Why You Should Never Post A Picture Of Your Boarding Pass Online

Whether you're flying to visit Grandma or taking a long-anticipated European vacation, you may be the type of person who posts about it on social media. While some people do it for the likes alone, others simply enjoy sharing something important to them with their online friends and family. However, if you're going to let the world know that you're flying somewhere, you shouldn't ever post a picture of your boarding pass online. Aside from the fact that it gives a specific date and time that you'll be away from home, the information on that ticket can give others access to your personal information. 

Your boarding pass will have things like your record locator number, flight number, full name, seat, and more. While airlines vary, someone may only need your record locator number and last name to get access to your reservation, and all the personal information it houses. In a thread on Reddit's r/unitedairlines, a poster noted that putting a picture of your boarding pass or luggage tags online can sometimes allow someone else to change your seat or meal selection, or even cancel your ticket. While it's unlikely that a random person would do that, it doesn't mean it can't happen. It's best to take precautions and keep your boarding pass and any other important documents with your name on them safe and, more importantly, offline. If you must post something, print out your boarding pass (which you should be doing anyway) and hold it in your hand or inside a passport, and make sure no identifying information or barcodes are showing.

The danger of posting a picture of your boarding pass online goes beyond someone having access to your information, such as your address, flight number, or frequent flier number. In 2024, a man was able to board a plane using a picture of a boarding pass from another passenger. Even worse is that, if someone accesses your address from the login info or QR code, they could access info about where you live and when you'll be gone, which could put you at risk of burglary.

While it's sad to consider, this can be true for other types of tickets and passes as well, like timed museum or concert tickets. It should go without saying, but the name, location, and room number at your hotel should be protected as well. Best internet practice says you should post about where you've been rather than where you currently are. If you want to further disguise the fact that you'll be away, you can also schedule posts to social media for when you're on the plane, or use in-flight Wi-Fi to post to make it look like you're still home. Finally, when you get your boarding pass, check it carefully. You may find codes like "SSSS," which mean your security check could take longer, or one that means you're more likely to get an upgrade.