Ryanair is planning on completely eliminating paper boarding passes and airport check-in. While that sounds kind of wild, perhaps it’s not quite as radical as it may seem, and Ryanair is just a bit ahead of its time.
In this post:
Ryanair will only allow online check-in
Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary held a press conference this week, during which he reportedly revealed that the airline will be significantly changing its check-in procedures. Specifically, within the next six months, the airline plans to completely scrap the concept of paper boarding passes, and in the process, will also eliminate airport check-in.
Once this policy change is implemented, the only way to check-in will be through Ryanair’s website and app. Of course as before, it’ll be possible to check-in bags at the airport, but that’s a different function than getting checked in.
Under Ryanair’s current policy, the airline requires passengers to check-in online, unless they have a Flexi Plus ticket, in which case they can check-in at the airport. Those who don’t have online boarding passes will be on the hook for quite some fees.
For one, the airline has a £/€55 airport check-in fee, which applies per person per sector, for those who don’t have a Flexi Plus ticket. That’s right, you might have booked a £10 ticket, but then you need to pay £55 to actually check-in for your flight. On top of that, the airline has a £/€20 fee to reissue boarding passes.
Is this Ryanair policy change unreasonable?
To my knowledge, we’ve never seen an airline go quite this far when it comes to restricting check-in, though we’re talking about Ryanair, an airline that’s almost proud of how punitive it can be with customers. I mean, this is the same airline that (jokingly… well, sort of) insults its customers on social media all day.
I think it’s safe to say that this change won’t impact a vast majority of customers, since almost everyone flying Ryanair checks in online.
Some might say that this is unfair to those who don’t have or don’t know how to use a smartphone, and while that’s not untrue, hopefully most people can find someone who can help them check in via their computer. Keep in mind that Ryanair lets you check-in online starting 60 days before departure, so it’s quite a long window.
I also suspect that in the coming years, we’re going to increasingly see airlines push people to check-in online, in order to reduce staffing at airports. For example, in 2023, Alaska Airlines announced it would eliminate airport check-in kiosks. At the time, the airline claimed that about 70% of passengers were checking in online, and the airline wanted to increase that number to 90%.
That’s at an airline where there’s no penalty to check-in at the airport, so I have to imagine that number is even way higher at Ryanair, where checking in at the airport will cost you dearly.
So do I love what Ryanair is doing here? No. But I also think the airline will get away with this without too much pushback. I guess I just don’t necessarily see how this will lead to material cost savings, since airport check-in desks are also used to check bags, which people will continue to do.
Perhaps the biggest implications here will be for situations where someone has their boarding pass on their phone, but then runs out of battery while preparing to board the plane. That wouldn’t be a good situation.
Bottom line
In the coming months, Ryanair intends to completely eliminate paper boarding passes, and also get rid of the ability to check-in for your flight at the airport. These are things that previously already cost £20-55, so I have to imagine that a vast majority of people were already checking in online without using these services.
While other airlines likely won’t be as punitive as Ryanair, I think we’ll increasingly see airlines directing passengers to self-service tools for checking in.
What do you make of Ryanair eliminating paper boarding passes and airport check-in?
Ryanair only allow check in more than 24 hours in advance if you have paid for seat selection.
Who travels Ryanair should no expect much.
Brits and others may be familiar with the term SoLR (Supplier of Last Resort) and for me Ryanair is the AoLR (Airline of Last Resort).
Among other things, I don’t like their chairman’s big-mouthing stunts, To name a few, I don’t like their dismal level of service, I don’t like their passenger policies, I don’t like the proficiency of their cabin crew, I don’t like boarding an airplane...
Who travels Ryanair should no expect much.
Brits and others may be familiar with the term SoLR (Supplier of Last Resort) and for me Ryanair is the AoLR (Airline of Last Resort).
Among other things, I don’t like their chairman’s big-mouthing stunts, To name a few, I don’t like their dismal level of service, I don’t like their passenger policies, I don’t like the proficiency of their cabin crew, I don’t like boarding an airplane via rickety airstairs when jetways are available…
But sometimes there is no better alternative at hand and you have to use an AoLR…
B.
I’ve flown with them many times and find them efficient. Airport staff very helpful. One tech delay and comp paid out within 5 days. Delay last week due to air traffic and captain kept is informed frequently. We also boarded at a jetway as there’s a belief they never use them.
In fact the service etc is the same as any legacy carrier in economy apart from the few that offer complimentary food and...
I’ve flown with them many times and find them efficient. Airport staff very helpful. One tech delay and comp paid out within 5 days. Delay last week due to air traffic and captain kept is informed frequently. We also boarded at a jetway as there’s a belief they never use them.
In fact the service etc is the same as any legacy carrier in economy apart from the few that offer complimentary food and snacks plus the scratch cards.
Their crew are also very polite and friendly.
LUFTHANSA-Group Airlines operate just that way too, but too often, . . . i see "HERE" on this page, that the airline Group is praised to heaven, way too often, for being as cheap as Ryanair always was.
Eurowings, Airport Check-in on lowest fare, you pay.
Too big of a carry on, you pay HEAVY fees, at the gate!
