Ryanair will only accept digital boarding passes starting from November.
Ryanair, the low-cost airline, announced a major change in boarding procedures: starting November 12, the company will only accept digital boarding passes via the myRyanair app. This decision means that printed paper boarding passes will no longer be valid, raising concerns among many passengers, especially the elderly who may not use smartphones.
This change was scheduled to be implemented on November 3, but it has been postponed until after the busy British school holiday period. Ryanair defends the decision by pointing out that around 80% of its customers are already using digital boarding passes. The company emphasizes that it is following in the footsteps of other sectors such as concerts, festivals, and sporting events that have largely transitioned to digital-only tickets.
Dara Brady, the Chief Marketing Officer of Ryanair, said: "This transition to 100% digital boarding passes will provide our customers with a faster, smarter, and more environmentally friendly travel experience." The company emphasizes that digital passes speed up the boarding process and reduce paper consumption.
But critics point to potential practical risks. Passengers fear situations where their phone batteries may run out, be stolen, or lose internet connection while traveling, which could leave them stranded without access to boarding passes.
Ryanair responded, confirming that paper boarding passes will remain available for free at airport check-in desks if the passenger has checked in online in advance. This exception also applies to flights departing from Morocco, where government regulations require passengers to carry paper boarding passes. Thus, despite Ryanair's push towards a fully digital system, it acknowledges that paper alternatives cannot be completely eliminated at this time.