#flyforpink AWESOME! But a concern...
Oct 9, 2014, 8:39 am
#1
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,607
#flyforpink AWESOME! But a concern...
http://flyforpink.com/
Some of you know that breast cancer research is a cause near and dear to my heart, as my ex-wife succumbed to it a year and a half ago.
So I laud Randy and co. for setting aside $10k for a donation this month.
But I find it incredibly unwise for people to be posting boarding passes on social media with full name and ff#. And even if it's not the full info, with a free scanner app I am able to get that data from the bar or box code.
Randy provides these 'tips for posting your boarding pass:'
But clearly no one is following them.
Am I the only one who would never post a boarding pass to social media? Even for a good cause?
Some of you know that breast cancer research is a cause near and dear to my heart, as my ex-wife succumbed to it a year and a half ago.
So I laud Randy and co. for setting aside $10k for a donation this month.
But I find it incredibly unwise for people to be posting boarding passes on social media with full name and ff#. And even if it's not the full info, with a free scanner app I am able to get that data from the bar or box code.
Randy provides these 'tips for posting your boarding pass:'
Boarding Pass Privacy
We think privacy is a good thing so consider the following before posting:
* cover your name with your thumb.
* use a pen to mark out your frequent flyer number.
* use an app like Skitch to blur out anything you don’t want in public view.
We think privacy is a good thing so consider the following before posting:
* cover your name with your thumb.
* use a pen to mark out your frequent flyer number.
* use an app like Skitch to blur out anything you don’t want in public view.
Am I the only one who would never post a boarding pass to social media? Even for a good cause?
Oct 9, 2014, 9:26 am
#2
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,168
20000 boarding passes with full details: ticket number, full legal name etc etc. Even if some of it is about a week old its a treasure trove for data 
Oct 9, 2014, 11:46 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SAN
Programs: AA EXP 4 MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 884
http://flyforpink.com/
Am I the only one who would never post a boarding pass to social media? Even for a good cause?
Am I the only one who would never post a boarding pass to social media? Even for a good cause?
Oct 9, 2014, 12:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA GLD (1MM), DL GLD, Marriott Plat, RCL D+, X Elite
Posts: 3,229
I post boarding passes to social media all the time (as a running joke for a couple friends of mine), but I think I take care to ensure that about the only thing anyone could figure out from them is where I'm sitting. Not the flight number, origin or destination, and date.
This is a worthy cause, and I applaud Randy and company for the support. It's up to the rest of us to be mindful of posting PII on social media....or to be aware that we've done it and decide not worry about it.
This is a worthy cause, and I applaud Randy and company for the support. It's up to the rest of us to be mindful of posting PII on social media....or to be aware that we've done it and decide not worry about it.
Last edited by MJonTravel; Oct 10, 2014 at 6:52 am
Oct 9, 2014, 12:21 pm
#6
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,607
I post boarding passes to social media all the time (as a running joke for a couple friends of mine), but I think I take care to ensure that about the only thing anyone could figure out from them is where I'm sitting. Not the flight number, origin or destination, and flight number/date.
This is a worthy cause, and I applaud Randy and company for the support. It's up to the rest of us to be mindful of posting PII on social media....or to be aware that we've done it and decide not worry about it.
This is a worthy cause, and I applaud Randy and company for the support. It's up to the rest of us to be mindful of posting PII on social media....or to be aware that we've done it and decide not worry about it.
Just for snicks I was pointing my iPhone app at some of the BPs on the flyforpink page to find out folks 411. If a Luddite like me can do that, I'm sure someone who knows what they are doing could really have a field day with that information.
Oct 9, 2014, 6:57 pm
#7
Formerly known as FTRox87
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TX
Programs: AA/US 1M, AS, BA, CX, EK, EY, JL, KE, LH, NH, OS, QF, QR, TG, UA/CO | *$G
Posts: 1,428
this was possibly the dumbest idea ever in re: to 'raising awareness' perhaps after the ice bucket 'waste water' challenge in recent times.
good intentions aside, now I'm curious as to who was actually behind this campaign. big banks or companies like google who already have all the data they would ever need on us and are still not satisfied. or newer entrants like FB or twitter using this 'social media' push to actually generate some revenues by analyzing a whole treasure trove of data and reselling it to the highest bidder :P
good intentions aside, now I'm curious as to who was actually behind this campaign. big banks or companies like google who already have all the data they would ever need on us and are still not satisfied. or newer entrants like FB or twitter using this 'social media' push to actually generate some revenues by analyzing a whole treasure trove of data and reselling it to the highest bidder :P
Oct 10, 2014, 1:41 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
the vast majority of people on social media are not concerned with privacy
the vast majority of travelers are clueless regarding topics on flyertalk
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Oct 10, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Oct 10, 2014, 5:03 pm
#9
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,607
Oct 10, 2014, 6:40 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
behavior of FTers is totally different from general population.
if they are requiring you to post personal info, then i would agree this is a problem.
are they requiring, or can it be anonymized?
are they requiring, or can it be anonymized?
Oct 10, 2014, 8:08 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Given the site is operated by folks who know that the code can reveal the passenger's information, they ought to be providing better/more explicit advice as to what should be omitted - as most of the public doesn't realize what can be gleaned from the code. It wouldn't be hard to add several words to the pop-up on the site to include that recommendation.