Privacy Policy - Faresmap

Welcome to Faresmap. Your trust is the foundation of our service. We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of our users. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the collection, use, and protection of information when you interact with our platform. By accessing or using Faresmap, you agree to the terms outlined below.

1. Information We Collect

We gather information to provide, improve, and personalize your experience. This falls into two main categories:

a. Information You Provide

• Account & Contact Details: When you create an account, sign up for alerts, or contact support, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, and preferences.
• Transactional Data: Details related to your searches, saved trips, and interactions with our booking partners.

b. Information Collected Automatically

• Technical Data: Your IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and regional settings.
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, search queries, clickstream data, time spent on the platform, and referral sources.
• Location Data: Approximate geographic location derived from your IP address to provide relevant offers.

2. Our Use of Cookies & Similar Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and local storage to enhance functionality and analyze trends.

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for core functionality like navigation and secure access.
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand user behavior to improve our platform's speed and usability.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your language and regional settings for future visits.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings; however, disabling certain cookies may affect the platform's performance.

3. How We Utilize Your Information

Faresmap uses your information to:

• Deliver accurate travel comparisons for flights, accommodations, and experiences.
• Personalize search results and display relevant offers.
• Analyze user trends to enhance our algorithms and user interface.
• Communicate important service updates, respond to inquiries, and provide customer support.
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues or fraudulent activity.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

4. Third-Party Links & Integrated Services

Our platform serves as a hub that connects you with external travel suppliers, airlines, and hotels. When you select a deal, you will be redirected to a third-party website to complete your booking.

Important: We do not control the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information. Faresmap is not liable for the content or practices of linked third-party services.

5. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We only share your information under specific circumstances:

• With Service Providers: We engage trusted third parties to perform functions such as analytics, hosting, and customer service. These parties are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• For Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to enforce our rights, protect user safety, or investigate fraud.
• With Your Consent: We will share information for any other purpose if we have your explicit consent.
• Aggregated, anonymized data: May be shared with business partners for research and service improvement.

6. Data Security

We employ industry-standard administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. This includes encryption for data in transit and secure storage protocols. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

• Account Data: Retained until you request deletion or after a period of inactivity.
• Analytics Data: Aggregated usage data may be retained for longer to improve our services.
• Contact Requests: Information related to customer support queries is kept for the duration needed to resolve the issue and for a reasonable period thereafter.

When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized.

8. Your Privacy Rights & Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information.
• Deletion: Request the erasure of your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.
• Opt-Out: Manage cookie preferences or unsubscribe from marketing communications via the link in our emails.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details in the "Contact Us" section below.

9. Children's Privacy

Faresmap is intended for a general audience and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we discover that we have inadvertently gathered such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or operational needs. The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

11. Analytics & Performance Tools

We utilize analytics tools to better understand how users interact with our platform. These tools collect non-personally identifiable information such as session duration, bounce rates, and navigation paths. This data helps us diagnose technical issues and optimize the user experience.

12. Affiliate & Partner Relationships

Faresmap participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means that if you click on a link to a partner site and make a booking, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. These affiliate links help sustain our free comparison service.

13. International Data Transfers

Faresmap is headquartered in the United States. If you are accessing our platform from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where we or our service providers maintain infrastructure. By using Faresmap, you consent to the transfer of your data to countries that may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.

14. Legal Basis for Processing (For GDPR & Similar Regions)

For users in regions requiring a legal basis for data processing (such as the European Economic Area), we rely on:

• Contractual Necessity: To provide the services you request.
• Legitimate Interests: To improve our platform, ensure security, and prevent fraud.
• Consent: For marketing communications and optional cookies.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws.

15. Embedded Widgets & Third-Party Content

Our pages may include embedded content from third parties (e.g., map widgets, review modules, or fare calendars). These widgets may collect your IP address and monitor your interaction with the embedded content. We do not control these third-party widgets and are not responsible for their data practices.

16. Acknowledgment & Consent

By using the Faresmap platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please refrain from using our services. Continued use of the platform following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of those changes.