British Airways updates app with seamless booking and travel features

British Airways is rolling out a redesigned mobile app as part of its wider £7 billion transformation programme, promising a faster, simpler and more intuitive digital experience for customers. The rollout is taking place gradually during the summer.

The updated app features a redesigned interface centred on booking, check-in, and day-of-travel management. It lays the groundwork for additional digital features to be introduced over the coming months. 

Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said the new app offers the travel features that customers value most. “The new platform provides a strong foundation, enabling us to introduce new functionality more quickly, shaped by customer feedback,” Lacy said.

“What’s exciting is that the initial phase of the rollout is just the beginning for us. From greater personalisation to expanded self-service and innovations, we will continue to evolve the app over the coming weeks and months to deliver a more seamless end-to-end and digital experience for our customers.”   

BA’s new app is a redesigned digital travel companion

The new British Airways app streamlines every stage of the passenger journey, from booking through arrival.

Among the new features are:

• Faster flight booking with a calendar fare view
• Apple Pay, saved card payments and part-payment using Avios
• Passport scanning during check-in
• Digital boarding passes that can be stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
• A personalised home screen providing quick access to upcoming trips
• Live notifications for gate changes and important travel updates
• Easier management of seats, baggage and bookings
• Secure login using Face ID or Face Unlock
• Executive Club account management, including Avios balances, vouchers and tier progress
• Self-service disruption management, allowing customers to rebook flights or request refunds directly within the app. 

The airline will introduce additional functionality—including reward flight bookings, expanded self-service options and real-time baggage tracking—in future updates. 

Heathrow lounge information and airport wayfinding

The update also adds airport-specific features designed to improve the airport experience before departure.

Passengers travelling through London Heathrow Terminal 5 can now see live lounge occupancy information to help choose a quieter lounge. The app also includes airport maps and wayfinding at Heathrow to help passengers navigate the terminal. 

Initially, live gate notifications and lock-screen “Live Activities” are being introduced for flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick before being expanded more widely. 

New app is part of of British Airways’ wider transformation

The mobile app forms a key part of British Airways’ ongoing investment in its customer experience and digital infrastructure.

The airline first unveiled plans for a new website and mobile application during its 2024 transformation programme, aimed at giving customers greater control over their journeys without needing to contact customer service. The broader programme includes investments in AI, automation and digital self-service. 

British Airways says the redesigned app follows three principles—“simple, smart, intuitive”—with faster performance and a cleaner interface intended to reduce the number of steps required to complete common travel tasks. 

Building on BA’s investment in digital innovation

The latest redesign represents the biggest overhaul of the British Airways app in years and continues the carrier’s investment in digital services.

British Airways was among the industry’s early adopters of mobile technology, launching one of the first airline iPhone apps in 2008, followed by mobile check-in and mobile boarding passes. The latest version modernises the platform while bringing together booking, loyalty, disruption management and airport information into a single application.