Virgin Atlantic Is Using Google Glass to Greet Customers The British airline hopes to improve customer service through wearable technology.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Google Glass may enhance a lot of activities: patrols and police investigations, surgery, even sex.

And now, Virgin Atlantic is testing whether or not wearable technology can improve customer service.

Virgin Atlantic business and first class passengers (or Upper Class passengers, as they're called in Britain) flying from London Heathrow airport will be greeted by employees wearing Google Glass or a Sony SmartWatch 2.

The aim is to make the travel experience more personalized and seamless. Using wearable technology, the Virgin Atlantic staff will be able to update passengers on their latest flight information, weather and local events at their destination, as well as translate any foreign language information.

Related: Google Just Made 'Glass' More Useful, Less Dorky

"While it's fantastic that more people can now fly than ever before, the fact that air travel has become so accessible has led to some of the sheen being lost for many passengers," Dave Bulman, Director of IT, Virgin Atlantic, said in a press release. In the future, the technology could alert airline staff to additional personalized preferences, like passengers' dietary restrictions and desired refreshments.

While the pilot program is only scheduled to last for six weeks, if deemed successful, it could be reintroduced on a larger scale.

Virgin Atlantic will also begin testing iBeacon technology, a Bluetooth transmitter that can alert nearby iOS users to nearby services, discounts and updates on their flight boarding schedules, on its Upper Class passengers.

Related: What a Trip to LAX Taught Me About Customer Service

Wavy Line
Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Editor's Pick

A Leader's Most Powerful Tool Is Executive Capital. Here's What It Is — and How to Earn It.
Lock
One Man's Casual Side Hustle Became an International Phenomenon — And It's on Track to See $15 Million in Revenue This Year
Lock
3 Reasons to Keep Posting on LinkedIn, Even If Nobody Is Engaging With You
Why a Strong Chief Financial Officer Is Crucial for Your Franchise — and What to Look for When Hiring One

Related Topics

Business News

'Just Say You Are Going Broke': Starbucks Slammed For Price Increase On Popular Item

The chain will start charging $1 extra for customization on its popular Refresher beverages.

Business News

The Virgin Islands Want to Serve Elon Musk a Subpoena, But They Can't Find Him

Government officials would like to talk to Tesla's owner as part of an investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Growing a Business

My Startup Scored a Multimillion-Dollar Contract With a Fortune 100 Client in Just 3 Years. Here's What We Learned.

There's no perfect litmus test to gauge if you're ready to go after big business or not — but if you don't take the risk, you'll never realize the reward.

Marketing

5 Questions to Ask a PR Pro Before Hiring Them

You probably haven't considered asking these questions, but they're a great way to find the right PR firm for your business.

Growing a Business

The Inevitable Challenges You'll Face as Your Business Grows — and How to Handle Them

There's going to be some discomfort as your business expands, but it doesn't have to stop you from achieving massive success.

Marketing

This Location-Based Marketing Technique Is the Key to Boosting Retail Sales

Let's take an in-depth look at geofencing marketing and how it's helping retail locations drive foot traffic and boost sales.