Jetting off on holiday or for a mini-break is always an exciting prospect. However, if you’re planning to travel in the near future, there are certain rules that you might want to adhere to. A former airport security officer has revealed one thing you should never do before boarding a plane – it’s crucial unless you want to risk having your journey cancelled. Harmony, who shares various travel tips online under the username travelwiththeharmony, has some important advice about sensible travelling to prevent any major boarding issues as you prepare for your adventures.
In a recent TikTok video, Harmony admitted he “he shouldn’t be laughing” at the serious situation, but was astounded by what he saw in a recent online clip. He stumbled upon a video about a woman embarking on a trip.
Apparently, she had never flown before and was extremely excited about her journey, but she committed a significant travel faux pas. She posted a photo of her boarding pass on her Instagram “close friends” list, thinking she was simply letting people know about her departure, but it led to a major problem.
Harmony explained: “The day arrives when this girl has to fly. She gets to the airport, only to discover someone has cancelled her flight.”
He added: “Somebody cancelled that girl’s flight. I don’t know why she didn’t check her emails, but somebody cancelled her flight.
“Let this be a lesson to those people who post everything. If you’re going to post something, make sure you cover your confirmation numbers and all your sensitive information is covered.”
He jokingly added: “And, young lady, if you’re watching this video, you need to go and delete everybody from your close friends because, if you posted it in your close friends, somebody in there cancelled your flight. Girl, go clean that up.”
Since being shared, the video has garnered hundreds of views and numerous comments. Viewers expressed disbelief that airline staff couldn’t locate the boarding pass when she arrived at the airport.
One commenter wrote: “People have had their cruises canceled for doing the same thing.” Another noted: “I always cover up important information on everything.”
A third commenter replied: “That’s gone wrong. You’re right though – never post stuff like that.” Meanwhile, another person chimed in with: “See, because I keep telling people that not everything is meant to be content. Especially details, locations, jobs/promotions – that’s neither wise nor safe. Stop it.”
The risks of sharing flight details online
Posting flight details online, particularly your boarding pass, confirmation code or any information that could allow someone to access your reservation or personal information, poses significant risks. Sharing this data can lead to various issues such as identity theft, seat changes and even flight cancellations.
Documents like a boarding pass or confirmation code can allow someone to access your flight details, potentially enabling them to alter your seat or even cancel your flight.
Many boarding passes and booking confirmations also include your name, frequent flyer number and possibly your passport or licence number. Sharing sensitive information such as your booking number can leave you susceptible to identity theft.
This could lead to someone using your details to set up fraudulent accounts or make unauthorised purchases. There are several risks associated with oversharing information, so it’s always best to avoid doing so.