Why you might want to shred your boarding pass after flying
October 8, 2015 9:22 AM Subscribe
If you leave your boarding pass in the seat-pocket in front of you after your flight has landed, someone else could upload it to this site, and you might be surprised at how much they could find out about you.
All my old boarding passes invariably wind up as bookmarks in our household.
posted by Kitteh at 9:26 AM on October 8, 2015 [35 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 9:26 AM on October 8, 2015 [35 favorites]
You know what drives me nuts when I'm traveling? Those rental car pickups that display your last name and the number of the slot you'll be getting your car from.
posted by BibiRose at 9:27 AM on October 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by BibiRose at 9:27 AM on October 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
Those rental car pickups that display your last name and the number of the slot you'll be getting your car from.
Well come on, I don't want to mug someone renting an economy coupe. My time is as valuable as anyone else's.
posted by phunniemee at 9:32 AM on October 8, 2015 [23 favorites]
Well come on, I don't want to mug someone renting an economy coupe. My time is as valuable as anyone else's.
posted by phunniemee at 9:32 AM on October 8, 2015 [23 favorites]
Are you sure that mobile app doesn't send your data anywhere?
posted by ardgedee at 9:35 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 9:35 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Does the barcode tell you that I ordered 4 drinks on the last flight I took because I was scared shitless while flying through a thunderstorm with 2 screaming babies two rows back and some insane person across the aisle cutting her toe nails? Now that would be useful information for the next crew to know.
posted by AugustWest at 9:46 AM on October 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by AugustWest at 9:46 AM on October 8, 2015 [6 favorites]
I then proceeded to Lufthansa’s website and using his last name (which was encoded in the barcode)
It's also right there on the ticket, no?
posted by Sys Rq at 9:49 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
It's also right there on the ticket, no?
posted by Sys Rq at 9:49 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Hmm. My initial inclination is to be unsurprised that a boarding pass has a great deal of info about your route encoded onto it. I mean, much of that information is printed in plain Latin characters, so. It is also not totally shocking that your frequent flyer number is on there, but I am completely dumbfounded that apparently you get full access to someone's account, at least on Lufthansa, just by typing in that number?! What the hell! That is literally a complete and utter lack of any sort of security on their part. Why even HAVE passwords. Jesus christ.
Also: "United Airlines seems to treat its customers’ frequent flyer numbers as secret access codes" - true, and completely annoying, AND utterly incompatible with the fact that "the full Mileage Plus number is available if you take the time to decode the barcode on a boarding pass." But at least I've always been prompted to log in to the United website when I type in my frequent flyer number, apparently unlike Lufthansa.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 9:53 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Also: "United Airlines seems to treat its customers’ frequent flyer numbers as secret access codes" - true, and completely annoying, AND utterly incompatible with the fact that "the full Mileage Plus number is available if you take the time to decode the barcode on a boarding pass." But at least I've always been prompted to log in to the United website when I type in my frequent flyer number, apparently unlike Lufthansa.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 9:53 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
All my old boarding passes invariably wind up as bookmarks in our household.
Hell, mine end up as bookmarks for the book I'm reading on the flight.
After the flight, though, they end up being cheap extra souvenirs.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:57 AM on October 8, 2015
Hell, mine end up as bookmarks for the book I'm reading on the flight.
After the flight, though, they end up being cheap extra souvenirs.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:57 AM on October 8, 2015
For years I've been burning my boarding passes. Tough little buggers.
But seriously, yes, I don't let them survive the trips.
posted by doctornemo at 10:01 AM on October 8, 2015
But seriously, yes, I don't let them survive the trips.
posted by doctornemo at 10:01 AM on October 8, 2015
(And some of the airline apps work with smartwatches now too. Was fun when I was flying for work a couple of months ago to dumbfound the gate agents by scanning in with my watch.)
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:02 AM on October 8, 2015
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:02 AM on October 8, 2015
It's also right there on the ticket, no?
