The Smart Phone Wallet App--Help Me, I'm a Dinosaur

Hi Willy. I've been using a smart phone since 2015, and I don't really know what a "wallet app" is. I know there are payment apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay, but I've not yet tried to use them.

I do use my smart phone for boarding passes and train tickets, so I don't (for the most part) have to print them anymore. On my recent trip to Italy, I had the Trenitalia app which I found handy to buy train tickets with my phone on the spot as needed. When inspected, I'd just show the QR code on my phone.

I would disagree that "free WiFi everywhere" is really enough. Since getting a good smart phone, I have found getting around in Europe with Google Maps on my phone - public transit and walking directions primarily but sometimes driving - to be a huge time saver, even a game changer. I used to spend lots of time figuring out paper bus schedules and walking directions ahead of time, trying to use paper maps to find my way around; now, in most cities, there's no need. I can create a Google Map ahead of time for a city I'm going to visit and access it later on my phone; if I want to get to any place on the map - my hotel, a museum, whatever - I can just randomly choose it from the map and Google Maps will tell me how to walk there or what bus/tram/trains to take to get there. This just isn't practical to do on WiFi, even if it's free. Having mobile data on my phone lets me be spontaneous. Saves me a ton of time and frustration.

I'm also frugal, so I don't buy expensive phones. The Moto X4 (Android) I bought about six months ago cost a whopping $165, which is a lot for me (bought it so I could pass my old phone on to Mom). It's my every-day phone at home, but it was a great travel phone too. There are cheaper Android phones than that. I used a Dutch Vodafone SIM for mobile data on my last trip to Italy, and that cost only 9 euros for the whole trip (already had the SIM from last time, though).

I asked my husband your question. He says that if you can't connect to the WiFi, you can still get your boarding passes from Wallet-that it's a peace of mind thing. Although he says that he can now just open the Delta App and they're there. As to cell phone, mine is my most important possession(since our cats would not consider themselves to be possessions), even more so than my passport. It is my brain-I also take a Kindle but am underwhelmed by iPads.

Are you sure you want/need the London Pass? Most people don’t think it’s good value.

I take it Wallet is an Apple app where you can store er… things https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Wallet

You're not a dinosaur. You’ve got an iPad (which is the same as a smartphone but without the phone) and an iPod. You're two-thirds of the way into the Apple ecosystem. If you can afford it, I would complete the trio and get an iPhone which you will find far more useful than an iPod, and more portable than an iPad.

Apple syncs files in the cloud between devices – you don’t need to download / transfer anything.

Wi-Fi might be available but often you have to register each time you connect to a different network. Something you may not want to do.

Many apps now allow things like ticket and boarding passes to be stored in them, but may still require an active data connection either through WiFi or cellular to display. A wallet stores those same items in a ready to display form not requiring current data connections.

Even with WiFi everywhere, sometime a real cellular data connection is necessary. Don't know why, but that's the way it works. This is most important with airline boarding pass when gates or times may be changing for whatever reason. Having a smart phone with active cellular data means any updates to your boarding pass are automatically captured leading to less confusion brought on by the changes.

I have been to Europe multiple times since 2000 and have never needed cellular data, using an iPod touch for everything in the earlier years and switching to an iPhone since 2012. I either access things from the hotel wifi or print things using the computer the hotel provides for guest use. It has worked fine for me so far. But I think i will get with the times and bite the bullet and get either a Europe plan from my US cell provider or a SIM card so I can stay connected. I don't see the smart phone as a leash, more as a friendly access point for important info.

The Apple Wallet app is just a convenient, central place to store passes and scannable items you might need. Just like your wallet, where you might keep your credit cards, airline frequent flyer program cards, health insurance cards, hotel loyalty program cards, and so on, the Wallet app is a single app in which you can store identifying items for quick and easy access and scanning.

While you won't be able to access all of your airline loyalty program information directly in the Wallet app, you can access boarding passes; while you wouldn't really use the Wallet app for full access to your hotel loyalty program account to book reservations and change account info, you could use it to quickly pull up the confirmation number of an upcoming stay; while you can't use it to check showtimes and buy movie tickets online, you can use it to store a ticket you've purchased to be quickly scanned once at the theatre . You might find it more convenient for quick access to things like boarding passes and such, rather than opening up the individual airline mobile applications.

So long as you load items in to the Wallet app beforehand, you don't need wifi, cellular, or any other data connection to access them. You do, however, need that data connection to place items in to the Wallet app in the first place. Depending on the way certain Wallet items are configured (and that's up to the company who "issues" you the scannable item, more than it is Apple), a data connection can enable certain features. For instance, I keep my Starbucks card enabled in the app, and when my iPhone's GPS detects I'm pulling up to my local Starbucks it pulls up my Wallet app Starbucks card so I can quickly scan it and pay for my coffee; as I pull in to the CVS parking lot, the Wallet app creates a shortcut to my Wallet app CVS card so it's ready to be scanned at the counter or drivethru for my prescription; when at the grocery store, the Wallet app uses GPS to know I'm there and pull up the grocery store card to get scanned at checkout. Certain other Wallet items might not need that data connection and access to GPS, and will instead by triggered by time/date - the airline knows when you're set to depart for your flight that day, so will make your boarding pass available on your device's lock screen ahead of time so a quick and easy click can open it up to be scanned (as opposed to unlocking the device yourself, opening the Wallet app, selecting the boarding pass, and getting it scanned).

