YOUR AIRPORT gate suddenly changes. Your flight gets delayed. A lot can happen to cause travel hassles in a crowded airport. Former airline employee Darby Maloney got some attention recently for posting a now-viral TikTok video with a simple way to access up-to-the-minute info: Text your flight number to yourself.

The flight number includes a two-character airline code (such as UA for United Airlines) and a number with one to four digits. You can find it on your itinerary or boarding pass.

Your phone will identify that as a flight number and generate a link you can tap on to display the flight status, the departure and arrival gates, the baggage claim number and even a GPS map showing the plane’s current location. The best part: The information will automatically update. —Julie Goldenberg