Being able to call an Uber or Lyft when I need it has made it much easier to live without a vehicle. I have tried to call a cab company using the phone before, but even they have transitioned to using apps for dispatch now.
Would add airports. If I’m not checking a bag, I can walk straight to security, do an iris scan at CLEAR and show my digital boarding pass to security and at the gate.
That said, there are manual workarounds to almost everything requiring a smartphone. They’re simply less efficient.
OTOH it only takes you thirty seconds to transmute your confirmation number into a paper boarding pass at the check in stations, which are empty now that everyone uses apple/android wallet. Maybe that would actually be better even if you have a smartphone, if you are concerned about battery life or roaming charges.
In the US--I can't speak to CLEAR--but even with TSA Pre you have to show your ID. (I'm not sure they've even looked at my boarding pass when I've flown recently. I assume the computers are correlating my ID with the flight reservation in the system.)
If I can conveniently print out a boarding pass either at home or at the airport I tend to do so. That way I'm not fiddling with my phone when I don't need to.
(I think I've seen it the other way around in London at least.)
> I can walk straight to security, do an iris scan at CLEAR
I'm sorry, what? Outside the US I just show my boarding card prior to going through security. I'm pretty sure my ID doesn't get checked until I board the plane, so hearing that you show biometrics is a bit jarring.
I was in the US a few weeks ago, but I can't remember if I had to show ID when going through security on leaving. I tend to work on autopilot when navigating airports.
It's been a while since I have flown anywhere, but I don't think we check ID at the gate here? So it's not really any better or worse, it's just at a different point in the process.
You might be right. I'll be honest, my approach to airports and flying is to have a few drinks once I get past security and then sleep my way as best I can through the flight. I can't remember if my passport was checked when I boarded on leaving Seattle.
That said, there are manual workarounds to almost everything requiring a smartphone. They’re simply less efficient.