PrayAir uses flight tracking data from aviation networks to determine the expected path of your flight. When you search for a flight, the app retrieves the route, altitude, and timing information. You do not need to share your location or have GPS enabled — all calculations are based on the flight plan and tracking data.

Prayer times are computed using established astronomical algorithms used by Islamic authorities worldwide. The times are based on the predicted flight path, so they are most accurate when the aircraft follows its expected route.

If the flight is significantly delayed or diverted, the actual prayer times may differ slightly. For live flights, PrayAir refreshes the data automatically to keep the times as accurate as possible.

PrayAir does not use live GPS from your phone or real-time tracking on most flights. Instead, it follows the flight path and the estimated position of the aircraft at the time of each prayer.

For each prayer, PrayAir looks at where the aircraft is expected to be when that prayer starts, then finds the shortest route over the earth from that point to the Kaaba. The “Qibla From Your Seat” direction then tells you how to face relative to the nose of the aircraft — for example, “ahead to your right” or “directly to your left.”

“Qibla From Your Seat” tells you which way to face for prayer relative to the nose of the aircraft. For example, “ahead to your right” means the Qibla is forward and to the right from your seated position.

This direction is computed from the aircraft’s heading and position at the time of each prayer, so it may differ between prayers as the aircraft changes course.

The two Asr times reflect different schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

Asr (Standard) follows the Shafi‘i, Maliki, and Hanbali opinion, where Asr begins when the shadow of an object equals its height plus the shadow at noon.

Asr (Hanafi) follows the Hanafi opinion, where Asr begins when the shadow equals twice the object’s height plus the shadow at noon. This makes the Hanafi Asr time slightly later.

Follow whichever method is customary for your school of thought.

When you select “Local Time Along Route” in the timezone picker, each prayer time is shown in the local timezone of the aircraft’s geographic position at that moment.

Because the aircraft crosses timezone boundaries during the flight, different prayers may appear in different timezones. This is useful if you want to know what the “local” time would be on the ground directly below.

No. PrayAir only needs an internet connection when you first search for your flight. Once the prayer times are computed, they are saved on your device and available offline for the duration of the flight.

You can look up your flight before boarding while you still have a connection, and the results will be ready when you need them in the air.

When you tap the bell icon on the results screen, PrayAir schedules a notification for each prayer, set to arrive 2 minutes before the prayer begins. These reminders work even when your phone is locked or the app is closed.

Reminders are scheduled at absolute times, so they remain accurate regardless of timezone changes during the flight.

For flights arriving at Jeddah, PrayAir detects when your aircraft passes near a mīqāt — one of the designated boundary points where pilgrims intending Hajj or Umrah should enter the state of Iḥrām.

If your flight passes close to a mīqāt, a special entry will appear in your prayer times list showing the estimated time and your distance from the mīqāt point. This serves as a reminder to make your intention for Iḥrām at the appropriate time.