Exactly. Every bit of info in the barcode is printed on the boarding pass in text as well. The only reason for the barcode is to make it easier to be read by a computer.
The fact that Lufthansa uses only the FF# for security isn't a problem with the boarding pass, it's a problem with the Lufthansa website. Anything you could do by reading the barcode, you can do by simply reading the boarding pass itself.
I just asked a buddy to check his DL boarding pass, and yes, the current ones have the FF# on them.
posted by eriko at 10:03 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Exactly. Every bit of info in the barcode is printed on the boarding pass in text as well. The only reason for the barcode is to make it easier to be read by a computer.
The fact that Lufthansa uses only the FF# for security isn't a problem with the boarding pass, it's a problem with the Lufthansa website. Anything you could do by reading the barcode, you can do by simply reading the boarding pass itself.
I just asked a buddy to check his DL boarding pass, and yes, the current ones have the FF# on them.
posted by eriko at 10:03 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Does the barcode tell you that I ordered 4 drinks on the last flight I took because I was scared shitless while flying through a thunderstorm with 2 screaming babies two rows back and some insane person across the aisle cutting her toe nails? Now that would be useful information for the next crew to know.
Meh. I'd rather get the toenail-cutter on the no-fly list.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:17 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Meh. I'd rather get the toenail-cutter on the no-fly list.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:17 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
some insane person across the aisle cutting her toe nails
With what?
posted by Sys Rq at 10:28 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
With what?
posted by Sys Rq at 10:28 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sys Rq:
posted by Hairy Lobster at 10:57 AM on October 8, 2015
"With what?"Professionals use ceramic clippers that don't show on the scanners. They're of course very expensive and not available to regular folks like us.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 10:57 AM on October 8, 2015
I prefer "with gusto"
posted by blue_beetle at 11:01 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 11:01 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Sys Rq: "some insane person across the aisle cutting her toe nails
With what?"
Her teeth. What else? You people are weird.
posted by Splunge at 11:15 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
With what?"
Her teeth. What else? You people are weird.
posted by Splunge at 11:15 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
With what?
posted by Sys Rq at 1:28 PM on October 8 [+] [!]
It appeared to be a regular metal nail clipper. I was nearly puking from fear when I nearly puked from watching this woman with her sandals off clipping away. Truly gross and truly amazing considering the turbulence.
posted by AugustWest at 11:38 AM on October 8, 2015
posted by Sys Rq at 1:28 PM on October 8 [+] [!]
It appeared to be a regular metal nail clipper. I was nearly puking from fear when I nearly puked from watching this woman with her sandals off clipping away. Truly gross and truly amazing considering the turbulence.
posted by AugustWest at 11:38 AM on October 8, 2015
isn't a problem with the boarding pass, it's a problem with the Lufthansa website
Yeah, I thought this was good info and a poor framing. "Airline websites make bad choices so you shouldn't leave boarding passes laying around since they make some shenanigans easier" is really the right thing here.
Grodd help us if this motivates more people to go to electronic boarding passes. An idea I like in theory but one more thing where I wait in line while people fumble with their gadgets is a Starbucks line too many.
posted by phearlez at 11:41 AM on October 8, 2015
Yeah, I thought this was good info and a poor framing. "Airline websites make bad choices so you shouldn't leave boarding passes laying around since they make some shenanigans easier" is really the right thing here.
Grodd help us if this motivates more people to go to electronic boarding passes. An idea I like in theory but one more thing where I wait in line while people fumble with their gadgets is a Starbucks line too many.
posted by phearlez at 11:41 AM on October 8, 2015
Yeah, my passes are bookmarks on the flight and get shredded once I get home. I basically have a ritual now of dumping my purse on my dining room table, sorting out receipts/hotel bills/car rental agreements/boarding passes in piles for filing versus shredding.
Cutting of the toenails across the aisle is terrible and disgusting. I will say the worst flight I have ever had was when I was 9 weeks pregnant with terrible morning sickness sitting next to a guy with food poisoning, who for whatever reason - refused to go to the bathroom to vomit out his intestines, but instead insisted that his INTENSE and CONSTANT purging should occur right there in his seat. Into several plastic bags. On a six hour flight. Which was a red eye.
