Articolo molto interessante che riporta quanto detto recentemente dal CEO di United riguardo una potenziale acquisizione della famosa app Flighty.
Altrettanto interessanti i commenti di diversi utilizzatori della app che su Reddit esprimono preoccupazione per il potenziale uso dei dati raccolti in anni di funzionamento e migliaia di profili utente della app.
Comunque quando dice “I shouldn’t say this in public” mi trova d’accordo, anzi mi chiedo come gli sia venuto in mente di dirlo se l’acquisizione non è già stata perfezionata.
Magari lo è, chissà.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is renowned for his witty remarks and strong opinions on the aviation industry. In November 2025, during an episode of the Airlines Confidential Podcast, he said there are only two premium airlines in the U.S. aviation sector, implicitly excluding American Airlines. Now, Kirby's remarks have caused another stir.
He's expressed a desire for United Airlines to buy Flighty, a popular flight-tracking app used by millions of travelers. However, his words are sparking backlash from flyers, who fear that United's potential purchase of the app could impact their privacy, which the airline might then profit from. Here's a closer look at what Scott Kirby said, and why passengers are concerned.
During the interview, Mr. Kirby said he hopes to improve the United Airlines app by adding features such as weather forecasts and real-time notifications that inform travelers about potential flight updates, such as delays.
To this, interviewer Ben Thompson replied that he had spoken with Flighty founder Ryan Jones, who said that United Airlines’ app remains the best among all U.S. carriers. This is when Scott Kirby decided to reveal a unique scoop.
Flighty is a popular app used by millions of flyers. It tracks inbound aircraft 25 hours before flights and predicts delays up to six hours before the affected airline publicly announces them. The app also provides helpful notifications about airport conditions, gate changes, and other essential information for travelers.
Flighty was launched in 2019 after former Apple employee Ryan Jones experienced a long flight delay and became frustrated with the lack of clear communication.
Following Scott Kirby’s remarks about a possible Flighty acquisition, several passengers shared their frustration and fears online.
Following Scott Kirby’s remarks, several passengers shared their concerns online, especially regarding their privacy and how United could profit from it. Why? Because Flighty users' accounts contain data on passengers' flight history, including their chosen airlines and destinations.
If United Airlines were to acquire the app, it would likely be able to access all this passenger and travel data. Theoretically, the airline could then use it to adjust its business strategy by changing prices or deciding which other airlines to partner with.
In this regard, a Reddit user commented on a post in the popular r/unitedairlines subreddit, claiming this would be a "smart business move by UA."
Still, even in the event of an acquisition, it's unclear whether United Airlines would be able to access this passenger information. The possibility of the airline obtaining this data would depend on Flighty's internal privacy policies and users' consent.
Furthermore, in addition to passengers' apprehension over privacy, there are other questions surrounding what would change for both United Airlines customers and Flighty users if the sale goes ahead.
Altrettanto interessanti i commenti di diversi utilizzatori della app che su Reddit esprimono preoccupazione per il potenziale uso dei dati raccolti in anni di funzionamento e migliaia di profili utente della app.
Comunque quando dice “I shouldn’t say this in public” mi trova d’accordo, anzi mi chiedo come gli sia venuto in mente di dirlo se l’acquisizione non è già stata perfezionata.
Magari lo è, chissà.
I Shouldn't Say This In Public": United Airlines CEO's Controversial App Idea Sparks Passenger Privacy Concerns
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is renowned for his witty remarks and strong opinions on the aviation industry. In November 2025, during an episode of the Airlines Confidential Podcast, he said there are only two premium airlines in the U.S. aviation sector, implicitly excluding American Airlines. Now, Kirby's remarks have caused another stir.
He's expressed a desire for United Airlines to buy Flighty, a popular flight-tracking app used by millions of travelers. However, his words are sparking backlash from flyers, who fear that United's potential purchase of the app could impact their privacy, which the airline might then profit from. Here's a closer look at what Scott Kirby said, and why passengers are concerned.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Mentions Possible Flighty Acquisition
On Thursday, January 15, United Airlines CEO Scott Kriby revealed in an interview with Stratechery that he'd like to acquire popular flight-tracking app Flighty.During the interview, Mr. Kirby said he hopes to improve the United Airlines app by adding features such as weather forecasts and real-time notifications that inform travelers about potential flight updates, such as delays.
To this, interviewer Ben Thompson replied that he had spoken with Flighty founder Ryan Jones, who said that United Airlines’ app remains the best among all U.S. carriers. This is when Scott Kirby decided to reveal a unique scoop.
Flighty is a popular app used by millions of flyers. It tracks inbound aircraft 25 hours before flights and predicts delays up to six hours before the affected airline publicly announces them. The app also provides helpful notifications about airport conditions, gate changes, and other essential information for travelers.
Flighty was launched in 2019 after former Apple employee Ryan Jones experienced a long flight delay and became frustrated with the lack of clear communication.
Following Scott Kirby’s remarks about a possible Flighty acquisition, several passengers shared their frustration and fears online.
Some Travelers Are Concerned About Their Privacy If United Airlines Buys Flighty
Following Scott Kirby’s remarks, several passengers shared their concerns online, especially regarding their privacy and how United could profit from it. Why? Because Flighty users' accounts contain data on passengers' flight history, including their chosen airlines and destinations.
If United Airlines were to acquire the app, it would likely be able to access all this passenger and travel data. Theoretically, the airline could then use it to adjust its business strategy by changing prices or deciding which other airlines to partner with.
In this regard, a Reddit user commented on a post in the popular r/unitedairlines subreddit, claiming this would be a "smart business move by UA."
Still, even in the event of an acquisition, it's unclear whether United Airlines would be able to access this passenger information. The possibility of the airline obtaining this data would depend on Flighty's internal privacy policies and users' consent.
Furthermore, in addition to passengers' apprehension over privacy, there are other questions surrounding what would change for both United Airlines customers and Flighty users if the sale goes ahead.
An Acquisition Could Improve The United Airlines App And Decrease Flighty Pro Prices, But Some Users Remain Skeptical
United CEO Scott Kirby has made it clear he wants to keep Flighty as its own separate app rather than integrate it with the United Airlines app. So, what would change for United Airlines customers?
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