With the holiday season and travel plans quickly approaching, many are excited to escape the daily grind and share their adventures abroad online. 

It’s a time filled with anticipation, and social media posts flood timelines with snapshots of everything from destinations to boarding passes. 

While posting a picture of your boarding pass alongside your passport at the airport might seem harmless, experts warn that this simple act could expose you to serious cybersecurity risks.

Your boarding pass is more than just a ticket to your flight; it contains multiple layers of information, including codes with hidden meanings that can be confusing to even the most seasoned flyers – all while providing a goldmine for cybercriminals. 

It’s important to be clued-up on what each code means to stay one step ahead of last-minute airport changes, be prepared for extra security checks, and to safeguard your privacy online. 

Read on to discover how your personal information reads on your boarding pass:

Your boarding pass is more than just a ticket to your flight; it contains multiple layers of information, including codes with hidden meanings 

Passenger Name Record (PNR)  

A Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a six-digit alphanumeric code that appears on every boarding pass

More commonly known as a booking reference or reservation number, a Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a six-digit alphanumeric code that appears on every boarding pass. 

This randomly-generated sequence identifies you as a unique passenger in case you happen to share an exact first and last name with another person on your flight. 

Every passenger’s PNR is essentially a detailed travel itinerary that includes everything from flight details to meal preferences and even frequent flyer status. 

Flyers are warned to avoid uploading photos of boarding passes online – or even discarding of them in public bins – as the PNR can give hackers a deep insight into your travel plans and habits.  

If a cybercriminal obtains your name and booking reference number, they could log into your airline account, modify your bookings, steal your airmiles or even cancel flights. 

Barcode or QR Code 

A barcode or QR code is often scanned at boarding gates to speed up the boarding process

One of the most distinguishable elements of a modern-day boarding pass is its  barcode or QR code, which is often scanned at boarding gates to speed up the boarding process.

The scanner used by airline agents saves the information, which helps staff determine how many passengers have boarded, what seats have been taken and how much pieces of luggage have been checked. 

However, these barcodes commonly contain your PNR or booking reference, which hackers can easily decode using free online tools. 

With this information, they can track your travel patterns or even impersonate you to make fraudulent changes to your bookings. 

Security Code (SSSS)

SSSS stands for ‘Secondary Security Screening Selection,’ an extra-thorough security check enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US

In short, SSSS stands for ‘Secondary Security Screening Selection,’ an extra-thorough security check enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US.

Although hackers won’t get much use out of this code, those who discover it on their boarding pass should expect an ‘enhanced’ screening, which can take longer than standard security procedures and, in turn, potentially cause delays.

According to The Points Guy, the screening typically involves a ‘full-body pat-down, an additional metal-detecting wand wave and explosive-detecting swabs rubbed on your baggage and at least your hands.’

Bags are subject to a complete search, with the lining of luggage and its exterior pockets prodded, scanned and swept for narcotics and other contraband. 

A TSA agent will also most likely ask you questions regarding your reason for travel, your trip itinerary, destination information whether you packed your bags yourself. 

The criteria for selection is not always pre-determined, as a passenger can either be picked at random or due to inconsistent or ‘suspicious’ behaviour, such as paying cash for a flight or buying a number of one-way tickets.

Sequence Number 

If your sequence number is SEQ/081, it means you were the 81st passenger to check in

This three-digit number indicates your ‘sequence’ or the order in which you checked in for your flight. 

For example, if your sequence number is SEQ/081, it means you were the 81st passenger to check in.

As with the Security Code, hackers won’t necessarily be able to do much with your Sequence Number, but it’s important to note when you checked in as your SEQ code can sometimes affect your seating, when you board, and if you can board at all. 

By being aware of your check-in status, it can help you understand what’s happening, why and when you might be owed compensation in the event you have experienced delays or are unable to board your flight.