Unless you live off the grid, companies know a whole lot about you. Practically any company you work with has access to your name, address, phone number and email address. Other companies may also know your social security number or have access to your credit report. And now, in the digital age, more and more companies have access to your biometric information, too.
So although it happens more if you’re flying first or business class, it really isn’t surprising how much, let’s say, your airlines know about you:
Your food and beverage preferences
I’m not saying that when a flight attendant asks me what kind of drink I want, they’ll immediately know that I prefer my soda without ice (although that happens to be true, LOL). But if you sit in first or business class often enough, airlines will already know if you select special meals such as vegetarian or kosher. And since you tend to order your meal ahead of time, your airline knows what kind of foods you prefer, time after time.
Your birthday
PC (cropped): Eldriva / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Did you know that some airlines provide flight attendants with digital seat maps that include a birthday cake icon if you happen to fly with them on your birthday? So if they give you a card or a special treat and wish you a happy birthday – that’s why and how.
Personal touches like this one allow crew members “to engage with customers in a meaningful way,” John Slater, United Airline’s senior vice president of in-flight services, told the Wall Street Journal.
Your last few flights with them
Was your last flight on this airline a good one, or was it delayed by 12 hours? Flight attendants have access to the status of your previous flights, so if they were particularly bad, they can try to make up for it.
Your behavior on your last few flights with them
Did you scream at the gate agent when you were stuck with that 12-hour delay? Did you ever drink too much on a flight and become inappropriate? Were you caught smoking on the plane? Did you ever do something special for a flight attendant? Your airline has notes about your behavior, too.
Your next flight with them
Are you flying to a city where you’ll go to your connecting flight? Assuming you’re on the same airline (or at least an airline in the same alliance) all the way through, your flight attendants know that. It could help with getting you off your flight so you can make your connection.
Your mood on your current flight
When your flight attendants welcome you with a hello, they’re not just trying to be nice. They’re trained to read peoples’ moods and are trying to get a feel for how you’re doing. Are you happy? Angry? Scared? They’ll take that into account when talking with you.
And that’s just a start
Your airline knows plenty more about you. But if you ever thought you were boarding a plane and all they knew was that you, Jamie Q. Public, were sitting in seat 4A, well, nope…they know a whole lot more than that.
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