At some point, our flight turned into an homage to Stand By Me.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 12:33 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Cutting of the toenails across the aisle is terrible and disgusting. I will say the worst flight I have ever had was when I was 9 weeks pregnant with terrible morning sickness sitting next to a guy with food poisoning, who for whatever reason - refused to go to the bathroom to vomit out his intestines, but instead insisted that his INTENSE and CONSTANT purging should occur right there in his seat. Into several plastic bags. On a six hour flight. Which was a red eye.
At some point, our flight turned into an homage to Stand By Me.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 12:33 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
It appeared to be a regular metal nail clipper. I was nearly puking from fear when I nearly puked from watching this woman with her sandals off clipping away. Truly gross and truly amazing considering the turbulence.
I'm not particularly proud of doing this, but one time on the subway a man started clipping his toenails, and the clippings were going "zing" all over the place. Everyone in the vicinity was visibly upset by this, including myself.
I very loudly told him in no uncertain terms that I would do things to him that would require him to seek urgent medical attention if he kept clipping. He stopped. A woman beside me leaned over and whispered "Thank you."
Maybe not the wisest decision given that he was brandishing a set of nail clippers with one of those sharp filey things on it, but goddamnit a man can only take so much some days.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:44 PM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'm not particularly proud of doing this, but one time on the subway a man started clipping his toenails, and the clippings were going "zing" all over the place. Everyone in the vicinity was visibly upset by this, including myself.
I very loudly told him in no uncertain terms that I would do things to him that would require him to seek urgent medical attention if he kept clipping. He stopped. A woman beside me leaned over and whispered "Thank you."
Maybe not the wisest decision given that he was brandishing a set of nail clippers with one of those sharp filey things on it, but goddamnit a man can only take so much some days.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:44 PM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
Nail clippers are allowed on flights, unfortunately.
TSA blog
posted by mama casserole at 2:16 PM on October 8, 2015
TSA blog
posted by mama casserole at 2:16 PM on October 8, 2015
Surprise! the tsa is crap at its job.
posted by Iax at 3:11 PM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Iax at 3:11 PM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm actually sort of surprised that in this ridiculous TSA security theater world, that posting boarding passes anywhere online at all isn't illegal in the same way photographing/posting a military ID is or something.
I figured this would be some kind of federal crime to reuse that data, or even show the layout of the pass.
posted by emptythought at 3:15 PM on October 8, 2015
I figured this would be some kind of federal crime to reuse that data, or even show the layout of the pass.
posted by emptythought at 3:15 PM on October 8, 2015
Bullshit on that TSA blog post.
If you type "nail clippers" into the search field, it confirms that they are allowed.
posted by mama casserole at 4:15 PM on October 8, 2015
If you type "nail clippers" into the search field, it confirms that they are allowed.
posted by mama casserole at 4:15 PM on October 8, 2015
They were disallowed for several years after 9/11 Changed Everything, but then became permissible again. Don't bother asking why, it doesn't have to make sense.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:14 PM on October 8, 2015
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:14 PM on October 8, 2015
Kind of surprised to see my UA MileagePlus account number in plaintext after scanning a recent boarding pass.
I wish there was a way to disable the legacy four digit PIN associated with my account, granting access despite having a strong password assigned. Getting my account brute forced and losing loads of miles is not my idea of fun.
posted by peeet at 5:19 PM on October 8, 2015
I wish there was a way to disable the legacy four digit PIN associated with my account, granting access despite having a strong password assigned. Getting my account brute forced and losing loads of miles is not my idea of fun.
posted by peeet at 5:19 PM on October 8, 2015
Well a generous position would be that the TSA realized they over reacted re:clippers and have pulled back. Which I think we should give them props for otherwise there is a disincentive for things to ever get better. We want these sorts of organizations to admit they made a mistake without being raked over the coals for it.
posted by Mitheral at 5:23 PM on October 8, 2015
posted by Mitheral at 5:23 PM on October 8, 2015
> If you type "nail clippers" into the search field, it confirms that they are allowed.
