VA removing FF numbers from boarding passes

[oz_mark]

Maybe that's why so many of the credit card issuers have started moving the numbers to the back.

Just cheaper. And embossed numbers don't seem necessary any more.

 

[Stealthflyer]

And embossed numbers don't seem necessary any more.

Until you try and top up your Oyster card. For some reason the London transport machines won’t accept my card that doesn’t have embossed numbers.

 

[oirets]

Don’t think you understand. This is clamping down where a traveller prints a boarding pass using a kiosk and then passes it to another traveller in order to gain Lounge access and / or build up points and or status credits with a different person travelling.
It‘s a breach of aviation security and or falsely building airline status.
I think it’s 100% acceptable that if you want entry into a lounge you must present your boarding pass and proof of eligibility. That’s why they employee front desk staff.

This doesn't really seem to make much sense to me. If someone wants to get into a lounge by using someone else's status (without FF number on the boarding pass) then they could just install the app and log on as that person?

 

[33kft]

This doesn't really seem to make much sense to me. If someone wants to get into a lounge by using someone else's status (without FF number on the boarding pass) then they could just install the app and log on as that person?

They could probably just take a screenshot of the other person's app and save the whole installing business.

 

[anat0l]

It's a bit frustrating, but obviously telling people not to put their boarding pass on Instagram for everyone to see hasn't worked.

People post their credit cards on social media. What hope do they have with boarding passes?

Why should a change pander to some good-for-nothing, idiotic, sycophantic, unprincipled Instagrammers who can't exercise the 101s in digital privacy and protection?

Maybe this shows I'm not cut out for marketing.

 

[SeaWolf]

Why should a change pander to some good-for-nothing, idiotic, sycophantic, unprincipled Instagrammers who can't exercise the 101s in digital privacy and protection?

Well, think about it with credit cards. Ultimately the various fees, interest rates etc. include a small portion that's basically insurance. When fraud occurs, you're covered and so are the merchant, card issuers, card network etc. But, the more fraud that occurs the more expensive that insurance is going to be. So it makes sense for the credit card issuers to take reasonable steps to reduce the fraud (they can't manually check everyone's Facebook/Instagram account). This is the same, Qantas and Virgin are both doing this to reduce fraud exposure, fraud that ultimately ends up factored into your ticket price.

 

[CPMaverick]

it is extremely easy and free to download a barcode scanning app on a smartphone, and get this information.

Surely anyone that wants to use it for scamming purposes won't be 'foiled' by obscuring the external text.

 

[Denali]

Anyone else seeing this when they sign in

 

[TomVexille]

Anyone else seeing this when they sign in

View attachment 207692

Yes, I keep giving them a frowny face and tell them their advertising heavy page is confusing

 

[RisingPhoenix]

I got a Beta version of their new Website yesterday for one session, didn't stick to later sessions though. Seems like it was more burying of the information most of us want accessible quickly.

 

[Jet L]

Printed from a kiosk in Sydney the other day, as CPMaverick pointed out above the barcode still contains FF No. in full and is easy to scan with a free app on any smartphone. No physical or digital card required at the lounge and when I flew ahead I was issued with a regular boarding pass that still had my FF No. printed on it i'm sure it will take a while for IT to change it everywhere. Personally not fussed about it because I always keep my BP's however if they are trying to reduce fraud and increase security they need to go all the way and remove it from the barcode.

 

[pauly7]

Printed from a kiosk in Sydney the other day, as CPMaverick pointed out above the barcode still contains FF No. in full and is easy to scan with a free app on any smartphone. No physical or digital card required at the lounge and when I flew ahead I was issued with a regular boarding pass that still had my FF No. printed on it i'm sure it will take a while for IT to change it everywhere. Personally not fussed about it because I always keep my BP's however if they are trying to reduce fraud and increase security they need to go all the way and remove it from the barcode.
View attachment 207950

Ok good!

So why are VA emails screeching at us telling us we absolutely need their app (digital card) or a physical card when the BP still shows status?

 

[glasszon]

Until you try and top up your Oyster card. For some reason the London transport machines won’t accept my card that doesn’t have embossed numbers.

Which card did you use? I topped up my Oyster card using ANZ Travel Adventure, which doesn't have embossed numbers on the card and the machine accepted it.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Which card did you use? I topped up my Oyster card using ANZ Travel Adventure, which doesn't have embossed numbers on the card and the machine accepted it.

Same card. I tried a few machines to no avail. This was last May so maybe things have changed since then.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Ok good!

So why are VA emails screeching at us telling us we absolutely need their app (digital card) or a physical card when the BP still shows status?

Because lounges not operated by VA take a note of your Velocity number when entering in order to submit a bill to Velocity for payment of the lounge entry fee.

 

[glasszon]

Same card. I tried a few machines to no avail. This was last May so maybe things have changed since then.

Strange, I have been to UK a few times and I never had problems topping up my Oyster card using the ANZ travel adventure card, I assume the card worked elsewhere (ie. not blocked)?

 

[Stealthflyer]

Strange, I have been to UK a few times and I never had problems topping up my Oyster card using the ANZ travel adventure card, I assume the card worked elsewhere (ie. not blocked)?

Yep. It’s worked everywhere else. It wasn’t a major problem at the time. I have a Citibank debit card as back up when travelling so I just used that instead.

 

[SeaWolf]

Yep. It’s worked everywhere else. It wasn’t a major problem at the time. I have a Citibank debit card as back up when travelling so I just used that instead.

We're getting a little off topic but last time I was in London I just skipped the Oyster card entirely and used the ANZ card directly and it worked fine.

 

[Jet L]

Ok good!

So why are VA emails screeching at us telling us we absolutely need their app (digital card) or a physical card when the BP still shows status?

No clue, I never got an email but it might be a requirement in the future or they just want more people to download their app

 

[Must...Fly!]

No clue, I never got an email but it might be a requirement in the future or they just want more people to download their app

Because lounges not operated by VA take a note of your Velocity number when entering in order to submit a bill to Velocity for payment of the lounge entry fee.

Hate to quote myself, but...