As we are moving into a society that is governed more and more by Information Technology and Information Systems, I have recently started to think about the future of frequent flier cards.

I searched the web out of curiosity, and didn't really find anything good. So I was wondering what you guys think!

Do you think that we will continue to use the cards the way we are now?
Do you think that our FTC's will become boarding cards, passports, etc?
Do you think that we will have ONE card that will house different frequent flier programs, and enable us to choose onto which program we would like to credit our miles upon check-in?

I had more questions before, but can't think of anything else at the moment... .

I hope I posted this in the right place!

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I think that the current technology will eventually be used to condense all the information about us that is on our drivers license, passport, social security info, etc.

I doubt that any private marketing information would be included in that gerenralized "ID". Most companies spend a good deal of money segmenting their customers and in getting as much marketing information as possible about them.

I doubt that airlines or any other company will let that data out of their sphere of influence easily so that other companies could see it and potentially exploit it.

I don't know what YOU'RE using your frequent flyer card for but I know I have used mine twice this year. I used a 1P card to use an Elite line when flying with Alaska and then used my PLT card to preboard with the Partner Elites. Unless I'm flying AS I never use my cards.

I think what OP was referring to (correct me if I am wrong)--but instead of printing out a boarding pass at home or getting one at the airport--check in online and use a "supercard" to board the plane.

The UK government is currently pushing through a plan for "biometric ID cards" which will indeed contain passport, D/L, NI # etc.

From there it's a small step to adding insurance info, then banking, credit cards etc.

After that, I could see FF programmes etc being added. The marketing data need not leave the companies sphere of influence. Remember, every card is simply a token providing a unique identifier. Behind that there must necessarily be one or more comprehensive datatbases, where the real data is stored.

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True--but in the USA-we tend to be schizophrenic when it comes to national id cards.

I think Bush likes the idea of being able to spy on everyone, but all the crazies that believe in the one world government conspiracies and UFO's also vote for Bush--so he can't alienate them too much....

I should have answered this question much earlier, sorry about that!

But first, I wanted to ask - is it true that members of Delta's Frequent Flier program don't need a boarding pass? Instead, they just swipe their card at the gate? At least that is what I was told... .

But what other things do you think might happen? AFAIK, the Mileage Plus program is outsourced - will this be a futue trend?
Do you think that maybe one company is used to outsource numerous frequent flier programs?
Doesn't that result in massive sharing of data that would otherwise not be accessible? I am guessing that for the most part that would benefit us as well, as the Airlines realize that we enjoy a certain flying pattern more than others, and then maybe cater with specific promotions.

What do YOU think?

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Depending on the airport, there have been times in the past where I might have been wait listed for an upgrade which then shows up on their big monitor as cleared.

You give them your ff card at the boarding gate and when they scan it, a new boarding pass (actually it looks like a little gas station receipt) will printout with your new seat assignment in f/c.

I have not seen them use that process too much. Usually they call people up to the counter to give them a new boarding pass--but have seen it done with just a message on the monitor tv.

I would think as far as a "super card", airlines would only participate if they thought that their individual data was not visible to any other entity reading that card for id purposes.

Well... there are some thoughts:
1) FTC becoming boarding passes/passports... highly unlikely, more likely that our passports will become boarding passes etc. currently there are ways to securely associate anyone's identity to the piece of plastic. Main purposes of BP is to provide proof that passenger is (a) eligible to board the plane (checked in for a flight) and (b) actually entered the plane (when they tear off the stub)... With the development of follow-through information systems such interim documents are becoming obsolete (when there were no information systems, gate agents actually manually counted b/p stubs to make sure number of passengers boarded match the number of passenger manifest - hardly anybody is doing that now)
2) it is very unlikely we will have one FT card for all programs. equially unlikely we will have our ID or passport serve as a FT card. We need to remember that first of all, FT card is a marketing tool and status symbol for particular FF program... therefore attempt to combine all FFP into one card will give heart attack to all loyalty marketing managers .. no - we will have those cards (as well as luggage tags), nothing will change
3) with the proliferation of e-ticket, I am sure airlines will find new ways of using cards - with the potential that card be the only one thing required when you fly (tickets, boarding passes, everything else on paper will be history) - surely airlines can use your ID for these purposes but will never do it according to argument 2 above

things like an ultimate supercard have always been fantasies and only now can we see they are possible, likely and litterally just around the corner technology wise.

My thinking, however, is that the nature of our society is such that we will invent the supercard, oh sure... But then they will come out with supercard II and III, and of course, like with Microsoft, there's the beta patch you have to get or else.

I can see it now: some old man who flew like the first freakin plane ever walks into the airport his own son happens to work at and knows everyone there but when he swipes his card and the system is down, they wont even call him by name due to policy and security. "Sorry sir, the CARD says you are not even here right now."

"What's that you say, sonny? I have been coming here since before you were born! Lemme on the dang plane!"

Nope!

And then of course, whichever company puts out the uber card is going to have competition, in fighting and scandal. You could even get the Martha Stewart designer supercard but of course, that one wont work while she is in prison!

then there's the Red Sox supercard but when in NY airports, they dont take that card.

And so some supercards work at some airports and some dont. Not all countires agree and they have their own. Trying fitting the weird sized Euro one into your new walet!

And so the government takes over but as already so cleverly mentioned above, all the alien-worrying people finally figure out what was really so important about regime changing of the November 2004 voting date. Too late!

And then govt regulation comes in and the supercard is broken up. By now there's space travel too, which was never figured into the whole idea to begin with and so it does not work on Branson's planes and the Russians and Chinese still havent gotten it up and running properly in their countries.

IN the end, the supercard fails. we lose all our miles and this time, when you get a parking ticket, they delete all your medical details and remove all those hard earned miles you thought you were going to use to go see your son who works in some airport hub someplace. DO you wanna supersize that supercard, Sir?...
MM