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Airline boarding passes, whether paper printouts or electronic versions contain more personal information than meets the eye. While passengers know that their name, flight number, and seat assignment are printed on the boarding pass, few realize that the barcode on their ticket can pull up data like their frequent flier number, contact information, or other identification details.

According to privacy researcher Bill Fitzgerald who spoke to, travellers should always assume that the scannable code 鈥渉as information about you and your stuff and where you鈥檙e going.鈥� Fitzgerald also warns that travellers should assume that the barcodes contain driver’s licenses and passport details as they are required by airlines or at the airport.

As such, the paper versions of the travel document should be disposed of with care. If a boarding pass barcode falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to launch online attacks against the traveller’s digital accounts and persona. Many airlines use only the data on the boarding pass, specifically the confirmation code and last name, to allow full access to the traveller’s online account.

Identity fraud is a serious concern for travellers as the small details contained in a boarding pass can be used to leverage their details. To avoid identity theft, Fitzgerald advises travellers to never share barcodes in any way, shape, or form. Shredding a boarding pass is one of the safest ways to discard it, he says.

While paper boarding passes are used less and less frequently, they are still required in certain instances that might be out of a passenger’s control, like if there鈥檚 a seat change made at the gate. As such, travellers should always be careful when disposing of their boarding passes to avoid putting their personal information at risk.

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