Alaska Airlines Adds Google Wallet to iPhone and Android Apps

Alaska Airlines is focusing on its smartphone apps, and in the last few days added award-flight booking to its Android and iOS apps, as well as Google Wallet to enable flyers to track their Mileage Plan miles.

"Google Wallet is a fantastic tool that enables our frequent flyers to enroll and access their accounts and track their miles right on their smart phones," says Curtis Kopf, Alaska Airlines' vice president of customer innovation. "As the first domestic airline to support both Google Wallet and Apple's Passbook (added in May), we're committed to providing our customers with tools that make travel easier."

Integrating Google Wallet means flyers would have ready access on their smartphones to their Mileage Plan numbers, and can track their miles. Travelers can scan their membership card or add their account numbers manually.

A lot of other airlines already have award-flight-booking capabilities in their apps so Alaska is a little behind the curve in that respect.

However, Alaska boasts that it is the first domestic airline to offer both Apple Passbook and Google Wallet, covering all bases.