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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google Wallet has two new features to give you important updates.
- You’ll soon get check-in alerts for upcoming flights.
- “Nearby passes” shows relevant passes in certain locations.
Just in time for holiday travel, a pair of new Google Wallet features could help make your next trip a lot easier. Google announced both of these features earlier in the year, but they’re just now showing up for users.
The first feature is a simple flight check-in alert. Before your flight, you’ll get a notification that it’s time to check in. This is a small thing, but it could be a lifesaver if you accidentally book the wrong time or forget your flight time. Wallet pulls this information from your Gmail confirmations, so if you booked your ticket under another address, you won’t get the update in Wallet.
The right pass at the right time
The second new feature is one that displays appropriate passes when you need them. For example, instead of opening an app and going through your Wallet app to find your train ticket, your app will send a push notification with that ticket when you’re near the station. You’ll be able to access your pass with one tap.
When Google announced the feature in May, it explained that the Nearby Passes notification option provides “timely and relevant information by alerting users about pertinent passes” like loyalty cards, savings offers, boarding passes, or tickets, when you approach a location where those things are relevant.
Also: 4 ways Google Wallet can make your life easier (and more organized)
This means you will need to give Google Wallet permission to know where you are at all times, but if you’re willing to trade some privacy, it could be a useful feature.
How to enable nearby passes
There are two ways to use nearby passes.
First, you can enable notifications for a specific pass through the details screen for that pass. This not only notifies you when you’re near a pertinent location but also notifies you if any fields change for that pass. The second way is through the Nearby Passes notification channel, where you can decide whether or not you want these notifications for all your passes.
If you don’t see the nearby passes settings now, you should soon.
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