How the airline industry is planning to get more social with its customers


Skift Take

You can think of IATA's proposed new way of selling airline services to passengers as something akin to the difference between the way the first generation of computer buffs used linear DOS commands while today's users access GUI interfaces or tap their way through mobile devices. There's a danger, though, that airlines could mishandle passengers' personal information.

It comes down to this: Are passengers going to want to hand over their Facebook and Twitter data to build social media profiles that would enable airlines to sell them personalized offers for fast-lane security, Wi-Fi, lie-flat seats, or chauffeur service from the airport? IATA, the global airline trade association, is in full-throttle promotional mode over the next couple of days, touting its proposed New Distribution Capability (NDC) during the group's 69th Annual General Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. Delegates reaffirmed their suppor