Air travel comes with plenty of guesswork, especially before you even reach the gate. Starting Wednesday, United Airlines is rolling out several new features in its mobile app that could help. 

The new additions are designed to help travelers gain insights into flight details, notably how long security check-ins are taking at their departure airport. That’s a particularly important addition amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, which left TSA employees unpaid and prompted some agents to quit. Some agents have begun to receive back pay.

But security check-in predictions are only the start of the changes coming to United’s app. One change addresses another frequent headache for flyers — lost luggage. United’s new platform now supports Apple’s AirTag tracker so that flyers can share item locations directly with United customer service staff.

CNET has been recommending using AirTags in checked luggage for years, so if you’re already placing AirTags in your baggage, this is a useful feature for you. It may also be showing up at other airlines. Just don’t try the same trick with your pets. 

A United representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

«We appreciate the work and professionalism of our TSA agents, and while most began receiving back pay earlier this week, the US Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues, and people want to stay informed about expected security wait times at our airports,» Jason Birnbaum, United’s chief information officer, said in a statement.

How far is my gate?

The app also adds turn-by-turn directions to your gate, including estimated walking times and automatic in-app flight status updates. 

Travelers will also have access to more self-service tools, including the option to rebook directly in the app and to receive digital vouchers received when a flight is delayed. 

You’ll also find an option to receive radar-map text to see how the weather will impact your layover or destination.

Right now, you can get the amazing Razer Kishi Ultra mobile gaming controller for just $110, which is a $40 discount. This controller turns your mobile device into a handheld console, and though this isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen on this product, it’s still excellent value for your money. If you’re somebody who does a lot of gaming on the go (or wants to), this is a deal well-worth considering.

The Razer Kishi Ultra is a powerhouse gaming controller, and it works with most Android phones and iPhones as well, making it a great buy for just about anybody. It holds your phone in place between the two sections of the controller, allowing for a much more comfortable experience when gaming and a higher-precision one as well.

It’s especially good when paired with Cloud Gaming apps like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now, but it’s going to do a lot of good work even if all you’re doing is chasing a new high score on your favorite mobile games as well. The haptics help keep you more immersed, and you can remap the buttons as you need.

Why this deal matters

You are saving $40 on this fantastic mobile gaming controller, and it’s a rare chance to get a massive boost to your gaming no matter where you’re, but for a lot less than usual.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

You’ll spot some food items in today’s Connections: Sports Edition, which might give you a good start on the puzzle. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does show up in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: The Big Apple.

Green group hint: Time to work out.

Blue group hint: NBA player.

Purple group hint: Pass the orange juice.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: New York teams.

Green group: Training equipment.

Blue group: Associated with Jayson Tatum.

Purple group: Sports for breakfast.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is New York teams. The four answers are Knicks, Liberty, Nets and Rangers.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is training equipment. The four answers are foam roller, jump rope, medicine ball and resistance band.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with Jayson Tatum. The four answers are 0, Celtics, Duke and The Jays.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is sports for breakfast. The four answers are cup of coffee, goose egg, hashmark and pancake block.