I’m a nervous flyer, but not for the reasons you might think. I’m not scared of taking off, flying, or landing, but I’m uneasy about how much of our privacy we give up when we take to the skies. I don’t like going through security, and I hate that so much of my private information is in the airlines’ computers at a time when so many other companies are getting hacked. And I hate the feeling that someone else might take my luggage, or that TSA agents will go through it even before it hits the conveyor belt–I don’t feel good until I get the bag back in my hand! Can the experts provide any advice?
Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to totally retain our privacy when we fly. There has long been debate over the relative merits of privacy and security, but we don’t each get to decide for ourselves which one we value more: the government and its agencies choose on our behalf, and we have to abide by the rules that it sets.
Still, expert insight may help you feel better about some of the issues you mention and may help you avoid some others. Let’s run through them one at a time.
You have to go through security to get on a plane, but if you fly enough, you may want to consider getting TSA Precheck. This program costs money, but members are allowed to skip some security checks, as the TSA screens them ahead of time–hence the name! You also have some limited choices in terms of how you are checked at security. Unfortunately, the default options are probably the least invasive ones.
As for your private information, well, the good news is that airlines work hard to protect your data. Web security is a big business, and there are many companies to choose from who offer enterprise-level security suites for larger clientele, including information security company Terbium Labs. And airlines are smart enough to know they’re a target, as they have both personal and financial information about you. Still, airlines are less likely to be targeted than some other companies–like the healthcare industry, which is the most frequently targeted space.
As for your luggage, you can’t stop security from taking a look at it. But you can minimize the impact of a security check by packing neatly and using clear containers, so that those checking can do so without disrupting too much of your stuff. And you can use TSA locks on your luggage to ensure that only TSA employees can look through your bags (remember, locks besides the ones that allow TSA agents access can be cut off). This will protect your luggage from other travelers, and will also make it harder to confuse people with similar bags. Another way to do that is to grab a unique bag tag to help you identify your luggage–and to help remind others that it isn’t theirs. Other options include sewing a patch onto the suitcase, tying a ribbon onto its handle, or using a colorful luggage strap.
Flying can be rough on the privacy-minded folks among us, but there are ways to feel better about air travel. Hopefully your next flight will be a little less upsetting!
“The glamour of twentieth-century air travel helped to persuade once-fearful travelers to take to the skies and encouraged parochial Americans to go out and see the world.” — Virginia Postrel
Anthony Masterton is a writer of all things tech and Co-Founder / CEO of B2B Startup Obolo.