I legit had to go behind the front desk once and make my own room access card after screaming at the top of my lungs for an employee for 10 minutes. It was 2AM and the wife and I were super drunk. Our cards weren’t working. Luckily the computer wasn’t password protected and the card system was straightforward.
That was probably permanent magnet cards (pre-made credit cards, membership cards, etc) vs re-writable magnetic cards that can be written to with a desktop machine.
Most hotels use reprogrammable RFID cards, not magnetic cards. Hanlon’s razor dictates negligence or incompetence be assumed first. I think it’s more likely that a hotel employee incorrectly programmed the cards, or just didn’t at all before handing them over.
I vastly prefer the RFID but several of the Homewood Suites and Hampton Inns I stay in each week are still magnetic stripe. I’ve definitely killed one. Used it to unlock my room, but then stuck it in a pocket with my magnetic headphone case when I went to workout
I have a magnetic clip wallet, keeps all my credit cards and stuff in place. doesn’t do anything to my cards, but to hotel room keys? those are much more susceptible o the magnetic field. wallet always erases those mfers. now I just keep my room key in an entirely different pocket/place
I legit had to go behind the front desk once and make my own room access card after screaming at the top of my lungs for an employee for 10 minutes. It was 2AM and the wife and I were super drunk. Our cards weren’t working. Luckily the computer wasn’t password protected and the card system was straightforward.
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the room keys react to magnetic fields, if you had anything magnetic in your pockets, near them, it erases the info on it
Mythbusters did a bit on that. I seem to recall that unless you’ve got an MRI in your pocket, it should be fine.
That was probably permanent magnet cards (pre-made credit cards, membership cards, etc) vs re-writable magnetic cards that can be written to with a desktop machine.
Most hotels use reprogrammable RFID cards, not magnetic cards. Hanlon’s razor dictates negligence or incompetence be assumed first. I think it’s more likely that a hotel employee incorrectly programmed the cards, or just didn’t at all before handing them over.
They do these days. They used to use magnetic strip. Some low-budget places probably still do. Or even physical keys.
I vastly prefer the RFID but several of the Homewood Suites and Hampton Inns I stay in each week are still magnetic stripe. I’ve definitely killed one. Used it to unlock my room, but then stuck it in a pocket with my magnetic headphone case when I went to workout
Can also personally attest that a hotel room key card & galaxy buds case do not mix.
I have a magnetic clip wallet, keeps all my credit cards and stuff in place. doesn’t do anything to my cards, but to hotel room keys? those are much more susceptible o the magnetic field. wallet always erases those mfers. now I just keep my room key in an entirely different pocket/place
If it’s stupid and it works… but also super dangerous that there’s no password protection on the access key to people’s rooms.
This is my takeaway. Always use the deadbolt or slide lock on the inside of the door, sheesh.
Hotels don’t really have those bells on the counter any more.
I service the phone systems in at least 25 hotels in the area. They basically all have bells on the counter.