TripIt's new Go Now feature shows a countdown clock with the remaining time before you need to leave for the airport, based on current traffic and other data. It's a welcome addition to an essential app for business travelers. Credit: Thinkstock With its latest update, TripIt — the freemium trip organizing app — now tells you when to leave for the airport for your upcoming flight. It’s a welcome new addition to an essential app for business travelers. The new feature, Go Now, provides a countdown clock that displays how long you have until it’s time to head to the airport. After upgrading the app to the latest version, tap on the trip in your list of upcoming trips. Tap on the pending flight in that trip’s itinerary. Then, if you’re a TripIt Pro subscriber (and I recommend becoming one if you aren’t), tap ‘Go Now.’ In this screen, you can ask TripIt to always alert you when to go. TripIt suggests how much time you should allot for getting to the airport (usually it’s 90 minutes before departure). Concur Technologies, Inc. The countdown begins Go Now also suggests what time you should leave for the airport, based on your current location, flight status, and local traffic conditions. For example, in a test I performed with a fake itinerary, TripIt recommended I leave my home in San Francisco for the city’s airport by 1:58 p.m. for a 3:50 p.m. flight to Los Angeles. A few hours before 1:58, the countdown clock started ticking off the remaining hours, minutes, and seconds before I needed to split for SFO. Pick how you’ll get to the airport TripIt Navigator, another recently added feature, provides an at-a-glance review of your transportation options for getting to the airport. You’ll see how much time and money it should take via public transportation, taxi, shuttle, driving or Uber to go from your current location to the airport. A quick glance at Navigator for my upcoming fake trip to LA showed that a taxi would cost $40 to $55, vs. an Uber, $22 to $30, which looks accurate to me, though both would take about the same time. Concur Technologies, Inc. TripIt Pro is $49/year and well worth it. You get text message updates on flight delays, cancellations, gate changes, and baggage claim information; quick access to alternate flights for rebooking; and refund tracker, which automatically tells you if your flight’s fare has dropped and you’re eligible for a refund. Nearly two years ago, the refund tracker saved me $81. You can get some of TripIt Pro’s benefits, such as messaging alerts, from your airline. And TripIt is not your only trip organizing option; others include TripCaseand Google Trips. Still, TripIt’s Pro plan is reasonably priced and super helpful for frequent travelers, especially with the new Go Now feature. And the app/service could become even more compelling in the future. Current TSA line wait times is another data point TripIt’s developer is considering adding, among other features, says Jen Moyse, director of product for TripIt at Concur Technologies. Related content BrandPost The Era of Multi-Cloud Services Has Arrived How to unlock the benefits of multi-cloud environments By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 4 mins VMware BrandPost Why CISOs Are Looking to Lateral Security to Mitigate Ransomware How to fight ransomeware attacks with lateral security By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 4 mins VMware BrandPost 4 Factors That Influence Modern App Success in a Multi-Cloud Environment Enable your developers to do what they do best: code By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 5 mins VMware Feature 10 cloud mistakes that can sink your business Just a single mistake can send your cloud strategy plummeting to earth. Here’s a rundown of how not to approach the cloud. By John Edwards Mar 21, 2023 8 mins IT Strategy Cloud Computing Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe