Travel loyalty programs collect a wide range of personal data from passport numbers to travel preferences making them prime targets for cyberattacks. Ensuring data protection isn’t just about compliance with laws like GDPR and CCPA—it’s key to maintaining traveler trust and loyalty. Learn how leading brands are securing this valuable data while retaining personalized travel rewards to protect both their members and their reputation.
Why Travel Loyalty Data Is a Prime Target
Travel loyalty programs thrive on delivering personalized, seamless experiences. But personalization requires access to sensitive data far beyond standard contact details. These programs often store names, emails, travel histories, passport information, and known traveler numbers.
As Scott Napieralski, Senior Director of Engineering at Switchfly, explained during a recent episode of Travel Buddy, unlike retailers or restaurants that collect limited details, travel loyalty programs bring together a wide array of sensitive user data in one location. This makes them highly attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking both scale and specificity in the data they exploit.
The very data that enables a loyalty program to recommend relaxing nature retreats for a family traveler instead of bustling city tours also creates a single point of vulnerability. A breach can expose not only profile data, but also highly personal information like travel documents and itineraries—causing losses that go well beyond the financial.
Napieralski also noted that brand trust can take years to build, and only hours to lose. In travel, where consumers expect reliability and peace of mind, one lapse in security can quickly lead members to switch to a competitor.
Key Data Compliance Requirements for Travel Brands
Travel loyalty programs face a complex web of regulatory requirements, especially when handling data across global markets. Compliance is not optional—it’s foundational.
GDPR and CCPA Obligations
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to any organization handling the personal data of EU residents, regardless of where the company is based. Key requirements include:
-
Transparency about data collection and usage
-
Documentation of what data is stored
-
The right for consumers to access or delete their information
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) enforces similar obligations for U.S.-based programs, particularly those serving California residents. Often referred to as the “right to be forgotten,” these regulations ensure that travelers retain control over their personal information.
These frameworks, along with many others, have shifted how companies approach data privacy, especially those operating internationally.
Industry Standards: SOC 2 and Beyond
Beyond legal compliance, frameworks like SOC 2 establish rigorous guidelines for data security, availability, and confidentiality. Regular audits, secure development practices, and documented controls are required to maintain compliance.
Napieralski emphasizes that while compliance frameworks are essential, they should be seen as starting points—not finish lines—meeting minimum standards doesn’t guarantee full protection. True security comes from a culture of continuous improvement.
Best Practices for Loyalty Program Data Protection
To stay ahead of emerging threats, travel brands must adopt a layered, proactive approach to loyalty program security.
1. Encrypt Data at Rest and in Transit
Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted or accessed without authorization, it remains unreadable. It’s a critical safeguard whether information is stored in databases or moving between systems.
2. Use Role-Based Access and Multi-Factor Authentication
Role-based access control functions like locking cabinets—only those with a specific need can open a drawer. Limiting data access to only authorized personnel greatly reduces internal threats. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds another layer by verifying identity beyond just a password.
3. Audit, Monitor, and Train Regularly
Routine audits and real-time monitoring help identify vulnerabilities before they become breaches. But technology isn’t enough—ongoing employee training is key to preventing social engineering, phishing, and other human-error threats. Security must be a shared responsibility across the organization.
4. Adapt to Evolving Threats with AI
Artificial intelligence is now being used by both attackers and defenders. From automated fraud detection to anomaly spotting in login behavior, AI tools help brands stay one step ahead. But they also require careful oversight to avoid bias and ensure ethical deployment.
5. Reinforce Trust Through the User Experience
Security isn’t just backend infrastructure—it’s part of the brand experience. Trust cues like SSL certificates (browser lock icons), transparent privacy policies, and clear communication during booking reassure users that their data is safe.
Balancing Trust, Security, and Experience
The mission of a travel loyalty program is to deliver personalized, memorable experiences. But that mission can only succeed if travelers trust the platform with their most sensitive information.
By combining regulatory compliance with best-in-class security practices—and by communicating those efforts transparently—brands offering travel can protect both their customers and their reputations. When security is embedded in every touchpoint, members can book with confidence, knowing their journey begins with trust.
Secure Travel Loyalty from the Inside Out
Data protection doesn’t have to come at the cost of customer engagement. Switchfly gives brands the tools to meet global security standards like GDPR and CCPA—while still offering dynamic, personalized travel loyalty experiences. Talk to our team to learn how.
