Why delete your boarding passes after a flight?

You have just finished a flight, what should you do with your boarding pass? Whether in paper or electronic form, it is crucial to delete it immediately. This article explains why it is essential to take this precautionary measure to protect your personal information.

Sensitive information contained in boarding passes

Boarding passes, whether physical or digital, contain several sensitive data:

• Full name
• Flight number
• Seat number
• Reservation code (PNR)
• Loyalty program information

This information may seem innocuous, but it is a gold mine for hackers and other people with bad intentions.

The risks associated with retaining boarding passes

By keeping your boarding passes, you expose yourself to various risks:

Identity theft:

The information contained on the boarding pass can be used to steal your identity. For example, a hacker could access your loyalty account and steal your miles or even obtain more sensitive information.

Access to your personal contact details:

The QR codes or barcodes on the cards can be easily scanned and decoded. This may provide access to your personal contact details, such as your email address or telephone number.

Change or cancellation of your future flights:

With your reservation code, a malicious individual can potentially modify or cancel your future flights, thus causing great inconvenience.

How to delete your boarding passes

Here is how to proceed to avoid these risks:

Paper boarding passes:

Tear up or, better yet, shred your boarding pass immediately after your flight. Make sure all information is illegible.

Electronic boarding passes:

If you use a mobile app to store your boarding passes, delete them from your device once your trip is complete. Here's how to do it on the main platforms:

• Apple Wallet: Open the app, find the boarding pass and delete it by tapping the three dots then “Delete”.
• Google Wallet: Go to the boarding pass, tap the three dots and select "Delete".

Additional precautions

In addition to removing your boarding passes, here are some additional precautions:

• Regularly check your loyalty accounts for suspicious activity.
• Use strongand unique passwords for your travel accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication when possible.

Conclusion

The security of your personal information is paramount. By getting into the habit of deleting your boarding passes after every flight, you significantly reduce the risk of identity theft and data theft. Adopt this simple but effective practice to protect your sensitive information.