It’s a big mistake to share your boarding pass online. This behaviour can have serious consequences.
A boarding pass is the key to the world of travel. Without it, you can’t get through security or even shop at the airport. But did you know that by posting a picture of it, you’re exposing yourself to theft of your personal data?
On the boarding pass, they find the flight number, date and time, and seat number. This may all seem innocent, but we forget about one important element – the QR code. If you take a picture of it, you may have a problem.
Photo of your boarding pass on Instagram? This could be your worst mistake! By scanning the QR code, airport staff gain access to your sensitive data: passport number and even flight payment details along with your credit card number. What can happen when this data gets into the wrong hands?
Steve Hui, a travel expert, spoke more broadly about this issue. He conducted an experiment using a photo of a boarding pass posted online by a surfer. By scanning the code, I was able to access the travel itinerary and also his credit card details.
“From this information, I was able to view the passenger’s entire route and find out when and where they intended to travel. The details also included seat numbers, frequent flyer information, and ticket numbers. Going even further, it was easy to see a full breakdown of the fare paid , including the date of purchase and the last four digits of the credit card used,” the expert reports.
So, as you can see, a boarding pass photo is not an innocent travel memory, but a real threat. A thief can use your data and cause you trouble.