The Wallet app doesn't exist for the iPad - it's just available on iPhones and iPods. The thinking here is those smaller handheld devices will be the ones you'll want to be able to quickly access things on, and sized best to use with scanners at airport gates or when approaching the TSA screening lines and such.

So really the best way to explain the Wallet app is to compare it to your actual Wallet - a single location in which you store limited, but readily-accessible items. In your actual wallet, you might keep credit cards you most frequently use in pockets and card slots that are easiest to access; the Wallet app will present items you might need right away in a quick and easy access way. You can't keep your entire health insurance explanation of benefits package in your actual wallet; you can keep your health insurance ID card in it, just as that ID card alone can fit in your Apple Wallet. It's not quite a replacement for the individual mobile apps for airlines, hotels, retailers, etc, but a single location in which to store useful items from those individual business and service providers for quick access.

You're a dinosaur? I don't even use a Smartphone while traveling in Germany...basically, don't need it.

I've traveled for years with just the ipod touch. I just recently bought a mini-ipad, but it's the same story, (except I can add a sim card now). I have used my little ipod touch for everything, even calling iphones (but rarely). I don't use the wallet because it is redundant and I find it more awkward to use. Instead, I download the appropriate App, as you said, that I need for the vacation items in question; ie, the airline, hotel if they have one (not so much but larger hotel chains like Sofitel, etc. do), map apps like ulmon, etc. Whatever you download on your ipad should also show up on your ipod if you download the app on each, or vice versa as they will sync.

That being said, I don't know anything about the London Pass and I did just have an Oyster Card. I don't want to pull my ipod out for everything as in transport cards as then I feel I'm more apt to lose it somehow, but that's personal preference. Your boarding passes, hotel reservations, etc. will be there without wifi on the respective apps. I do use a VPN...when it works, so I can use public wifi in the airport, pubs, etc. for whatever I want while I wait...not sure I'd trust it for banking though.

I've never had a problem with boarding passes being read on my ipod by airline personnel, but I gather a lot of other devices do have issues. I recommend you back up with paper. (I fly BA and they prefer paper so my ipod is backup for them.) Twice I've had battery issues with my ipod (put in purse on high and ran down too low due to another item pressing on the button), but Apple was around the corner in both cases. I was glad I had paper backups just in case they weren't, however.

I agree that there is no reason to have a cheapie cell phone unless you are communicating with friends who live in the country you are visiting. IMO. That's the only reason we have ever gotten a local cell phone.

1885BD, thank you, although i understand the Wallet, that was a very good and clear explanation.

I agree that having an iPhone in Europe and here is very helpful. Apple stores have free classes to teach a person everything about an Apple product.

I like my iPhone for the reasons ramblin’ on mentioned. I like having a computer, a phone, and a very good camera all in one device in the palm of my hand.

We have TMobile which is the best service provider for international travel, and i’m able to use my phone in Europe the same way i do here. No extra cost, no need for a different SIM card.

A friend once explained to me how important it is to keep up with technology. If a person doesn’t, and doesn’t keep learning as it changes and progresses, we will be left behind. We will become more and more isolated. I agree. My dad, at 97 was so current with technology he knew more than most people. I admire that. You’re never too old to learn and to keep up.

I don't think the OP is a dinosaur as he/she has both an iPod touch and an iPad. They do everything an iPhone does except call on demand. They are not in the dark ages because they don't have a smart phone. He/she wants to fine tune what he has. I know a lot of people dropping their smartphones as they just tie you down to technology.every.minute.

Smartphones don’t tie you down to anything unless you want to be.

I have "cards" in my smartphone wallet, but they NEVER work for me. Ever! It's so frustrating. People behind me in line must think I'm a moron! Also, on occasion, my phone has died. For me, I always have a back up hard copy. On a side not, I don't use international calling plans and therefore can be unreachable (on purpose, otherwise I'd get a bazillion texts a day about nothing from everybody). I do use wifi and check email and text my children only! It is OKAY to disconnect and be old school. It's way more relaxing!

Julie, although I am good at reading maps and bus schedules and did it for years when traveling, I also found it a real time sink and a frustration. Having the phone for maps and public transit navigation has helped enormously - not something I want to give up. But you need mobile data to make it work practically; just WiFi isn't enough.

If you still want to disconnect from people back home when you travel, buy a local SIM card - so you can still get mobile data but can't use your home phone number for calls/texts. You will have a phone number associated with the SIM - just don't bother to find out what it is so people can ask you for it!