Google has announced new features for Google Wallet aimed at travelers, revealed during a developer session at Google I/O 2026. These updates are designed to make the airport experience more seamless and were explained by Gokmen Goksel, Google Wallet technology lead.
The new features expand on the Live Updates for flight tracking that Google introduced in Wallet last month, which now display flight status information directly on the lock screen or always-on display.
Join frequent flyer programs directly from a Google Wallet boarding pass
Google Wallet now allows users to sign up for airline frequent flyer programs directly from a boarding pass. The option appears within the boarding pass interface, so there’s no need to search for and install an airline app or visit a separate website.
Google describes the change as a way to make it easier to sign up when travelers are most interested, at the time of boarding and not long after the flight.
Auto-Linked Passes Expand to Boarding Passes, Baggage Tags, and Travel Deals
Automatically linked passes are being updated to automatically add related travel passes to a user’s Google Wallet. Brazil’s Azul Airlines is already using the feature to send boarding passes to customers’ wallets after mobile, web or airport check-in is completed.
Expanded automatically linked passes also allow you to send luggage tags directly to Wallet and display offers linked to a boarding pass or loyalty card.
Google has not announced which additional airlines are integrating Auto Linked Passes beyond Azul or when broader support will be rolled out to airlines globally.
Airline availability and support
The new Google Wallet features were announced at Google I/O 2026. Google has not provided specific availability dates for the frequent flyer check-in feature or expanded Auto Linked Passes capabilities beyond the existing Azul Airlines integration.
These features will be available as airlines adopt updated Google Wallet APIs that support these features.
