Experts Share Why You Should Never Throw Away Your Boarding Pass

When you’re traveling, your boarding pass is pretty important. On your way through the airport, you might have a habit of clinging to it for dear life to make sure you don’t lose it. But as soon as it’s scanned and you step foot on the plane, that important piece of paper becomes pretty useless to you. Like everyone else, you throw it away the first chance you get. It served its purpose and you’re safely on board.

In a USA Today video, experts shared just how dangerous it can be to throw away your boarding pass. That little piece of paper contains some pretty revealing information that can leave you open to being a victim of hackers and thieves.

Here’s why you should never throw away your boarding pass:

If someone else finds your boarding pass, all they have to do is scan the barcode with a smart phone. In seconds, all your information is available to them. If you drop your boarding pass, leave it on the plane or throw it away and someone else finds it, you’re giving them a free pass to steal your personal information.

The square barcode in the corner is called a QR code. With one simple scan, a hacker will know your name, address, frequent flyer number and flight information. All of this information can be used to log into your account and change your pin number or other information. A hacker may also be able to see your future travel plans, giving them a heads up to when your house will be empty.

So how can you protect yourself from this type of hacker? It’s pretty simple. Keep a close eye on your boarding pass, even after you’re done using it!