Airlines have your personal data, and they’re using it

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 07: United Airlines flight attendants pass out retro ticket jackets to passengers boarding United Airlines flight 747 for its final flight from San Francisco International Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii on November 7, 2017 in San Francisco, California. United Airlines is retiring its fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft that are affectionately known as the ÒQueen of the SkiesÓ and marked the occassion with a final flight from San Francisco to Honolulu, Hawaii. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Airlines are really good at some things-like people movement, aircraft maintenance, and keeping passengers safe. They’re also experts at collecting vast mountains of customer data, including what sorts of credit cards and computers you use, how often you fly, and where and how much you spend on all the extras. 

If you’re stressing over a tight connection, flight attendants can usually tell you which gate to run toward, how much time you have, and whether your next flight is on time. But they may also know if you were stuck in Buffalo for six hours last week because of a delay, and offer a personal apology. They can even tap their data hoard to make sure there’s plenty of red for the 2 million-miler who drinks only cabernet, or upgrade the woman on standby who got stuck in economy because she usually flies first class.