Its a nice touch...

Why is recognising you too much and too personal? Now if they said 'hey Fred, is your mother out of hospital yet?' then it's a cause of worry.

This happend to me from time to time in ZRH at their F-Check-in. Its kind of suprising giving the amount of frequent fliers out of ZRH...But still, doesn't worry me!

It's a first-class booking code on at least some airlines. Sometimes a restricted-F. IIRC, most of the coach "-UP" fares pull from P inventory on airlines that use it. But in this context, the OP may be talking about an airline where P is used more widely for the first-class cabin as a whole.

If I knew the agent because I was a frequent flier, it would not creep me out if they greeted me by name. I've gotten to know gate staff at my home airport over the years. But I would be highly disturbed if they were conducting background investigations on me without my knowledge and using data mined from the Internet to compose a dossier.

I've heard of hotels doing this as well. We had a thread here about a hotel in Minnesota that was exposed for conducting investigations on their guests...some run-of-the-mill Westin or Sheraton IIRC...

My brother works at a major national pharmacy and they are required to greet customers by name. They are scored on it and customers are asked on the surveys if they did so.

I agree with you, I think it's fake and ridiculous. But at some companies, the "higher ups" at corporate think it's a wonderful idea.

Many of the early morning Delta shuttles from LGA to Chicago or Washington tend to have a group of guys that consistently fly the same flight week in and week out. The gate staff and crew address them by name, and make a point of doing so for all other first class passengers as well to keep their standards elevated. I think it's a very nice touch and presents a modicum of luxury on an otherwise pretty basic short flight.

That's cool. That's authentic...people who have gotten to know the ground staff over time. I'm totally good with that...it is indeed a nice touch.

I much prefer the colloquial form, rather a cold and fake ceremoniality.
Fortunately the age helps.

Back in Australia it was all the time.. even the occasional Dr Cyclogenesis in there.. Here on check in, boarding or lounge entry uttering words would prevent them from chewing gum (yes there are exceptions.. )

As stated above.. not required but nice customer service to say "Hello, I see you, you are important to me and my job, and as the front line visible component of this airline I welcome you"

I thought they did that before I can announce "DYKWIA?!?!?" I guess they do.. . But yes, I like it when they greet me by name.

Or,

"Say hi to the missus for me. "

If I had never encountered the person before I'd feel a little creeped out and then ask how they knew my name before seeing any of my documentation.

I wouldn't feel creeped out if they greeted me by name after seeing my docs though.

I don't really understand why greeting by a name is such a big deal for everyone over here. What difference does it make if check-in agent or anyone else says your last name instead of calling you with generic term?

Maybe they didn't recognize you per se. You were the only passenger in F checking-in for that flight or maybe you were the last one to check-in and that's how they recognized you.

I'd think they were greeting me by name....but then I realized my last name wasn't "NEXT!"