Ryanair (mostly) ditches printed boarding passes

[y_p_w]

And only mobile boarding passes through their specific mobile app. Nothing through their website apparently, which I’ve seen from other airlines.

https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/lp/explore/digital-boarding-pass

They do indicate that if one loses a mobile device after checking in, they will provide a boarding pass, although they don’t describe in what form. Probably just paper. Not sure what will prevent passengers with access to computers or other people’s devices from checking in and then coming to the airport claiming that they lost their device. Perhaps there’s a requirement that the app talk to their server to load the boarding pass.

Edit: changed the title to reflect that it’s still possible to get a paper boarding pass, but no print yourself. And there’s probably going to be fees galore for the rare printed boarding pass.

 

[Nessism1]

Ryanair's business model is quick turn around flights. They're wanting to eliminate every person needing a piece of paper before boarding the plane. Makes sense from the business perspective, the question is whether they can make it come off without problems for all involved.

 

[cptbarkey]

Doubtful that all applies for last second ticket changes they do in person at the airport.

 

[y_p_w]

Doubtful that all applies for last second ticket changes they do in person at the airport.

I read through their announcement, and they do seem to have a bunch of contingencies in case a mobile device isn’t available. But the CEO didn’t help things by saying that anyone who doesn’t have one probably shouldn’t be traveling. I would think last second ticket changes automatically update on the app though, even if handled by a live agent at the counter. But it’s not exactly true that there are no longer paper boarding passes. Plus a fee for checking in at the airport.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/1112/1543483-ryanair-paperless-boarding/​

If a passenger does not have a smartphone, their battery dies, or their phone is lost - once they have checked in online - they can receive a boarding pass at an airport.​

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But if they arrive without checking in online, they will have to pay the airline's check-in fee.​

 

[fdcg27]

Ryanair is not noted for friendly and accommodating treatment of its passengers, quite the opposite.
Kinda like Frontier or Spirit, except that Ryanair flies to far more destinations, is very reliable and is cheaper to boot.
Who doesn't have a smart phone these days?
Probably not many, especially in the EU.

 

[yagciogullari]

how's this news? nobody has been printing out boarding passes for the last decade.

 

[4wd]

Not ever going to fly RiotAir - so don’t matter …
Can we have those machines to print certain passes every 2 or 4 years along with photo ID ? Just like boarding ?

 

[4wd]

how's this news? nobody has been printing out boarding passes for the last decade.

Nyet -,do that often and stand behind morons with phones not working

 

[y_p_w]

how's this news? nobody has been printing out boarding passes for the last decade.

I did. Even if I had a boarding pass on a mobile device I wanted a backup that I printed. I even printed at a self serve kiosk at the airport as an additional backup and maybe a souvenir.

 

[cptbarkey]

how's this news? nobody has been printing out boarding passes for the last decade.

This is false information and pointless to have commented.

 

[Hall]

Who doesn't have a smart phone these days?

It's not about having a smart phone, it also involves installing apps, creating accounts, and so on. My Mom returns to N Ireland every year and my wife, our daughter, and myself went over for a short time, mainly to travel with her on the way home. I downloaded the Aer Lingus app, as did my wife and daughter, then shared my login with them so we'd all have access just in case. We had electronic boarding passes and could have done the baggage check-in at their unattended kiosks.... Nope, my Mom had a printed copy of her boarding pass and insisted on using their agents to check in our bags. One benefit of this was the agent saw we were traveling together and my Mom doesn't even pre-select a seat - she takes whatever they give her - but the agent was able to assign her a seat close to us. That said, we still had to wait in a line with others that weren't using their phone apps.

 

[fdcg27]

It's not about having a smart phone, it also involves installing apps, creating accounts, and so on. My Mom returns to N Ireland every year and my wife, our daughter, and myself went over for a short time, mainly to travel with her on the way home. I downloaded the Aer Lingus app, as did my wife and daughter, then shared my login with them so we'd all have access just in case. We had electronic boarding passes and could have done the baggage check-in at their unattended kiosks.... Nope, my Mom had a printed copy of her boarding pass and insisted on using their agents to check in our bags. One benefit of this was the agent saw we were traveling together and my Mom doesn't even pre-select a seat - she takes whatever they give her - but the agent was able to assign her a seat close to us. That said, we still had to wait in a line with others that weren't using their phone apps.

It's wise to download the app for whatever airline you're flying if only because it will give you real-time updates on any changes, whether they be gate changes (common), delays or rebooking options following a cancellation or simple missed connection.
Having written the above, my mother may have a smart phone and may do all of her banking and bill pay online, but she wouldn't bother with an airline app either.
Airlines are geared more toward accommodating the frequent traveler than they are to serving those who fly only occasionally, which does make things harder for the occasional traveler.

 

[barryh]

I don't understand why Ryanair want to do away with the paper boarding pass. Insist on an on line check in yes, I get that, but what difference does it make to them if they scan a mobile phone or a paper pass when you get to the gate. they use the same scanner for both. It's not even their paper if the customer prints it out. The only thing they are saving is the software to enable the customer to download and print a boarding pass.

I fly EasyJet which is a similar low cost airline but without the nastiness. I check in on line, download the pass to my phone then download the pass to print as a backup.

 

[dubber09]

That's ok, with digital ID and biometrics everything all one will need is not to lose their eyes and digits, that's where they are taking us.

 

[4wd]

I watched a guy and 3 gate agents struggle for 15 minutes trying to figure out why he was not booked - they must have passed his phone around 10 times
We were already staged to board …
How is that sanitary?

 

[4wd]

That's ok, with digital ID and biometrics everything all one will need is not to lose their eyes and digits, that's where they are taking us.

Just boarded using that - yet they still wanted passport and boarding pass
It’s been that way a good while

 

[spasm3]

Flew a month ago, used a printed boarding pass.

 

[y_p_w]

I don't understand why Ryanair want to do away with the paper boarding pass. Insist on an on line check in yes, I get that, but what difference does it make to them if they scan a mobile phone or a paper pass when you get to the gate. they use the same scanner for both. It's not even their paper if the customer prints it out. The only thing they are saving is the software to enable the customer to download and print a boarding pass.

I fly EasyJet which is a similar low cost airline but without the nastiness. I check in on line, download the pass to my phone then download the pass to print as a backup.

It’s kind of a weaseling way they’re doing this. Probably making a big fuss over it even though there are still ways to get a physical boarding pass. Mostly they’re encouraging passengers to check in online, but making it seem like gloom and doom until one reads the fine print that they’re not just going to strand ticketed passengers.

I’ve never flown EasyJet, but do remember the series Airline that’s available on YouTube. They did seem to have a good attitude dealing with customers. The really odd one was when a Canadian kid arrived with lobsters and they were determining if they were allowed to be carried on his connecting flight. I think what happened was that several airline employees ate well that night.