An airport flight attendant has revealed how criminals prey on travelers – and what you can do to protect yourself.
Argentina Airlines crew member Barbara Bacilieri, known as Barbie Bac online, explained that the airport and planes are prime hunting ground for opportunistic thieves, as reported by What’s The Jam.
She claimed that many thieves actually buy plane tickets so that they can access airports without the intention of even flying.
And there’s one common practice that most travelers do that she warned may actually putting them at risk.
According to the flight attending, charging your phones in airport USB ports is a potential danger for flyers as they can be hacked, allowing thieves to access a wealth of personal information and bank details.
Barbara said: ‘Airports operate like small cities, and just like in any city, crime happens every single day – only here, it’s harder to see, and even harder to stop.
‘[Criminals’] only goal is to pass through security, access the boarding gates, and rob passengers or duty-free stores, then disappear before the flight departs.
‘And it gets worse. Some of these thieves are repeat offenders, caught on camera, exposed on Instagram or TikTok, and yet – they’re still there, walking through terminals like regular travelers.
An airport flight attendant has revealed how criminals prey on travelers – and what you can do to protect yourself
Barbara Bacilieri, known as Barbie Bac online, explained that the airport and planes are prime hunting ground for opportunistic thieves, as reported by What’s The Jam
She claimed that many thieves actually buy plane tickets so that they can access airports without the intention of even flying
‘Nobody stops them. No one follows up.’
Barbara added that bank cards are also at risk in the airport and what’s known as a hidden NFC scanner can extract data in seconds simply by being brushed past the card.
This tiny act is often not noticed until days later when travelers see unknown transactions on their cards, often in foreign countries, making the crime even harder to stop.
Barabara said the threat to travelers continues on board planes, especially once the lights are dimmed, and warned to stay vigilant.
She added: ‘The [thieves] wait for the lights to dim, for passengers to fall asleep, and then quietly open overhead bins, unzip bags, and take what they want. Jewelry, cash, electronics.
‘I’ve seen it happen. I’ve reported it. And the truth is, without cameras on board, there’s often nothing we can do. And yes, they steal from the crew too.’
Thankfully, the airport attendant said there are ways to protect yourself when traveling.
She suggested you always carry your own USB charging port for your devices, which should not be left unattended or out of sight for even a second during security checks.
And there’s one common practice that most travelers do that she warned may actually putting them at risk: charging their phones at a USB port in the airport
Barbara said: ‘Airports operate like small cities, and just like in any city, crime happens every single day – only here, it’s harder to see, and even harder to stop’
According to the flight attending, charging your phones in airport USB ports is a potential danger for flyers as they can be hacked, allowing thieves to access personal information
Barbara warned: ‘Use RFID-blocking wallets to protect your cards from NFC skimming.
‘Lock your carry-on, even during the flight. Avoid leaving valuables unattended, even for a second.
‘Be cautious of overly friendly strangers, both in terminals and on board. If something feels off, report it to the crew immediately.’
Last month, Barbara also spoke out about why travelers should never clap their hands when a plane lands.
She posted a video on TikTok, where she has over four million followers, claimed that passengers shouldn’t put their hands together right after the tires hit the tarmac because accidents can still occur as long as the plane is still moving.
‘Until [it stops moving], unexpected situations can still occur,’ she explained, listing potential incidents such as brake failure, emergency reverser activation, or tires bursting.