Yes, online check-ins for airlines and cruise lines are generally secure.
Cruise lines and airline have invested a lot in cybersecurity to protect your personal information.
Yes, online check-ins for airlines and cruise lines are generally secure. They’ve invested a lot in cybersecurity to protect your personal information.
But you need to understand the different parts of this and what you can do to protect your info too.
Airlines and cruise lines use industry standard encryption protocols like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt the data between your device and their servers. This encrypts your personal info so it’s almost impossible for anyone to intercept or read the data in transit.
And these travel companies have secure websites, often denoted by the padlock in your browser’s address bar and the “https” prefix in the URL. This means the website has a valid security certificate and your connection to it is encrypted.
Passengers need to do their part in securing their online check-ins. Here are some tips:
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Keep your booking number secure and not to share online or with anyone - if someone gets hold of it, it is fairly easy to access your profile.
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Be careful when using public Wi-Fi for online check-ins. If possible, use a VPN or your mobile data instead.
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Keep your devices’ operating systems and browsers up-to-date so you have the latest security patches.
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Be aware of phishing attempts. Always check the URL of the website you’re using for check-in and don’t click on suspicious links in emails.
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Log out of your account after check-in, especially if you’re using a shared or public computer.
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Monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity and report to the airline or cruise line if you notice anything unusual.
Just to be clear, online check-ins are designed to be secure but no system is 100% foolproof. Airlines and cruise lines are always working to improve their security and adapt to new threats. They go through regular security audits and comply with various data protection regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the US & POPIA in South Africa.
In the unlikely event of a data breach, reputable airlines and cruise lines have incident response plans. These plans usually involve notifying affected customers, providing guidance on how to protect their info and often credit monitoring services.
While online check-ins are convenient, passengers who are concerned about online security can always check in at the airport or cruise terminal in person. But with the security measures in place and following online safety best practices, most travelers can use online check-in without worrying too much about their personal info.