Sharing your travel experiences on social media is a common practice, but did you know that posting your boarding pass online can put your personal data at risk?
Travel expert Steve Hui conducted an experiment using a boarding pass photo posted online and was able to access the traveler’s sensitive information, including their credit card details, passport number, and flight itinerary.
“A boarding pass photo may seem harmless, but it contains a QR code that can be scanned to access your personal data,” Hui warned. “Thieves can use this information to cause trouble, and it’s important to be aware of the risks.”
The boarding pass contains innocent-looking information like flight number, date, and time, seat number, and a QR code. However, scanning the QR code can give airport staff access to sensitive data, including passport numbers and credit card information.
Hui’s experiment showed that with a simple scan of the QR code, he could access the traveler’s entire route, seat numbers, frequent flyer information, ticket numbers, and even the last four digits of their credit card used.
So, the next time you’re tempted to share your boarding pass online, remember that it’s not just a harmless travel souvenir, but a potential threat to your personal data. Keep your boarding pass private to protect yourself from identity theft and other troubles.
