Google Wallet/Pay/Whatever…
The evolution of technology continues and almost as always I'm almost amongst the last to find out.
When I returned to flying a few months ago, I was introduced to my employers new onboard retail technology and on my first shorthaul flight I was fascinated yet also felt like a dinosaur when I witnessed people paying for their purchases with their phones and watches using contactess technology. I honestly felt like I had travelled to the future! I also discovered that these marvellous developments have been around for a few years now and I'd been unaware of how commonplace they'd become. I then promised myself that I was going to catch up with all this and finally opened up my Google Pay app which had always been available on my phone but never utilised and started putting it to use. I also discovered I could put all my loyalty cards on it as well and that has been a game changer in me racking up my loyalty points here and there. My Nectar points collection game is awesome now if I dare say so myself and I now no longer find myself fishing about for loyalty cards in my wallet to scan at the tills. I just open up Google Pay, select the card I need, hear a satisfying 'beep' when I scan and I'm good!
Also, paying for a meal in a restaurant is just as quick and relatively effortless... until your Google Pay app seems to DISSAPPEAR from your screen!!!
The above scenario occurred whilst out for lunch with some of my colleagues yesterday. I styled it out and (frantically) swiped left, right, up and down whilst everyone else paid their bills and in the end had to admit defeat to myself and pay using the one physical card I take about with me just in case something like this was to happen. Situation sorted. It also came in handy for the cinema afterwards and meant I didn't have to rely on anyone having to tide me over.
Later once I was back in my room I resumed my search on my phone looking for my elusive Google Pay app to discover its now morphed into 'Google Wallet'. Its icon has changed and it was still on my phone all along. I'm sure I would have been sent an email by Google to notify me of this change but it is probably amongst the hundreds of other promotional emails. I get from every other service I subscribe to hence me not seeing it. Anyway, all is resolved for now. Let's see how long it is before I discover another technological Milestone I've missed out on! 😁