Here's a First Look at the iPhone's Convenient Hotel Room Key Feature

I've had a similar feature through Hilton for a few years now. Haven't needed a room key in some time, albeit through the Hilton app. I'm fairly sure after a couple updates it was also something that could be added to the Wallet. As I approached a room, the key would popup on my phone and I could choose to unlock the room. It was great.

Not sure there was a need for this - but it is nice to see tech moving forward even for the simple things.
I can pretty much stay at any hotel I want and choose to stay at Hilton mainly for this feature. No check-in...walk right to the room (which I pick in most cases) and walk right in. I was never a points person despite traveling a lot, but those added up pretty darn quick and I've now benefited from plenty of free stays!
 
I wonder it the electronic key of any sort would help the hotel offer more security.

Some years ago my spouse and I checked into a hotel after midnight. We grabbed our luggage, hauled it up to the hotel room's door. I used a physical key, and the door stopped opening due to an interior chain lock being engaged. Someone was in the darkened room and their silence made it even more creepy. Yikes!!!

We quickly retreated to the lobby with our luggage and checked out. I kept driving until we left the state of Pennsylvania far behind!
 
Yea. When the day comes that your door lock, car key, wallet and ID are all in your phone, you lose one thing and you can't drive, go home, call for help, prove your identity, or pay for the bus. You're completely screwed.
How is that any different with a wallet?
Assuming your ID, credit cards, and keys are in or attached to it.
At least if all of this stuff is in my phone, that also means that:
A: it’s also in my watch.
B: if it gets stolen, I can easily remote lock, which is a lot easier than calling the credit card company, canceling my credit card, ordering a new ID, and having to change all my locks
 
How is that any different with a wallet?
Assuming your ID, credit cards, and keys are in or attached to it.
At least if all of this stuff is in my phone, that also means that:
A: it’s also in my watch.
B: if it gets stolen, I can easily remote lock, which is a lot easier than calling the credit card company, canceling my credit card, ordering a new ID, and having to change all my locks
Maybe I'm a crazy person but I have one wallet in my pocket and one wallet in my car. Different cards, not really for backup, just because I don't carry all of my cards at once, but they all spend money the same.

I also don't attach anything to my car key fob, it just stays in my pocket.
All of my other keys (home, work, storage etc) are on their own ring that is usually in my laptop bag which I am almost always carrying.
Then my phone is just in my pocket.

So that gives me many more individual items in more discrete locations that I'd have to lose all of in order to be completely screwed.
And it's getting stranded that I'm specifically talking about here, not about someone stealing your money or identity.
If you left your phone in a cab or any other location you can't easily retrieve, you'd literally have nothing.
 
So that gives me many more individual items in more discrete locations that I'd have to lose all of in order to be completely screwed.
And it's getting stranded that I'm specifically talking about here, not about someone stealing your money or identity.
If you left your phone in a cab or any other location you can't easily retrieve, you'd literally have nothing.
As the poster you responded to said, they have their Watch, if you have Apple Wallet keys you can keep one on the Watch and one on the iPhone. No problem there, as long as the Watch has power or some reserve battery. The Watch when used with Apple Wallet works well, doesn’t need internet or sign ins or anything. But it’s not so good if it relies on 3rd party apps and doesn’t use Wallet for keys. 3rd party apps usually suck on the Watch to be honest, like my banking app says I have to login to my phone first, making it useless on the Watch because I can just go to the phone anyway. At least I can have debit cards on the Wallet app on both Watch and iPhone.
 
This spring I will visit NYC for leisure, any actual list of hotel brands (with locations) that support the wallet feature? Nothing to find on the product/support pages on Apple website.
 
Why is there no list of hotels that support this feature? Over 2 years later and there are only 6 locations?
 
I can pretty much stay at any hotel I want and choose to stay at Hilton mainly for this feature. No check-in...walk right to the room (which I pick in most cases) and walk right in. I was never a points person despite traveling a lot, but those added up pretty darn quick and I've now benefited from plenty of free stays!
Is that little convenience worth having to stay at Hilton when you could (apparently) stay at much nicer hotels?
 
Maybe read the very last part as well?

But, yes.
I'm literally commenting on the first sentence, where you say you could stay anywhere, but you choose to stay at a mediocre and depressing hotel like Hilton, just because it's slightly more convenient to check in.
 
I'm literally commenting on the first sentence, where you say you could stay anywhere, but you choose to stay at a mediocre and depressing hotel like Hilton, just because it's slightly more convenient to check in.
And again...as I said in the last part...I get a lot of points for stays I don;t have to pay for (99.9% work trips) that I can use for free stays nearly anywhere. I've stayed at enough super nice hotesl in my lifetime and I'm over it...I want free stuff!
 
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