Flight Tracking in Messages (and Anywhere Data Detectors Work)

The article discusses a hidden flight tracking feature within iMessage that can be activated by including specific details in a message, such as airline names and flight numbers. Various texting options are provided to access the flight tracker, although the functionality can be inconsistent across different airlines and formats. The feature is attributed to iMessage but actually stems from Apple's DataDetection framework, enabling it to work not only in Messages but also in other Apple applications like Apple Mail and Notes. The system recognizes flight codes from airlines with IATA abbreviations consisting of two alphabetic letters, requiring additional context for codes with numbers or single-letter abbreviations. Despite claims that the feature is exclusive to iMessage, it functions equally well with SMS messages. This flight tracking capability is part of a broader system that identifies various types of data, including calendar events, addresses, URLs, and shipment tracking numbers.