British Airways Plans To Google Passengers

itwbennett writes "British Airways wants to be the airline where everybody knows your name. The idea behind the 'Know Me' program is that by using Google Images to ID passengers, they'll be able to recreate the 'feeling of recognition you get in a favourite restaurant,' Jo Boswell, head of customer analysis at BA told the London Evening Standard. But the more privacy minded among us know that the airline could end up seeing a lot more than your face."

Comments

Reliability

[__aaltlg1547]

Of course we all have unique names and faces and Google images contains only correctly tagged photos so this won't cause any confusion at all.

Re:Reliability

[__aaltlg1547]

I got my Facebook photo, a random pic of my dad, and a proboscis monkey as the top 3 hits. Then a map of the US, followed by a run of women. Kudos for Google getting the only online pic of me, but I'm kinda worried about a monkey being #3, lol.

But were those women all women you dated? (Or all women that your dad or the proboscis monkey dated?)

Oh, great

[Bill Dimm]

to recreate the 'feeling of recognition you get in a favourite restaurant'

So, now the airline is going to spit in my food too?

Good luck with that

[bruce_the_loon]

If I google myself, I find either a very large black NFL player, or an Airforce general. YAY, instant upgrade.

Scanner Data Calls for Integration

[foobsr]

the airline could end up seeing a lot more than your face

Sounds like they also want to integrate the results from full body scanners.

CC.

Not always a bad thing

[Roger W Moore]

Or what if it's the wrong person with your name?

That's not always a bad thing - may be I'll get some free upgrades out of it! ;-)

Airport shocker

[PopeRatzo]

"OK, Mr Goatse, if you could just step over here".

Re:What if your name doesn't come up?

[PRMan]

Come right on up, Mr. John Williams.

Re:Fake personal touch != personal touch

[Anonymous Coward]

My wife would definitely freak out if a stewardess calls me by name! I would expect the flight to be canceled owing to blood on the carpet!

Re:What if your name doesn't come up?

[Hognoxious]

They don't want a flight attendant who sees Balmer having laptop problems to attempt to be friendly saying 'mine always crashes too', or similar.

It's OK, the seats are bolted down quite firmly.

Re:Fake personal touch != personal touch

[hey!]

Scratch that, British Airways should already be fully aware of the British people's contempt for such phoney chumminess.

Understandable. If I'd ever had a strange guy with an Irish accent come up to me in a crowd and whisper in my ear, "We know where you live, boyo," I'd be tad skittish too.

Re:Fake personal touch != personal touch

[Mr Foobar]

BOFH goes to vacation.
- Welcome aboard mr. Foobar!
- Oh, you know my name?
- Yes sir!

And yet they still won't know what the real Mr Foobar looks like!

Re:What if your name doesn't come up?

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess they'd offer their condolences on your recent death.

Re:What if your name doesn't come up?

[squiggleslash]

That's good for,you, but when someone Googles my name, they get the "Terrorist of the Month" page at Al-Qaeda.com!