What’s something you can’t live without when traveling? Well, you don’t really need your email to enjoy your trip, but having access to it is definitely recommended because it plays a key role in travel logistics. Airlines, hotels, and tour operators usually send tickets and reservation details by email to provide a written record and serve as a reference for all parties involved. Receipts for purchases abroad, like excursions, are emailed, and your bank will contact you by email about any suspicious activity in your account. If you get locked out of your apps, your inbox is the place where your online accounts will send the recovery links or codes.
Email providers keep an eye out for unusual sign-in activity on the off chance that someone else is trying to get into your account. If you’re traveling to a place you’ve never been before or using a new device, you might be asked to confirm it’s you and not somebody who stole your credentials. Most services send a one-time code or link to your email when they detect something out of the ordinary, and if you can’t provide the information requested, you receive an error like “Your account has been temporarily locked due to multiple security code requests.” After too many failed login attempts, your email is gone forever.
Like Most Travel-Related Problems, The Best Defence Is A Good Offense
A traveller’s worst nightmare would be more along the lines of getting stranded in a foreign country without any help, you know, the stuff that inspires horror stories. However, having your email blocked and continually denied access ranks pretty high as one of the worst things that could possibly happen abroad. If your flight is delayed, cancelled, or the gate changes, the information will be communicated by email for easy access. Even in the age of apps and push notifications, email is still the backbone of communication. Hotel loyalty programs, ride-sharing apps, navigation apps, and so on require an email to log in and recover your account.
To keep your trip stress-free, here are some steps you can take to avoid getting locked out of your email account while on vacation.
Update Your Recovery Information
Imagine that the worst has already happened. You can’t get into your email account, and panic sets in as you realize how much of your life depends on it. The good news is that recovery is possible, but the exact steps depend on your email provider and what recovery options you’ve set up earlier. If you use Proton Mail, which is especially popular among privacy purists, you can unlock your account and data using your 12-word phrase. You can use your recovery email or phone number to regain authorized entry, but your emails remain encrypted and unreadable.
If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you need to obtain a one-time password before logging in. Let’s say you’re in a quiet place with free Wi-Fi, but your cell service is so bad that you can’t receive a text message or other private information. Or what if you’re overseas, with an eSIM plan, and you can’t get the text until you get back home or enter an area covered by a partnered carrier? Print out important codes ahead of time to have a reliable safety net for account access. Either print them or save them in an encrypted password manager.
Enable App-Based Authentication
An authenticator app offers stronger security than just a password or receiving codes via text message. You’ve got standard time-based codes that refresh every 30 seconds, but you can also use push notifications to approve sign-in requests. Losing the device with the authenticator app can spell trouble, but it doesn’t mean your email is gone for good. The majority of authenticator apps give you the chance to add backup and recovery. It goes without saying that they collect personal data, including geolocation, device details, and app usage patterns.
Redirect Incoming Emails To Another Address
You should test your login from a different device before setting off to be sure you can access your email inbox on a phone, tablet, or computer that’s not your go-to option. Do this in advance to catch issues like missing backup codes and avoid unpleasant surprises once you’re abroad. Forwarding your emails guarantees you still get important messages in a secondary account you trust. Clearly outline which emails should be forwarded and ensure you don’t miss out on features like folders, filters, or attachments. Each domain has its own policy: some will allow a failing email to be delivered, while others will insist that the failing email should be quarantined, just like spam.
Inform Your Email Provider Of Your Travel Plans
Finally, yet importantly, you should let your email provider know about your getaway plans, especially if you’re using an older system or are travelling to a location flagged as high-risk. They don’t have a specific “Travel Alert” form like a bank, so the most effective way to inform them is through customer support. Your mail account provider may have a specific, buried form or a knowledge base article that confirms you don’t need to do anything or directs you to a specific process. Anyway, precaution is wiser than any regret, so be brief and provide the necessary details.
Even if you go through the hassle of notifying your mail host of your trip outline, the best thing you can do to avoid getting locked out of your email is to double-check your security setup. Be positive your phone number for SMS codes works overseas, and use an authenticator app to generate credentials without needing cell service. Taking these extra precautions ensures that even if your provider flags unusual activity or your phone signal drops, you’ll still have reliable ways to access your account and keep your travel plans running without disruption.
Wrap-Up
For peace of mind, print out important documents, so you’re ready for almost anything. The last thing you want is to turn to data roaming, wait an eternity for your documents to load, and pay exorbitant charges.
