Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 2026
Who we are
The Travel Companion (thetravelcompanion.biz) is a platform that connects elderly travellers with trusted co-travellers on the same airport route. We are committed to protecting your personal data and complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
What data we collect
- From Google sign-in: your name, email address, and profile photo.
- From your profile: LinkedIn URL and/or WhatsApp number (optional, provided by you).
- From trips you post: origin, destination, transit airport, flight date, flight number, and any notes you add.
- From messages: the content of in-app chat messages between matched travellers.
- Usage data: session tokens to keep you logged in.
Why we collect it
- To create and manage your account.
- To match you with travellers on the same route.
- To share your contact details with a matched traveller (only after you explicitly confirm).
- To allow in-app communication between matched travellers.
- To build a trust reputation over time (completed trips, ratings).
The legal basis for processing is your consent, given when you sign in and confirm sharing your details with another traveller.
Who we share your data with
- Other travellers: your name, email, and LinkedIn/WhatsApp are shared with the trip poster only when you click "Confirm & connect". This is the core function of the service.
- Neon (neon.tech): our database provider, stores all your data securely in the EU.
- Pusher (pusher.com): powers real-time in-app chat. Messages are relayed through Pusher but not stored by them.
- Vercel (vercel.com): hosts the application.
- We do not sell your data to any third party.
How long we keep your data
We keep your data for as long as you have an active account. If you delete your account, all your data — including trips, messages, and interests — is permanently deleted within 30 days.
Your rights
Under GDPR you have the right to:
- Access the data we hold about you.
- Correct inaccurate data (via your profile page).
- Delete your account and all associated data (via your profile page).
- Withdraw consent at any time by deleting your account.
- Data portability — request a copy of your data by emailing us.
To exercise any of these rights, visit your profile page or contact us at hello@thetravelcompanion.biz.
Cookies
We use only strictly necessary session cookies to keep you logged in. We do not use tracking or advertising cookies, so no cookie consent banner is required.
Contact
If you have any questions about this policy or your data, contact us at hello@thetravelcompanion.biz.