British Airways has launched a major update to its mobile app, with version 7.0.0 bringing faster performance, improved check-in and real-time flight day notifications. The update is available now on iOS and is part of the airline's wider push to overhaul its digital experience - though BA has confirmed more features are still on the way.
What's New in the Update
The headline changes in version 7.0.0 are fairly broad. Here how's the app new looks - which is a massive improvement.
According to the App Store listing, the new version focuses on four main areas:
Speed and reliability - the app has been rebuilt to be faster and more stable, which will come as welcome news to anyone who's found themselves standing at a departure gate waiting for a boarding pass to load.
Improved booking - you can now compare prices using a calendar view, choose your fare and pay with saved cards or part-pay using Avios. Not groundbreaking, but useful if you're trying to find the cheapest dates to fly.
Smoother check-in - passport scanning has been added, and you can save your boarding pass directly to Apple Wallet, which is the sort of thing that should have existed years ago.
Real-time flight day notifications - gate changes and key flight information are now pushed to your phone within 24 hours of departure. Worth adding that this feature is initially rolling out from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, so if you're flying from Manchester, Edinburgh or another UK airport, you may need to wait a little longer for full functionality.
BA has also confirmed that more features are coming, without specifying what those might be. Given the airline is midway through a significant transformation programme, it's reasonable to expect further updates over the coming months rather than this being the finished product.
How It Fits into BA's Bigger Plans
This app update didn't arrive in isolation. British Airways confirmed plans to overhaul its digital user experience with a new website and mobile app offering deeper personalisation as part of a £7bn transformation plan, which the airline announced at its 'In the Skies' event in London. The new app is one piece of that broader push, alongside improvements to ba.com and a wider focus on self-service - the idea being that passengers should be able to manage more of their journey without needing to pick up the phone.
What UK Travellers Should Know
If you're flying with British Airways this summer - whether that's to Florida, the Caribbean or anywhere else - the app is must-have. Mobile boarding passes mean one less thing to print, the Avios balance tracking is useful if you're building up points, and the new real-time gate notifications could save you from that particular airport experience of staring at a departures board for 45 minutes.
The update requires iOS 16.6 or later, so if you're on an older iPhone and haven't updated your operating system in a while, it's worth checking that first before the app auto-updates and leaves you scrambling at check-in.
For those flying from London Heathrow or Gatwick specifically, the live gate change notifications are worth enabling from the outset - particularly useful for anyone who likes to cut it a bit fine getting to the gate after a long lunch in the terminal.
If you're planning a Walt Disney World trip via British Airways, it's also worth checking out our Walt Disney World deals guide for UK guests - BA often features in package deals worth considering, and getting your flights sorted early usually means a better seat selection too.
Android Users: A Note
It's worth noting that the version numbering appears to be different on Android. While iOS is now on version 7.0.0, the Google Play version appears to be using a different versioning system entirely - currently sitting around version 5.03. That doesn't necessarily mean Android users are getting fewer features, but the rollout and timing may differ. Android 14 or higher is required for the current version, so older Android devices may find themselves left behind - something that's already causing frustration for some users on older handsets.
British Airways App: Your Questions Answered
Is the new British Airways app free to download?
Yes. The British Airways app is free to download on both iOS and Android. You'll need a BA account to access booking and check-in features, but creating one is also free.
Can I use the British Airways app to check in and get a boarding pass?
Yes. Check-in is available through the app and you can save your boarding pass to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The update has improved the check-in process and added passport scanning to speed things up.
Does the new BA app work on older iPhones?
The current version requires iOS 16.6 or later. If your iPhone supports iOS 16, you should be fine. Older devices that can't run iOS 16 may not be compatible with version 7.0.0.
What are the real-time notifications in the new British Airways app?
The app now sends gate change alerts and key flight information within 24 hours of departure. This feature is initially available for flights from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, with other airports expected to follow.
Can I pay with Avios through the British Airways app?
Yes. The new booking flow allows you to part-pay with Avios alongside a card payment, and Avios and tier point balances are visible in the app for Executive Club members.
