Dangerous mistakes when using boarding passes

A boarding pass may seem like a harmless travel memento, but it has the potential to turn your perfect trip into a complete mess.

 

Whether printed or online, your boarding pass is your golden ticket to another land. But if you're not careful, it can also be a one-way ticket to trouble.

Here's what two cybersecurity experts have to say about why boarding passes should be kept private—just between you and the ticket inspector .

Mistakes when using boarding passes can cost you dearly

While it's normal to want to share (or brag) about the start of a trip, it's better to write an excited caption instead of capturing the moment by taking a photo of your boarding pass and posting it to social media .

' This is a common mistake I see all the time—and it's understandable ,' says Dave Meister, a cybersecurity expert with more than a decade of experience. ' You've booked a long-awaited or once-in-a-lifetime trip and want to share that excitement .'

 

What can a boarding pass photo offer criminals?

While sharing photos may seem like a harmless way to show off your modesty, almost anything on a boarding pass can be a 'sweet spot' for a professional criminal. ' With the data on your ticket, someone could access your airline account, change your reservation, or cancel your flight, ' Meister warns, adding that that's just the beginning of the potential problems. ' There are other risks, too. Names and travel plans can be combined with other leaked data to build a profile for phishing attacks or financial fraud .'

Crystal Morin, a cybersecurity strategist who started her career in national security with the US Air Force, notes that the more data criminals collect, the more vulnerable you are to identity theft. ' When an attacker can piece together your entire identity profile—from breaches to bank accounts—that's when the nightmare can happen, like starting to get notifications that accounts are being opened in your name .'

Then there's the issue of physical security. Morin adds that if someone knows you're away, your home is at greater risk of being broken into, and even your personal motorcycle or car is at risk of being stolen.

What details on your boarding pass put you at risk?

At first glance, boarding passes may seem like pretty basic information, but criminals have the ability to build a frighteningly accurate profile of you from the snapshot you just uploaded. Morin explains that boarding passes often include your full name—a perfect starting point for cybercriminals. Even the class of seat you're in can be revealing. " For example, if you're flying first class, you might be a higher priority financial target ," she says.

 

Additionally, the departure city will show where you live, while the flight destination will show where you're going. Both of those pieces of information are useful for bad guys tracking victims, especially if you travel frequently. And the flight date? Morin says that gives criminals a clear window of opportunity, especially if they can figure out your home address.

Should I post my boarding pass photo after my trip is over?

Even if you're back home and eager to share your adventures on social media, it's a good idea to keep your boarding pass photos offline. " You may be excited to post about your trip, but save them for beach selfies ," Morin advises. " A boarding pass photo isn't worth ruining your vacation for, and it'll probably get fewer 'likes' than a more scenic photo! "

' A landscape photo post will always be safer—and often more beautiful—than a ticket with your details clearly displayed ,' says Meister .