Google Wallet Eases Travel

Google Wallet, a recent innovation by the search engine giant, is apt to ease your U.S. travel plans.

Google Wallet electronically stores information from credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, loyalty card offers and bank accounts on your smartphone. Google Wallet can also be used in stores with a Google Wallet Card or NFC tap and pay or NFC-enabled Android device. It facilitates cash transfers between users with Gmail accounts.

Aside from freeing up your wallet space, Google Wallet is a useful tool for domestic travelers because of its partnerships with airlines, hotels and car rental agencies. The Google Wallet app promotes Alaska Airlines’ frequent-flyer program and many other travel apps allow users to pay with Google Wallet.

A Best Western spokesperson reported to Skift that integrating Google Wallet into their online booking allows guests to complete a purchase “in as few as two clicks.”

In addition, customers using a mobile version of Google Hotel Finder can instantly book rooms through Google Wallet or Booking.com and Priceline.com’s websites.

The trend of integrating payment and booking is common in other travel-related services as well. Car services, such as Avis Car Rental and Uber, allow users to complete transactions only using their phones.

As more services adopt Google Wallet, travelers will soon be able to seamlessly book and plan an entire trip on their phones. Although the Google Wallet app is currently exclusive to the United States, it seems plausible travelers will soon be crossing oceans without a credit card in tow.