Become a savvy sightseer with AAA’s favorite travel apps
Become a savvy sightseer with AAA’s favorite travel apps
Smartphones have become necessary travel companions, handling everything from navigation to language translation to real‑time airport updates. As travel continues to evolve in 2026, the right apps can help you stay organized, avoid delays, and make the most of every moment on the road or in the air.
AAA has rounded up our favorite tools to help you with each step of your journey so you can travel with confidence.
What you'll discover in this guide:
- Smarter ways to plan and protect your trip
- Tools that simplify packing and luggage tracking
- Easier airport parking and faster customs processing
- Road trip essentials and real-time flight tracking
- A must-have translation tool for your next international trip
Discover these apps to make your next trip smoother, safer, and more enjoyable.
AAA Mobile App – Your All in One Travel Companion
The AAA Mobile app brings trusted AAA services right to your phone.
Features include:
- TripTik® Travel Planner
- AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels, restaurants, and attractions
- Hotel and rental car booking
- Gas price comparisons
- AAA Discounts & Rewards
- Roadside Assistance requests
- EV-friendly routing and charging station info
It's the perfect companion before, during, and after your trip.
Allyz – Travel Insurance & Assistance
AAA offers travel protection through Allianz Travel Insurance, and once you purchase a plan for your trip, the Allyz app becomes an invaluable travel companion.
Why it's important:
- Travel disruptions and cancellations remain common
- Medical emergencies abroad can be costly
- The app provides 24/7 assistance, claim filing, emergency contacts, and local hospital information
Having travel protection and the app that supports it gives you peace of mind wherever you go.
PackPoint – Smarter Packing Lists
Packing is often the first and most overwhelming step of any trip. PackPoint builds a customized packing list based on your destination, weather, trip length, and planned activities.
Why it's great in 2026: The app now offers improved weather-based suggestions and integrates with popular itinerary tools, so your packing list updates automatically.
Apple AirTags + Find My – Track Your Luggage
Lost and delayed luggage has become common in recent travel seasons, making tracking devices more important than ever. These small tags must be purchased.
For iPhone users: Apple AirTags
- Slip one into your suitcase and track it through Apple's Find My app.
- You'll know instantly if your bag made it onto your plane or if it didn't.
- It's especially helpful during tight connections or widespread cancellations.
For Android users: Tile
- Tile works seamlessly with Android devices.
- Track your luggage through the tile app.
- Get real-time updates and last-known location when your bag goes missing.
- It's especially helpful during tight connections or widespread cancellations.
Whether you use Apple or Android, adding a tracker to your luggage gives you clarity and control during one of the most unpredictable parts of travel.
The Parking Spot – Easy, Affordable Airport Parking for AAA Members
Airport parking doesn't have to be stressful or expensive. The Parking Spot app makes the entire process seamless from the moment you leave. AAA Members enjoy exclusive savings, including two free days of airport parking when joining The Parking Spot loyalty program and up to 20% off airport-parking at participating locations.
Why travelers love it:
- Simple entry and exit: Your reservation generates a QR code in the app that gets your through the gate instantly, even during early-morning departures or late-night arrivals.
- Reliable alternative to rideshares: Skip the uncertainty of finding an Uber at odd hours or paying premium airport rates.
- Friendly, helpful service: Staff pick you up right at your car, help with luggage, and even assist with unexpected issues like jump-starting a dead battery or brushing off snow in the winter.
- Peace of mind: Frequent shuttles and professional drivers make the experience smooth from start to finish.\
CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC) – Speed Through U.S. Customs
International travelers can save significant time at airports by using the Mobile Passpoty Control (MPC) app from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
How it helps:
- Submit your passport and customs declaration digitally
- Access dedicated MPC lanes at many major airports
- Often faster than traditional lines
It's free, secure, and a huge time-saver during peak travel seasons.
Waze
Road trips are fun, but you can’t always know what to expect on the road. That’s why we recommend the Waze app — this crowd-sourced navigation system makes it easier for you to circumvent literal and figurative bumps in the road. Even if you know the way, Waze tells you about traffic, construction, police, crashes, hazards, and more in real-time. If traffic is bad on your route, Waze will offer to change your route to save you time.
Glympse
Rather than using voice-to-text, making constant check-in calls, or tasking your passenger with updating your loved ones along your route, try the Glympse app. This is a fast, free, and simple way to share your real-time location using GPS tracking. Send a Glympse to let friends and family know that you are on your way, and they can keep track of where you are as you drive.
Airport-Specific Fight Tracking: FlightAware & Flightrader24
For travelers who want even more detail, these apps provide live aircraft tracking, delay forecasts, and airport-wide status boards.
FlightAware remains a reliable tool for monitoring flight status, gate change, and delays.
Flightrader24 shows live aircraft positions and provides detailed aircraft and route data.
Google Translate
Google Translate supports over 130 languages and offers text, voice, camera, and offline translations.
2026 improvements: Faster offline mode and smoother real-time conversation translation.
Travel Smarter in 2026
Today's travel landscape is fast-moving, with more flight changes, busier airports, and evolving road trip trends. The right apps help you stay informed, organized, and protected, so you can focus on enjoying the journey.