"We’re essentially trying to recreate the feeling of recognition you get in a favourite restaurant when you’re welcomed there, but in our case it will be delivered by thousands of staff to millions of customers."<p>When I'm welcomed at my favorite restaurant, I know that the people there actually remember me and it gives me a warm feeling. If someone I've never met before has some information about me that I haven't given them, that's obviously fake and a bit creepy.<p>Also, if you happen to have a name that's shared by thousands of people on the internet, like "David Smith", or a name that's shared by a famous person, like "Jack Kennedy", what's the probability that a Google search will find information that's actually about you?
"BA’s biggest rival, Virgin Atlantic, also faced complaints over privacy after it was alleged that one of its employees had leaked celebrities’ flight details to a paparazzi agency."<p>That sounds much worse. What BA is doing - Googling their clients - is, at worst, overzealous.
They already do this to a large extent. When you're in business class or higher (this new policy only applies to Business or First) the air hostess already knows your name, where you're sitting, etc and greets you with "Hello Mr. Brackin".<p>The only difference is when getting on the plane they'll know what you look like and can greet you, point you to your seat and apologise about any inconveniences on connecting flights.<p>BA aren't very good at explaining technology evidently, it's much less of a big deal than even they're making it out to be in my opinion.
Hmmm.... I wonder how this fits in under the European data protection laws.<p>From my reading of the UK DPA it would be illegal for BA to search and store information about me without me giving them permission to use the information about me for that purpose. Since they mention the act in the article I'm guessing that it's opt-in and not a problem.
I flew first class the other day. I don't usually. I found myself startled -- and not pleasantly so -- when the flight attended used my name when asking whether I might like something to drink.