Don’t throw away the tags on your suitcase!Here’s why keeping them is smart.
Those suitcase barcodes store your personal details—credit card info, address, and more. In today’s world, it’s worth keeping them safe.
The barcode on your luggage tag has a 10-digit License Plate Number (LPN), linking to the airline’s internal database, not your credit card info.
The barcode on your luggage contains the LPN, flight number, destination airport code, and the Passenger Name Record (PNR)—a six-character booking reference. The barcode itself doesn’t store detailed personal data. It connects to backend systems.
Scanning the barcode with a smartphone won’t reveal sensitive financial details. At most, they might get your last name and PNR.
Even if someone accesses the ‘Manage Booking’ portal, credit card numbers and CVVs are hidden, and passport numbers are partially obscured.
Even though aviation systems are secure, a luggage tag’s PNR and surname could expose basic booking details if misused. It doesn’t affect flight safety, but disposing of the tag properly helps protect your privacy.
Old luggage tag barcodes can confuse scanners and even misdirect bags.
Remove the tag once you arrive and destroy the barcode—rip it, shred it, or black out the PNR and name to prevent scanning issues.
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