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There are several urban myths currently running around about the electronic key hotel door locks. This article deals with the 'key card' type that you dip or slide, not the newer RFID types.
The most common is "What exactly is on my key?". A few bits of important information actually, but none that you are to be worried about. Onity/Tesa and SafLok are two of the major vendors for this type of technology. Although they both have systems that fully integrate with the hotel reservation systems now, none of that information is encoded on the cards. The cards contain your room number. Actually a lock code that the lock on your rooms door has been programmed to recognize as a valid key. The expiration date of your key is also there, along with a unique key number to identify all of your keys from each other. There is also a build number so that your keys are identified as belonging to that type of lock system, with another identifier that is unique to the specific hotel you are at.

Some systems will also contain a 'pointer' to your specific billing folio in the hotel for use of 'key enabled' bar tabs, room service, wet bar, spa services, etc. . This is simply another number internal to the specific hotel. No actual credit info is ever placed there as far as I know.
To have a smooth stay, avoid pagers, cell phones, being in the same pocket as your key. Also check where those 'shoplifting deactivators' are when shopping and you set down your purse or wallet. These are the major causes of 'key failures'.
Keep these easy things in mind, and have a great trip with no worries.

Learn more about this author, Carl Powell.
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