Don't use your boarding pass for photos and check-ins—revealing what's hidden on this paper could lead to leaks!

▲ Air ticket (Image / Dagchi / Illustration)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Attention frequent travelers who love taking photos and checking in at spots: you can snap your passport, the airport, or your suitcase, but keep your boarding pass out of the frame. This seemingly harmless act could provide criminals with the information they need to commit crimes—minor consequences might include financial loss, while serious ones could even put lives at risk.SkyscannerSkyscanner has compiled the hidden information behind your boarding pass that you should be cautious about.

The information revealed on a boarding pass (Boarding pass) includes personal details, flight information, document numbers, and more. Many people think they’re safe by covering their name when posting a check-in photo online, but Skyscanner warns:In reality, it’s the “barcode” on the boarding pass that you really need to hide. Beyond the passenger’s name and flight number, the barcode also contains phone numbers, frequent flyer account numbers, future flight reservations, and more.

Skyscanner likens it to this: if a malicious person gains access to a passenger’s frequent flyer account, they could alter account-related information—or even pretend to be a family member of the passenger and transfer mileage points to their own account. Personal ID, payment records, and other data could be exposed, and hackers might even show up in person or call family members under false pretenses, convincing relatives that you’ve been harmed and prompting them to send money.

▲ A thin piece of paper holds a surprising amount of information—experts recommend tearing it up before discarding it after your trip (Image / Dagchi / Illustration)

To avoid potential risks, whether before or after your flight, make sure to properly safeguard your personal boarding pass and luggage stubs. After your trip, it’s advisable to tear up or shred the boarding pass before throwing it away to prevent personal information from being misused.