This year, I’ve flown over 36,000 miles thanks to numerous work trips, which have resulted in countless hours spent navigating airports, enjoying meals in Delta Sky Clubs, and attempting (with varying degrees of success) to catch some sleep on red-eye flights. While I genuinely appreciate traveling, I’ll readily admit that it can be quite chaotic. Thankfully, I’ve experienced more positive travel days than negative ones, and much of that credit goes to my trusty Apple Watch. It’s not just a great all-around smartwatch; it’s an exceptional travel assistant that I wouldn’t dream of traveling without.
What makes the Apple Watch such a phenomenal travel companion? It’s all thanks to a clever feature introduced with watchOS 10 last year. If you have a boarding pass saved in Apple Wallet, it magically appears in your Smart Stack on the day of your flight. A quick swipe up on the screen or a spin of the Digital Crown reveals your boarding pass in an instant. This may seem like a minor detail, but it’s incredibly convenient. While accessing my boarding pass through the Delta app on my phone isn’t difficult, it’s significantly faster and simpler to nudge the crown on my Apple Watch, tap on my boarding pass, and instantly have all my travel information right in front of me. Even better, if you have an Apple Watch Series 9 or an Apple Watch Ultra 2, the process is even easier; simply pinch your index finger and thumb together to perform the Double Tap gesture, and your boarding pass appears like magic.
Not only is finding your boarding pass on the Apple Watch incredibly easy, but Apple also excels at presenting boarding pass information on such a small screen. Boarding passes have been available on the Apple Watch for years, but their usefulness remains undeniable. Open your boarding pass, and you’ll immediately see your QR code, ready to be scanned at the gate to board your flight. While using your phone to find your boarding pass is perfectly acceptable, holding your wrist over the gate scanner for quick access adds a touch of magic and speeds up the process. This is especially helpful when you’re juggling a carry-on bag, food, or any other essentials. Furthermore, scrolling down from the QR code reveals essential flight details, including your boarding time, gate number, boarding zone, and seat number. As an anxious traveler who constantly checks this information to ensure I haven’t missed anything, the ease of access offered by the Apple Watch is truly invaluable.
The Apple Watch is my go-to travel accessory, seamlessly enhancing my travel experience in 2024. High-quality airline apps and digital boarding passes provide effortless access to information, helping me navigate smoothly. While traveling with a smartphone is the standard, traveling with an Apple Watch elevates the experience to a whole new level. It might seem trivial to prioritize accessing your boarding pass and flight information on your smartwatch instead of your phone. However, even the smallest conveniences can make a significant difference during a hectic travel day, and that’s precisely why I love wearing my Apple Watch during them. The fact that similar functionality is expanding to Wear OS watches is fantastic news, ensuring simpler travel experiences for as many people as possible.
With a few significant trips planned to conclude 2024, including a quick trip to Berlin, a week-long stay in Hawaii, and even a visit to New Delhi, you can be certain that my Apple Watch will be my constant companion. It will undoubtedly contribute to making these journeys as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. I highly recommend embracing the Apple Watch for your upcoming trips, as it has the power to transform your travel experience.
