Flight attendant shared my personal info with a stranger
Jun 15, 2013, 11:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 75
Flight attendant shared my personal info with a stranger
I ordered a drink on a flight home last night and handed over my drink coupon. The man across the aisle ordered a drink. The flight attendant asked if he wanted one drink or two, he paid with a peice of paper. He said one. She told him since you are ordering only one, and you have another one coming, here take this drink coupon and use it next time. She gave him MY drink coupon, with MY name (first initial and last name) AND the last 4 digits of my rapid rewards number. I was taken aback, but did not say anything, because I really didn't know what to say. Is this standard practice?????
Jun 15, 2013, 12:39 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,871
I ordered a drink on a flight home last night and handed over my drink coupon. The man across the aisle ordered a drink. The flight attendant asked if he wanted one drink or two, he paid with a peice of paper. He said one. She told him since you are ordering only one, and you have another one coming, here take this drink coupon and use it next time. She gave him MY drink coupon, with MY name (first initial and last name) AND the last 4 digits of my rapid rewards number. I was taken aback, but did not say anything, because I really didn't know what to say. Is this standard practice?????
Jun 15, 2013, 12:42 pm
#3
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Yeah it's a concern. The guy could be a predator or stalker. An airline employee should not give another passenger my name without my permission. The FA could have handled his own coupon back to him.
Jun 15, 2013, 12:43 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
I ordered a drink on a flight home last night and handed over my drink coupon. The man across the aisle ordered a drink. The flight attendant asked if he wanted one drink or two, he paid with a peice of paper. He said one. She told him since you are ordering only one, and you have another one coming, here take this drink coupon and use it next time. She gave him MY drink coupon, with MY name (first initial and last name) AND the last 4 digits of my rapid rewards number. I was taken aback, but did not say anything, because I really didn't know what to say. Is this standard practice?????
Jun 15, 2013, 12:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
Curious, what do you think a predator or stalker could do with the information on the coupon?
Jun 15, 2013, 12:47 pm
#6
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Well, if this was a flight to a relatively small town and the OP had an unusual name, it might not be hard to find her home address and phone number. Similarly, if the place doesn't have a lot of hotels, one could call a short list and ask for the person by name.
Jun 15, 2013, 12:54 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 75
I do have a very unusual last name. Only one in the phone book. These days it is very easy to find someone with very little information. I am not saying this man was a stalker, just saying I don't appreciate the fact that any of my information is being handed out. Maybe this is a common practice, but I have never seen it before. It felt a little creepy. I think the gentleman thought it was weird too, as he did a double take at the coupon. I think it is unnecessary.
Jun 15, 2013, 1:02 pm
#10
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
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I don't see the advantage to Southwest of printing the passenger's name and full RR account number on each coupon. A coupon serial number would work just as well. Link it in a database to the customer if necessary. The current implementation is lazy and insensitive to privacy concerns.
Jun 15, 2013, 1:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
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Posts: 1,266
Flight attendant shared my personal info with a stranger
If he was a stalker and that way inclined, couldn't he just follow you from the airport.
Get a grip!
Get a grip!
Jun 15, 2013, 3:16 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
I ordered a drink on a flight home last night and handed over my drink coupon. The man across the aisle ordered a drink. The flight attendant asked if he wanted one drink or two, he paid with a peice of paper. He said one. She told him since you are ordering only one, and you have another one coming, here take this drink coupon and use it next time. She gave him MY drink coupon, with MY name (first initial and last name) AND the last 4 digits of my rapid rewards number. I was taken aback, but did not say anything, because I really didn't know what to say. Is this standard practice?????
Jun 15, 2013, 3:59 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 75
I really didn't know what to say. What do you say in a circumstance like that if you feel uncomfortable? I had already given the voucher to the flight attendant, so it was no longer my property. If this is a standard practice, I guess I just need to "suck it up". Flying over 100 Southwest flights/year, I have never seen this happen before. If the general consensus is that it is no big deal, I will drop it. If others think it is as uncomfortable as I do, I will likely write a letter to Southwest asking them if there is another way to handle this.
Jun 15, 2013, 4:06 pm
#15
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But this is YOUR choice. The FA gave the OP's coupon to some strange guy without asking permission.