Eurowings Europe / Malta, same thing!
So Ryanair was just an example...
LUFTHANSA-Group Airlines operate just that way too, but too often, . . . i see "HERE" on this page, that the airline Group is praised to heaven, way too often, for being as cheap as Ryanair always was.
Eurowings, Airport Check-in on lowest fare, you pay.
Too big of a carry on, you pay HEAVY fees, at the gate!
Eurowings Europe / Malta, same thing!
So Ryanair was just an example for many years and costs, what Luthansa-Group airlines are today . . . and they might copy these new paperless fees too, soon?! ;-)
Lufthansa copies former airberlin saving factors too, so Ryanair is most likely just the better example for what's to come at Lufthansa soon too! (since airberlin is not around anymore with great cost cutting ideas to be implemented at LH).
Lufthansa Hamburg, Check-in counters for Economy . . . not there, just a Bag drop but you NEED to check-in online first.
So Ryanair is now just trying to get to the NEXT extend! ;-)
Others will follow!
Wait & see!
I don't think it affects much but how about the visa checks? Currently ryanair doesn't allow online checking without visa checks so are they gonna allow passengers to upload or enter visa details? If so, it is an improvement because no one wants to line up at the airport. With the online check in I can just go to lounge directly after arrival at the airport.
I am 78 , flying Ryan Air about 3 times a year . I know that there are many older people and poorer people who do not have smart phones . How are they going to check in or do they just fly with another airline .
I think it is fair to assume everyone at this point either owns a device themselves or has friends/family who can check them in and print their boarding pass for them.
Given how relatively cheap simple smartphones have gotten I doubt there was a large group of people whom could not afford a smartphone and instead elected to pay the fees Ryanair was charging for checking in and printing of boarding passes.
Flown Ryanair many times. Dozens perhaps. Or more. Never had a cancelled flight. Almost never late. No drama.
Agree totally, me too. Do I love FR? absolutely not. But for overall value and choice (schedule) I can tolerate them very happily for a couple of holidays a year/2hr flight.
I always think smug people like you who have no empathy for how others are treated just because you were alright jack, are some of the most disgraceful, selfish and irredeemable people that the world could genuinely be better without.
Whereas you on the other hand take to social media to call people names and wish them off the planet because their opinion about *an airline* is different to yours. If you don't like FR don't fly them. If you don't like other people's views (and neither mine nor the OPs are even close to being in any way contentious) then spend your time/redirect your anger issues elsewhere.
Why is complimenting them being smug. I find them efficient etc see my previous comments. Equally people write about legacy carriers and say how awful they are.
Ryanair carried 182 million passengers last year so they are clearly doing something right. The third largest by customers carrier after American and Delta.
They are cheap and people clearly have no self-respect so are willing to endure being treated like utter crap. It's smug because the problems and nasty behaviour is well founded and recorded, yet some a'hole on here goes on about "well I have never had any problems, so thats ok" - be sure the day they do have problems all hell will break loose from them lol.
Alaska has done this progressively for a while now.
Truly the emptiest place for Alaska is the drop off / check in lobby.
The goal will also require document ID scan and verification at the drop off counter too.
"since almost everyone flying Ryanair checks in online." Weird. I had read that only people in Europe were able to use the online checkin/boarding pass with ryanair. I have a couple of flights with them coming up and they have done everything possible to nickel and dime me. If I had ANY other choice of airline I would fly that airline. You realize their US website basically forces people into using them for the exchange...
"since almost everyone flying Ryanair checks in online." Weird. I had read that only people in Europe were able to use the online checkin/boarding pass with ryanair. I have a couple of flights with them coming up and they have done everything possible to nickel and dime me. If I had ANY other choice of airline I would fly that airline. You realize their US website basically forces people into using them for the exchange rate on the ticket purchase? The EU has rules about that so I ended up using an european version of their website to pay directly in the local currency. Really has been a terrible airline to deal with so far. Easy Jet in my experience is much better.
Everyone can (and generally must) check-in online but non-EU citizens have to do a document check in person after checking in. Nowadays they have an online doc check for nationals of some third countries to skip that, I believe the US is included.
I've flown Ryanair many times and as a Canadian, I'm often sent a text telling me to have my documents verified at the check in counter. Not always though.
I'd be happy to skip that problem.
Fear not, VT-CIE wisdom advice when checking in for Ryanair, "visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France or JAL or something of that kind! ;)"
Horrible airline.
Will someone think of the Luddites!?
With all due respect, but I guess that if people manage to book a ticket with Ryanair, then they'd also be capable of installing an app on a phone or have someone to print out a boarding pass for them.
And in all honesty, I can't recall the last time I had to stand in line to check in for a flight. I think it must have...
Will someone think of the Luddites!?
With all due respect, but I guess that if people manage to book a ticket with Ryanair, then they'd also be capable of installing an app on a phone or have someone to print out a boarding pass for them.
