In this article you will learn how email tracking works in AirLST, why it is disabled by default, and how to enable it on a per-event basis when needed.
OVERVIEW
AirLST allows you to track email opens and link clicks for outgoing emails. For data protection reasons, both features are disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled on a per-event basis.
| PLEASE NOTE: Delivery status information (delivered, bounced) is always tracked regardless of these settings, as it is technically required for email delivery. |
EMAIL OPEN TRACKING (TRACKING PIXEL)
When a recipient opens the email, AirLST registers the open along with a timestamp.
This feature is disabled by default for privacy reasons. If you would like to use open tracking for a specific event, you can enable it in the event settings under the “Email Tracking” section.
ENABLING OPEN TRACKING
When you activate open tracking, a confirmation dialog will appear before the feature is turned on. This dialog contains important information you should read carefully.
The confirmation covers three key points:
- Legal notice
Under GDPR, using tracking pixels in emails generally requires prior explicit consent from recipients. Without such consent, tracking may be legally impermissible. - Responsibility
By activating tracking, you confirm that as the data controller you assume legal responsibility for the use of this feature. AirLST provides the technical functionality; ensuring compliance with data protection regulations is your responsibility. - Documentation
For audit purposes, AirLST logs the username of the account that activated tracking, the timestamp of activation, and the event for which tracking was enabled.
After confirming, the setting is applied immediately. The activation is logged and visible directly in the tracking settings, showing who enabled the feature and when.
LINK TRACKING
Link tracking records whether and when a recipient clicks on links in your emails. When enabled, links in outgoing emails are routed through AirLST so that clicks can be registered.
Like open tracking, link tracking is disabled by default for data protection reasons and follows the same opt-in process with a confirmation step.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I had open tracking active on existing events. Is it still working?
No. With our update, tracking has been disabled for all events that did not have it explicitly activated. If you need tracking on a specific event, you can re-enable it in the event settings.
Do I need recipient consent to use tracking?
Yes. Under GDPR, tracking pixels and link tracking generally require explicit consent from recipients. Please consult your data protection officer or legal team if you are unsure whether consent is in place.
Does disabling tracking affect delivery status?
No. Delivery information such as whether an email was delivered or bounced is always recorded, as this is technically necessary and not dependent on tracking settings.
Where can I see who activated tracking?
The activation log is displayed directly in the Email Tracking section of your event settings, showing the name of the user, the date and time of activation.