Technology has made air travel easier in a lot of ways. Obviously, being able to book a ticket online from the comfort of your home is a huge improvement from having to go see a travel agent or visit the airport in person, each of which could be a huge hassle.
You also don’t have to carry paper tickets with you anymore because today, most airlines have apps where you can store and access your boarding passes in digital form. This is a big benefit for people who tend to lose paperwork, or who simply don’t want to be bothered by cluttering up their wallets and purses with physical boarding passes that they have to hand in as they get on the plane.
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Apple has played an instrumental role in helping to make some of these flying-related aggravations disappear. Specifically, you can add your boarding passes from your airline apps directly into your Apple Wallet and just open that convenient app and flash your phone when it comes time to get on your plane.
You can also add your preferred payment method and airport parking reservations to Apple’s wallet, too. That means there’s no more carting around most physical documents, so there’s no need to tote a big purse or an oversized wallet to keep all of that stuff.
There has, however, been a key travel document missing from Apple’s wallet. But that’s going to change soon with a new feature that’s on the way. Fortunately, it is a feature that the TSA has already said they approve of – and it’s going to be a game changer.
Apple’s exciting new feature will make life easier for travelers.
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Apple adds this in-demand travel feature to Apple Wallet
At Apple’s recent 2025 WWDC event, the company announced that iOS users will soon be able to add their passports to their Apple Wallets. Specifically, users can create a new digital ID using Apple’s new operating system that is rolling out this fall.
During the event, a spokesperson for Apple made clear that TSA has already approved the new digital ID as a legitimate form of identification that will allow you to pass through airport security checkpoints in most situations.
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“While not a replacement for your physical passport, digital ID can be used for domestic travel and at supported TSA checkpoints,” the spokesperson said.
This feature is expected to become even more valuable for travelers as Real ID requirements have begun being implemented, and standard licenses are no longer accepted as sufficient identification to fly.
Those who don’t have an upgraded Real ID yet but who do have a passport will be able to use the digital ID they create in their Apple Wallet to get through security once they have added their passport to the app.
The new digital ID won’t work for all travel, though
While it is great news that travelers now won’t always have to show a physical passport to get through a TSA security line, it’s also important to realize that this new digital ID is not going to necessarily be accepted in every single situation when identification is required at the airport.
Related: TSA eyes major change for air travelers
Specifically, when traveling internationally, travelers are still going to need their actual physical passport in order to pass through any customs and border patrol checkpoints.
For domestic travelers, though, the digital ID should be sufficient for their travel needs, which means there is one less important document that you have to worry about losing at the airport as you pull it out to go through the security line.
More on travel:
- U.S. government issues serious warning for cruise passengers
- Delta Air Lines makes a baggage change that travelers will like
- United Airlines passenger incident triggers quick response
The addition of the new digital ID is just one of many changes Apple is making to its Wallet app. The company said that digital boarding passes will also be revamped, and that it is focusing on making Wallet even more travel-friendly for those who want the best flying experience possible.
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