Since My Flight Is Delayed: What Not to Do at an Airport with Your IP and Privacy

Flight delayed again.

So here I am at Phoenix airport, watching my departure time slip further away. With time to kill, I went for a walk and grabbed some lunch. 

What I saw reminded me of two privacy lessons worth sharing.

The "Affinity App" Trap

After ordering a surprisingly good airport breakfast (yes, they exist), I went to pay. The server encouraged me to use an affinity website tied to a mobile app, explaining it would "help out the server."

Now, I'm all for supporting great service and leaving a reasonable tip. But this kind of setup often trades convenience for your privacy. You end up signing up for a lifetime of marketing emails, targeted ads, and data mining.

What stood out most was how hard it was to simply pay with cash or a debit card. Forget about getting an itemized paper bill. 

The design is intentional. At airports, companies know most travelers won't say no to a friendly server or a quick digital payment. But that "one-time" transaction usually isn't. 

I still get emails from an airport in upstate New York about joining their Wi-Fi, ten years later.

A great meal can make your day. Giving away your data can follow you forever.

Talking About Business in Public

On my way back to the gate, I overheard the following:

"We should file a cease and desist against X." 

"When approaching Y, let's use this pricing strategy."

Then my phone rang. A potential client wanted to discuss a new invention. My response was simple: "Let's talk when I'm not at the airport."

Why? 

Because airport privacy is an illusion. 

Those quiet corners and phone columns are anything but private. I could easily hear what those travelers were saying, and if I can, so can your competitors.

If you must handle business while traveling, use text, email, or encrypted messaging. It's better for confidentiality and everyone's peace of mind.

Here's what I remind myself:

Airports are full of people in transit, but your personal data and business information shouldn't be along for the ride. 

Please make this attorney, and probably your own counsel happy, please keep your data to yourself. 

It’s not only smart; it’s polite too.