What’s new in Wallet

Summary

• Upcoming Events in Poster Event Tickets enable multiple events per ticket with rich details and maps integration.

• Boarding passes get dynamic updates via Apple’s flight service, live activities, and enhanced UI with badges and services.

• Semantics in pass.json drive UI content and automatic updates for both event tickets and boarding passes.

• New PKPassLibrary API allows background adding of passes after one-time user authorization, improving UX for frequent users.

• Backwards compatibility ensured by augmenting existing passes with new semantics and URLs without breaking older OS versions.

Upcoming Events in Wallet Tickets

• Single pass supports multiple upcoming events (via upcomingPassInformation array in pass.json).

• Config:

  • Each event object includes type: "event", unique ID, display name, and date.

  • Supports semantic tags (semantics object) for venue, performers, seating, etc.

  • Additional UI elements: additionalInfoFields, backFields, URLs for actions, and images including custom headerImage.

• UI Behavior:

  • Header image customizable per event; support for multiple image resolutions for iOS/watchOS.

  • Venue info links to Maps (using venueName, venuePlaceID, venueLocation semantics).

  • Event guide shows rich details, weather, venue map (can reuse pass venue map with reuseExisting).

Main semantic fieldsSeatsVenue details

• Updates & Maintenance:

  • Use isActive property to mark event relevance.

  • Events can be added or removed via pass updates to keep info current.

  • Encouraged to tailor semantics & URLs per event distinct from the main pass.

// pass.json
{
  "upcomingPassInformation": [
    {
      "type": "event",
      "identifier": "classic-jazz",
      "name": "Classic Jazz",
      "dateInformation": {
        "date": "2025-06-1718:30:00-08:00",
        "timeZone": "America/Los_Angeles"
      },
      // Properties describing the event
      "semantics": {
        "venueName": "The Stadium",
        "venuePlaceID": "I7C250D2CDCB364A",
        "venueLocation": {
          "latitude": 37.334859,
          "longitude": -122.009040
        },
        "performerNames": [
          "South Bay Jazz Festival Quartet"
        ],
        "seats": [
          {
            "seatSection": "100",
            "seatRow": "32",
            "seatNumber": "5",
          }
        ]
      },
      // Additional ticket information
      "additionalInfoFields": {},
      // Extra information
      "backFields": {},
      // Actions for the event guide
      "URLs": {
        // Same as pass.json root 
        "sellURL": "https://www.apple.com/sbjf/25/sell",
        "transferRL": "https://www.apple.com/sbjf/25/transfer",
        "bagPolicyURL": :"https://www.apple.com/sbjf/bag-policy",
      },
      // Images related to this event
      "images": {
        "headerImage": {
          "URLs": [
            {
              "URL": "https://www.apple.com/sbjf/2025/classic-3x.png",
              "SHA256": "4b833b...",
              "scale": 3,
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Upgraded Boarding Passes

• New Design: More dynamic and configurable, tightly integrated with Apple’s flight service.

• Flight Tracking:

  • Auto-sync flight status, gate changes, delays.

  • Live Activities provide real-time flight info, shareable via Messages.

• Semantics-driven UI:

  • Required: airlineCode, flightNumber, originalDepartureDate for flight tracking.

  • Updates use currentDepartureDate and currentArrivalDate; original dates only if rescheduled.

  • Boarding time auto-adjusts based on boarding duration (from originalBoardingDate and currentBoardingDate).

• Badges:

  • Display important info like fare class, accessibility, carry-on eligibility.

  • Supports IATA SSR codes via passengerServiceSSRs.

  • Wallet auto-generates badges based on semantics without explicit badge objects.

• Airline Services & Upgrades Screen:

  • Configure action buttons using URLs in pass.json (e.g., lounge access, Wi-Fi purchase).

  • Add semantics (e.g., airlineLoungePlaceID) to enrich context (Maps preview).

  • Supports actions before, during, after flight.

// pass.json
{
  "organizationName": "Fleet Air",
  "description": "AP2214 SFOLGA on April 1, 2025",
  "semantics": {
    "passengerServiceSSRs": [
      "SVAN", // service animal
      "WCOB", // on-board wheelchair needed
    ],
    "ticketFareClass": "Economy",
    "priorityStatus": "Platinum",
  },
  "purchaseAdditionalBaggageURL": "https://fleet.com/services/add-checked-bags",
  "purchaseLoungeAccessURL": "https://fleet.com/services/lounge-access",
  "changeSeatURL": "https://fleet.com/tickets/123/change-seat",
  "purchaseWifiRL": "https://fleet.com/services/add-checked-bags",
  "orderFoodURL": "https://fleet.com/services/lounge-access",
  "entertainmentURL": "https://fleet.com/tickets/123/change-seat",
  "reportLostBagURL": "https://fleet.com/support/lost-bags"
}

PKPassLibrary Background Add Passes API

• Traditional Flow: User manually adds passes via preview UI.

• New Capability:

  • Request one-time user authorization to add passes automatically in background.

  • Use requestAuthorization(for: .backgroundAddPasses) to prompt user.

  • Check status with authorizationStatus(for:).

  • Add passes silently with addPasses(_:) (accepts array of passes).

• User Control: Users can toggle permission in Settings anytime.

• Ideal for: Frequent pass additions (e.g., multiple boarding passes/week).

• Implementation: Minimal code, similar pattern to push notification permissions.

import PassKit
  
Task {
  let status = await PKPassLibrary.requestAuthorization(for: .backgroundAddPasses)
  switch status {
    case .authorized:
      // Add passes automatically
      PKPassLibrary().addPasses(passesArray)
    default:
      // Handle denial or restricted status
  }
}

Best Practices & Compatibility

• Add new semantics and URLs without removing existing ones to maintain backward compatibility.

• Update passes regularly to keep event and flight info relevant.

• Use Apple’s documentation to explore all semantics and URL options.

• Combine detailed semantic descriptors with URLs for the richest Wallet experience.

• Test on multiple OS versions (iOS/watchOS) to ensure graceful fallback.