My carry-on bag always has nail clippers in it and no inspector's had an issue with it. On the other hand, I have some small multitools that the manufacturers state are TSA-approved, but If the TSA inspector handling my luggage decides they are not allowed, they are not allowed and I'm out a nice multitool. So they stay at home unless I'm going to be flying with checked luggage.
posted by ardgedee at 6:03 PM on October 8, 2015
My carry-on bag always has nail clippers in it and no inspector's had an issue with it. On the other hand, I have some small multitools that the manufacturers state are TSA-approved, but If the TSA inspector handling my luggage decides they are not allowed, they are not allowed and I'm out a nice multitool. So they stay at home unless I'm going to be flying with checked luggage.
posted by ardgedee at 6:03 PM on October 8, 2015
I'm on a flight right now, waiting to take off, and the above-the-fold part just made me yank my boarding pass out of the seat pocket.
So thank you for this timely post, and when I land I'll go back & read the links & thread!
posted by Westringia F. at 6:53 PM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
So thank you for this timely post, and when I land I'll go back & read the links & thread!
posted by Westringia F. at 6:53 PM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Also, just checked; my boarding pass (United) doesn't show my FF # in a human-readable form.
posted by Westringia F. at 6:59 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Westringia F. at 6:59 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
One time before a domestic flight in Australia (Melbourne-Hobart) a couple of years after 9/11, a very officious and bizarrely angry Australian bag checker held my wife's nail clippers aloft and said "this is a weapon, it is not allowed". His response to being told that they were permitted on the flight from the US to Australia was to slowly bend the nail file portion back and forth until it broke off, glaring red-faced at us the whole time, then handing it back to my wife without another word. Very unsettling.
posted by Fnarf at 1:08 AM on October 9, 2015
posted by Fnarf at 1:08 AM on October 9, 2015
So is there actually any recorded incident of someone using a boarding pass for evil?
With the cheap airlines I fly someone is welcome to log on as me and change my itinerary. They'll probably be charged for it though which seems a good enough deterrent for me.
posted by vacapinta at 2:54 AM on October 9, 2015
With the cheap airlines I fly someone is welcome to log on as me and change my itinerary. They'll probably be charged for it though which seems a good enough deterrent for me.
posted by vacapinta at 2:54 AM on October 9, 2015
> United Airlines seems to treat its customers’ frequent flyer numbers as secret access codes.
Ah, the fabled Zero-Factor Authentication. People demand Two-Factor? People routinely use One-Factor? Nah, the latest and greatest technique is Zero-Factor. Just tell the website who you are, and it'll give you all of the information. It's so easy. What possible reason anyone would have to give you anyone else's identity, after all?
posted by wwwwolf at 4:39 AM on October 9, 2015
Ah, the fabled Zero-Factor Authentication. People demand Two-Factor? People routinely use One-Factor? Nah, the latest and greatest technique is Zero-Factor. Just tell the website who you are, and it'll give you all of the information. It's so easy. What possible reason anyone would have to give you anyone else's identity, after all?
posted by wwwwolf at 4:39 AM on October 9, 2015
So is there actually any recorded incident of someone using a boarding pass for evil?
I don't know — a lot of crimes are never solved, because criminals generally try to conceal their crimes. But if you're not thrilled about the idea of the person in the seat next to you being able to stalk you, it's probably best not to leave your boarding pass in the plane.
posted by John Cohen at 7:45 PM on October 9, 2015
I don't know — a lot of crimes are never solved, because criminals generally try to conceal their crimes. But if you're not thrilled about the idea of the person in the seat next to you being able to stalk you, it's probably best not to leave your boarding pass in the plane.
posted by John Cohen at 7:45 PM on October 9, 2015
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posted by NoxAeternum at 9:24 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]