Google Wallet now stores airline boarding passes on your wrist

As reported 9to5Google, your Wear OS 3+ device will now show a new notification from the Google Wallet app on your smartwatch. This notification will inform you of your boarding pass for the flight to any airport with the option to tap on it to “Show Card” and thus access the QR code for easy gate scanning.

Image credit: 9to5Google

This much-needed addition significantly improves the functionality of Google Wallet for Wear OS, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with a wider range of phone features. When Google introduced support for loyalty cards in December, it was initially limited to basic membership programs and other pass types. Unfortunately, COVID cards, health insurance cards and private passes are excluded from the list. Some users reported see this feature already available on the Pixel Watch 2, even though it is original Pixel Watch users (like me) are still waiting for the update, which seems to be server side. However, as this was not a feature advertised as Pixel Watch 2 exclusive, there should be no reason why the original Google Pixel Watch wouldn't get it.

THE support documentation for Google Wallet also includes information on how to find your passes on your smartwatch's Wallet app, and even includes troubleshooting information if you're having trouble finding the option to add your boarding pass to your watch. The documentation states that passes are automatically added on all your synced devices, but your watch must be running Wear OS 3.5 or later and the Google Wallet app on the watch must be version 23.46.x or higher. Additionally, it says that Fitbit devices are not supported.