A video featuring a flight attendant’s advice on how to avoid “sharing your data with everyone” while traveling has gone viral on TikTok.
The tip was revealed in a video posted by flight attendant Ally Case (@allycase1) and has garnered over 614,000 views since it was posted on July 18.
Pointing to a baggage tag on a suitcase, the flight attendant in the clip says, “I don’t know why more people don’t do this. Always, always, always turn the information on your baggage tag upside down.”
The flight attendant says in the clip: “I can’t tell you how many people I see every day whose information is displayed for everyone to see – their name, their phone number, their home address.”
Overall passenger demand increased by 11 percent in April compared to April 2023, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported in May. According to an IATA report in January, total global air traffic in November 2023 was 99.1 percent of November 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels.
Flight attendant employment is expected to grow by 11 percent between 2022 and 2032, “significantly faster than the average for all occupations,” says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
“Over the course of the decade, an average of about 16,600 flight attendant vacancies are expected each year. Many of these vacancies are expected to be created by the need to replace workers who move to other occupations or leave the labor force, such as to retire,” the BLS said.
‘So smart’
A caption on the viral post mentioned above reads: “One of my top travel safety tips. I don’t even like strangers knowing my name – there’s no way I’m giving out my phone number and home address!!“
She advises: “You can instead fill out the information (on the luggage tag) and turn it over. That way, you’re not giving your information to everyone when you’re on the train or plane.”
That way, “if your luggage actually gets lost, someone can turn it over and get your information,” she explained, adding, “You can also write ‘turn over’ or something similar.”
TikTok users praised the flight attendant’s advice in the viral clip.
Danidaneheart said: “This is actually one of the best travel tips I’ve ever heard. It’s about writing the word ‘flip’ on the map.”
NAS said it was “So clever” and another user wrote, “Oh wow, thanks. I’ll start using this.”
“This is a great idea. I always used my work address and phone number. Plus, Mom and Dad taught me to put that exact information in the suitcase in case the label gets ripped off,” nannydawg said.
“OMG. Did this a few years ago and couldn’t believe I’d never seen anyone else do the same thing,” bizibee3 noted.
Newsweek reached out to the original poster via TikTok and email for comment. This video has not been independently verified.
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