started by a former venture capitalist who, like the rest of us, spent much of his time in airports and was frustrated by the lack of information. GateGuru helps travelers locate the best food, shopping, and service options by airport terminal in more than 150 airports, as well as user reviews and insider tips.
Compatible with iPhone & iPad (Free).

4. Wi-Fi Finder

JiWire, http://www.jiwire.com/iphone
Perhaps the most important tool you can have when stranded in the airport is Wi-Fi access. Free Wi-Fi Finder, developed by JiWire, offers over 145,000 free public Wi-Fi locations worldwide, "near me" search, and the ability to filter results by location (café, hotel, etc.). You can also opt to install a database of free and paid Wi-Fi locations, in case you can't get a cellular connection.
Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Android (Free).

5. Kayak

Kayak, http://www.kayak.com/
The co-founders of Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity started Kayak in 2004, which is why this is consistently one of the best travel tools around. You can search for flights, car rentals, and hotels by destination, compare your options, and choose where you want to book. Kayak has access to 100,00 hotels worldwide and local Kayak sites in 14 countries.
Compatible with iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, and Nokia (Free).

Read PCMag's Kayak review.

6. Hotel Tonight

Hotel Tonight Inc., http://www.hoteltonight.com/
The idea behind this app is a bit of a dream-an easy way to book a last-minute hotel room at bargain rates (up to 70 percent off). It's a handy app for last-minute changes or stranded travelers, providing three hotel booking options in the location of choice. Hotel Tonight is only in 13 major U.S. cities at present, but we hope that this expands globally very soon.
Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad (Free).

7. GroundLink

GroundLink, http://www.groundlink.com/
Need to get out of the airport? GroundLink is a worldwide car service company that enables you to book a car directly from the app, providing detailed pricing, including rate, gratuity, and tolls, plus route details before you confirm. The app displays a real-time ETA for the driver once the car is booked.
Compatible with iPhone & iPad (Free).

Read more about GroundLink.

8. SitOrSquat

SitOrSquat, http://www.sitorsquat.com
Travel isn't always glamorous, especially when you're delayed in a far-flung airport. As such, there is an unglamorous albeit important app to handle the dilemma of finding a public restroom. SitOrSquat is an app that works with Google Maps and functions worldwide to help you find a place to, um, go. The app offers reviews and personalization options (yes, personalization.), plus SMS/Texting capability. Just send the message "sitorsquat" to DOTCOM (368266) and follow the instructions.
Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry (Free).

Read more about SitOrSquat.