App of the week: TripIt

Welcome back to our weekly spotlight on helpful apps. We focus on a variety of products that are useful for work, personal use, or both, providing our own thoughts on the apps and what you can do with them. This week we organise travel with TripIt.

An intro to TripIt
This handy app from the travel and expense experts at Concur takes business travel organisation to a new level. It’s available on iPhone, Android and there’s a web version, so you can access your travel plans anywhere, even offline.

When you receive a confirmation email for a flight, rail, hotel, or car rental booking, simply forward it to plans@tripit.com and the app will automatically transform the emails into a mast itinerary – that means all your plans are in one place and you don’t have to carry around several pieces of paper or search for multiple emails on your phone. Because it’s available online, you can check your itinerary at any point, even if you’re in the air or under ground.

There’s a free version that allows you to keep basic itineraries and share your plans with others. The Pro version is ideal for business users at US$49 (around £37) a year. It offers real-time flight alerts, fare refund notifications and the ability to track reward points, plus a whole bundle of extra features.

Our review
I have to admit I haven’t used TripIt much, but what I have seen is brilliant. You can enter your trips manually, but simply forwarding your confirmation emails to the company is so much easier and saves time. In addition to transport and hotel bookings, you can add events to the itinerary so you can keep track of everything in one place.

In essence, I think TripIt takes the best parts of iOS’s Wallet app and adds a wealth of benefits on top – especially the Pro version.

The verdict
I highly recommend getting the 30-day free trial of the Pro version if you or your boss travels a lot for business. The free basic version is great for simple trips, but when you’ve got multiple flights in one journey, or even a flight followed by a train journey, the automatic alerts offered in the Pro version are invaluable. If you’re already on your way to the airport and your flight is delayed or the gate changes, you’ll be notified straight away. Plus, if the fare changes and you’re eligible for a refund, the app will let you know so you can claim your money back.

And if you work on a large team where multiple people need access to travel itineraries, Concur offers TripIt for teams. It really is a no-brainer.

Do you have a favourite new app you’d like to review for us? Send it to Deputy Editor Molly Dyson at molly.dyson@palife.co.uk.