( CNN ) -- Airports are n't exactly stress-free zones -- not yet at least . But it 's certainly something airport managers are working on . Still , all the spas , yoga studios and movie cinemas in the world ca n't detract from the main source of travel anxiety : grueling lines . It 's an irksome feature that may soon become a relic , thanks to the advent of mobile tracking technology . Helsinki Airport recently became the first in the world to track passenger movements in real time , from the parking lot to departure gates . `` The whole idea is to get better analytics of passenger flow . Really , it 's only because we want to know better where bottlenecks form in the airport during rush hour , '' says Jarno Putta , vice president and chief information officer at Finavia Corporation , which manages the airport . Passengers can meanwhile get updates about their flight status , bookmark where they parked ( so they can find their car after their return flight ) and chart how long it will take to get through security . Once inside , when they pass partnered shops , they can get pinged with offers . While receiving updates directly to one 's phone may seem intrusive , Putta is adamant that the system does n't collect any personal information . Rather , it uses iBeacons and Wi-Fi routers to collect unique identifier numbers ( or MAC addresses ) , and only from devices with the Wi-Fi settings turned on . `` The MAC addresses we use are scrambled , which means no one can be traced , '' he says . EasyJet makes use of drone inspections . EasyJet is trialing similar technology at London Gatwick , Luton and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports , also using iBeacon . The carrier is starting small -- placing the devices at baggage drop offs and security areas . The EasyJet app also uses the technology to alert passengers to ready their documents at key points . Though still in its early stages , James Millett , EasyJet 's head of digital , anticipates it could have father-reaching uses . `` In time , we could see applications supporting individual challenges , like when a customer needs to be in a different location because they are carrying skis , or are n't carrying any hold luggage , '' he says . The European low-cost carrier has been at the forefront of utilizing the newest technology . In May , it started trialing inspection by drone on its fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 planes . The airline is also looking into the use of virtual reality glasses to allow engineers and pilots to capture pictures of potential issues , and send them directly back to base . `` It 's another good example of how we 're applying new technologies to our business to help us be more effective and efficient , '' says Millett . Passengers need power to opt out . Not everyone is comfortable with the new technology . `` Who would n't be creeped out by the idea of having your phone tracked ? If I tell you someone 's tracking you , and do n't tell you why , of course you 'd be upset , '' says Jules Polonetsky , executive director and co-chair of the Washington-based think tank Future of Privacy Forum . He adds that , contrary to how it may seem , airport tracking is kept pretty general . `` It 's not like it reports , 'hey , this phone belongs to the guy with blue glasses and a shabby suitcase . ' It 's '38,000 devices were in this location between these hours . ' It 's critical for airports and retailers to demystify this technology 's uses for users . '' Transparency is key , says Polonetsky , and airports need to make sure to alert passengers to the when , how and why of this technology , and provide them with an option to opt out -- which both EasyJet andÂ Helsinki Airport do . Passengers who do n't wish to be tracked can either switch off Wi-Fi on their devices , or provide their MAC address to walkbase.com and smart-places.org . ( In doing so , the tracking systems knows to ignore the address in the future . ) Mainly , though , he recognizes the many potential uses of this technology at the airport . `` An airport is the type of place where you probably do want to get pinged about gate changes , or find out where you can get a cup of coffee once you 're checked in , or information on where the gate is and how much time it will take to get to it , '' he says . `` It 's a big space , and anything the venue can do to help me navigate it easily and quickly is useful . ''
Airports are using phone tracking to give passengers updates on flight status , airport retail deals , more . Comment: The carrier is looking at virtual reality to help pilots and engineers .