Do you remember the last time you installed boarding passes for connecting flights in your mobile wallet? You were able to easily install all of them at once. Pretty nifty, right? This is an example of Linked Passes.
What are Linked Passes?
Linked Passes are multiple passes that are associated with the same user. As a convenience, they can be downloaded with one Pass Download Link. Behind the scenes, there is always a parent pass associated with at least one child pass.
Linked Passes also have the additional benefit of making it easier for the user to download child passes (we explain this in the table below).
It's important to note the difference between Grouped Passes (also available on Badge) and Linked Passes:
Grouped Passes | Linked Passes |
When passes are grouped, they can all be installed with one Pass Download Link.
| Like Grouped Passes, all passes can be installed with one Pass Download Link. |
Regardless of platform, when another pass is grouped with a pass that was previously downloaded by the user, the user will still need to download the newly grouped pass.
However, the original Pass Download Link will be updated to include all Grouped Passes. | Linked Passes takes advantage of Google Wallet's Auto Linked Pass feature: If a child pass is linked with the Badge API, Google Wallet users with the parent pass downloaded will have the child pass added to their wallet without any additional user action.
Up to 50 child passes can be linked to a parent pass. |
| Includes our Apple Wallet "backfill" solution: If a child pass is linked with the Badge API, Apple Wallet users will have the Pass Download Link automatically added to Pass Details.
Additionally, a push notification will be automatically sent to alert the user of the newly linked pass's availability. |
When to use Linked Passes
Linked Passes are not limited to boarding passes. They’re a practical solution whenever a single wallet pass cannot support the full experience you want to deliver.
Scenario | Parent Pass | Child Pass(es) | Why linking is required |
Loyalty + promotions | Loyalty pass (ID & benefits) | Promo / coupon pass(es) | Multiple concurrent redemption mechanisms and independent expiration |
Event entry + concessions | Event ticket pass | Concession coupon pass(es) | Ticket access and purchase redemption cannot share a single mechanism |
Multi-session event | Main event pass | Session-specific ticket passes | Different access credentials per session |
Membership + events / incentives | Membership pass | Event ticket / promo pass(es) | Long-lived identity vs time-bound access |
How To Enable Linked Passes
Linked Passes is currently an API-only feature configured at the pass level. To link passes, you designate one pass as the parent and associate one or more child passes with it during pass creation or update.
When creating or updating a child pass, include a parentPass object in the userPassUpsert request that references the parent pass.
The parentPass object must include:
The
passIdof the parent passThe
passTemplateIdof the parent pass
{
"user": {
"id": "user_12345",
"email": "[email protected]"
},
"passTemplateId": "3c8a7b42-91d6-4f3b-8f2a-6c1e9b0e7a54",
"pass": {
"id": "coupon_98765",
"parentPass": {
"id": "pass_12345",
"passTemplateId": "a4d2f8e1-6b3c-4a91-9f27-8c0d5e2b7a64"
},
"attributes": {
"offer": "Free Drink",
"promoCode": "ABC123"
}
}
}
'
Once the request succeeds, the response will include a single Pass Download Link that installs both the parent and child pass.
Recommended Next Step
We recommend storing the returned Pass Download Link in your CRM or CDP. This allows you to distribute the link through your preferred channels, such as:
Email
SMS
In-app or web account UI