Google Pay Preps for Airline Passes, Event Tickets

It’s only been two months since Android Pay became Google Pay, and Google has already made a number of changes with its mobile wallet. A new analysis from Android Police reveals the upcoming update for Google Pay could support airline passes, event tickets and much more.

Android Police typically conducts a “teardown” when a new Android application package comes out. They assess the code that has been pre-released for the app to look for signs of changes, updates, and other modifications. The assessments are pure speculation, but there is substantial evidence that boarding passes and other tickets will be incorporated in Google Pay v1.57.

In March, Google began supporting transit tickets for the Las Vegas Monorail, and added support for Hop FastPass in Oregon a few weeks later. The code for the update includes “strings” (lines of code) that mention boarding times, terminal/gate numbers, flight numbers, and potentially barcode scanners.

The code also suggests that Google will use this information to provide flight status updates. If a flight is delayed, on time, cancelled or redirected, that data should be available through Google Pay.

The expansion could also include support for event tickets, such as section/row/seat numbers, event times, and a barcode to be scanned at the door.

Google has not yet specified a released date for v1.57. If these changes do appear in the roll out, it is important to not rely exclusively on mobile wallets for event tickets and airline passes. Users should still keep their physical copies of each document on hand in case the barcode scanner does not work or the event center/airport does not accept digital tickets. Some venues avoid digital copies because they are easier to forge. Having a physical ticket as a backup is the best way to ensure smooth acceptance.