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Privacy Policy
Last Updated: April 13, 2026
PikaFly ("we", "our", "us") operates the PikaFly mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information.
1. Information We Collect
Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your username, email address, and password (encrypted by Firebase Authentication).
Usage Data: We collect information about how you use the App, including search queries (cities, airports, dates), filter preferences, and interactions with results.
User-Generated Content: If you add events, comments, or upload images, that content is stored in our database and visible to other users.
Location Data: If you grant permission, we may access your device location for the Drive feature to calculate distances from your current location.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To provide and improve the App's travel search features (flights, packages, drive routes, events, hotels)
- To display search results from third-party APIs
- To allow you to create and share events with other users
- To calculate fuel costs and driving distances
- To authenticate your account and secure your data
3. Third-Party Services
We use third-party services for authentication, data storage, travel search, geocoding, and content. These services may receive information such as search queries and account data.
- Firebase (Google): Authentication, database (Firestore), storage, and push notifications
- SearchAPI.io: Flight, hotel, and event search results
- API Ninjas: City geocoding for the Drive feature
- National Park Service (NPS) API: Park data for the Drive feature
- Ticketmaster Discovery API: Live event and concert data
- EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration): National average gas prices
- Expo Push Notification Service: Delivery of price alert notifications
Each of these services has its own privacy policy. We do not sell your personal information to any third party.
4. Affiliate Booking Partners
PikaFly participates in affiliate programs with third-party travel and event providers, which may include but are not limited to Skyscanner, Booking.com, Expedia Group (Hotels.com, Vrbo), Travelpayouts, and Ticketmaster.
When you tap a booking link in the App (for example, "Book Flight" or "Get Tickets"):
- You are redirected to the partner's website or app.
- Your interaction with the partner site is governed by that partner's own privacy policy and terms — not ours.
- We may append an affiliate tracking identifier to the booking URL so the partner can attribute the booking back to PikaFly. This identifier does not contain any personally identifiable information about you.
- If you complete a purchase, PikaFly may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
- Partners may set their own cookies or tracking pixels once you leave PikaFly; we do not control those and they are subject to the partner's privacy practices.
We recommend reviewing each partner's privacy policy before completing a booking.
5. Data Storage and Security
- Account data is stored securely via Firebase Authentication with encrypted passwords
- User-generated content (events, comments, images) is stored in Firebase Firestore and Firebase Storage
- All data transmitted between the App and our servers is encrypted
- We implement input sanitization and rate limiting to protect against attacks
- Images are validated for type and size before upload (max 5MB, JPG/PNG/WebP only)
6. Data Retention
- Account data is retained until you delete your account
- User-generated events and comments remain visible to other users unless removed
- Search queries are not permanently stored on our servers
- Price alerts are retained until the alert expires, is matched, or is manually cancelled
7. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your account information
- Delete your account and associated data (available in Settings)
- Request removal of your user-generated content by contacting us
8. Children's Privacy
The App is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy within the App.