Travelocity is encouraging consumers to use Thanksgiving travel mobile applications to help with managing itineraries, flights and accommodations as part of its 2014 Thanksgiving Travel Survival Guide.

Travelocity claims that smartphones are a huge resource for travelers, from mobile apps? organizational functionalities to money-saving features. Guests can utilize mobile devices to plan ahead, keep updated on travel delays and cancellations or book last-minute hotel rooms.

?Apps like Travelocity?s help users access and manage bookings while on the go during this busy holiday season and are invaluable when the unexpected happens and travel plans need to be modified,? said Courtney Scott, senior travel editor and travel host at Travelocity, New York. ?Travel apps can give you a leg up to find a hotel or reschedule travel with the click of a few buttons if your flight is cancelled.?

Staying on top of news
Travelocity suggests that guests follow their airline carriers or transportation companies on Twitter to stay up-to-date with arrival and departure times. Airlines are becoming increasingly more responsible at providing real-time updates on travel situations via their social media platforms.

If a customer becomes aware of a delay, he or she should visit the carrier?s mobile or Web site to search for a voucher code or travel policy that allows for flight changing without penalties. If consumers are unable to change flights, they can turn to last-minute booking apps such as HotelTonight or the Travelocity app, which offers both hotel and flight-booking for on-the-go guests.

Travelocity also recommends TripCase, a free application that organizes itinerary details in one spot, and even sends mobile alerts concerning flight changes. Travelers can search for a plethora of apps to satisfy their needs, from apps dedicated to local traffic reports to others advising the best airport eateries.

The TripCase app provides organizational tools and notifications

?Your mobile phone is an essential resource while traveling, especially during the holidays when delays and winter weather are common,? Ms. Scott said. ?Be sure to keep your mobile devices charged up and make sure your itineraries, boarding passes, and important contact information are easily accessible.?

Holiday promotions
While the holiday season may be synonymous with expensive travel for some consumers, many sites and apps will be offering discounted, last-minute travel during flash sales.  

Travelocity is also gearing up for its Winter Sale for hotels this season. Interested customers can visit travelocity.com/wintersale to find savings of up to 40 percent on select hotels for stays between Dec. 1 and Feb. 15.

Travelocity encourages consumers to take well-earned time off and travel during the holiday season. It is promoting deals via the #goandsmelltheroses hashtag on Twitter and other social media platforms.

?The benefits of travel apps extend far beyond just booking Thanksgiving air and hotel travel,? Ms. Scott said. ?There is an app for nearly every aspect of travel, from real-time flight tracking, to finding cheap gas, to language translation and detailed road maps. 

?There?s even an app that explains which Thanksgiving fixings you can bring through TSA security!  In general, downloading the right apps can make you a more informed, better prepared traveler.?

Final Take
Alex Samuely is an editorial assistant on Mobile Marketer, New York