And in all honesty, I can't recall the last time I had to stand in line to check in for a flight. I think it must have been while flying a domestic route on some EU banned carrier somewhere in Central Asia or so. The rest usually goes via check in kiosks, emailed boarding passes or smartphone apps. And that doesn't just go for me and my boarding pass, but more and more airlines have self-service luggage check-in desks now. That's right, you print your bag tag, attach it to your suitcase and send it to... somewhere... with a nice hand scanner or some futuristic looking pod.
According to Tims metrics, Ryanair is the most premium airline in Europe, as they have a very large fleet, most customers, a great balance sheet and fly to most destinations. And, of course, there's 'strategy' involved somehow for anything outside those 4 things. I guess they really live up to expectations with this kind of futuristic development.
Does this mean the visa check goes away? (Bane of my existence as a US passport holder traveling when traveling from the UK to the EU and vice versa...)
More likely they will restrict travel only to EU/UK citizens. easyJet tested this before on some flights.
An airline can’t restrict travel to people of certain nationalities as that would be illegal under all U.K. and eu legislation. They can check at boarding.
They absolutely can restrict travel on the basis of not holding a specific travel document so long as they don't discriminate against/between EU nationals and dependents.
Fyi. Canada does restrict documents for domestic travel. You absolutely need a Canadian issued ID or use your entry passport to serve as ID.
So for me being a U.S. resident but Canadian citizen. I have to bring my passport for quick domestic trips when home. I cannot use my California drivers license.
The app is supposed to allow verification using NFC and your US (or certain other non-EU/non-UK) passport's chip, though I'm currently at a 50/50 success rate. Flying from the UK to EU last month it worked. For an upcoming flight from the EU to the UK, it has not.
Nothing will change about the doc check. It already requires you to be checked in in advance unless your fare allows check-in at the airport. That being said, online doc check is now possible for some nationalities.
Really dumb.
I flew with them May 2024, was unable to check in online due to an infant in seat with a car seat.
Ultimately needed to involve a manager to check in even at the airport.
Would not fly with them again since it's unclear that bugs with their app or online can't eventually be resolved.
The savings will come fromAirports with unmanned bag drops like in Copenhagen, you scan your luggage and attach the tags yourself, and then sends it on it’s marry way down the belt
Really need clarification if *printing* a boarding pass at home / office / hotel will still work. Most people already forego checking in at airport or using a kiosk, but the way he says “paper” makes me wonder if Ryanair will refuse any physical printed piece of paper from any source to use for boarding the plane.
A couple years ago, I arranged a trip for my mother-in-law and husband traveling together (without me)...
Really need clarification if *printing* a boarding pass at home / office / hotel will still work. Most people already forego checking in at airport or using a kiosk, but the way he says “paper” makes me wonder if Ryanair will refuse any physical printed piece of paper from any source to use for boarding the plane.
A couple years ago, I arranged a trip for my mother-in-law and husband traveling together (without me) in Europe. They took a Ryanair flight; it was very convenient for me to pre-print their boarding passes on paper a week or two in advance of the trip, which they could use, without trying to figure out a Ryanair app (MIL didn’t even have a smartphone with her).
Printing is a rather nice option especially if you're juggling your family's boarding passes. It is far more difficult to get through security or at the gate trying to hold your id in one hand and then manipulate your phone to the boarding pass screens with the other while managing luggage (and screaming children) rather than just keeping a fistful of boarding passes and IDs.
Of course you can still print BP "at home". That's your cost and Ryanair doesn't care about it.
I don’t think that’s obvious, especially in the context of what the tweets said. It didn’t say “we’re no longer doing airport check in”, it said “no paper”.
I really can't see the savings here. They will still need to have staff to check-in bags and document checks and it's not like the workload will get significantnly lower since virtually everyone has to do OLCI unless they're ready to pay 20/55 euros for airport printout/check-in (at which point the fee covers the cost for Ryanair more than enough).
You are missing the point. It is not about savings. It is specifically about setting people up to screw them over when they are unable to do the online checkin and have to pay the large fee. Same reason why sometimes they measure closely the bags. They are hunting for people they can hit with a large fee. Really is a despicable airline.
I can’t believe I am saying this but I am going to come to the defence of Ryanair here. While they do strictly enforce their baggage requirements, they are also extremely transparent about them. During the booking process and if/when purchasing extra luggage they are super clear about how large and heavy your bags are allowed to be. The same goes for their fee for checking in at the airport. In addition to their large...
I can’t believe I am saying this but I am going to come to the defence of Ryanair here. While they do strictly enforce their baggage requirements, they are also extremely transparent about them. During the booking process and if/when purchasing extra luggage they are super clear about how large and heavy your bags are allowed to be. The same goes for their fee for checking in at the airport. In addition to their large check in window allowing passengers to check in up to 60 days before their flight, they also sent you multiple emails reminding you to check in.
I don’t see what is despicable about enforcing rules when they have made it abundantly clear what the consequences would be of not following them.
What if someone doesn't have a mobile device? I know it may sound ridiculous but it does happen.
Exactly - like my 70-something year old friends who only have flip phones.
Find a friend to print it out.
I think bigger problem is when you run out of battery or forget to do the online chceck-in. Now the window is until 2 hours before the flight, will it be prolonged? Until when? We will see
That's very rare nowadays. But there are still plenty of passengers who may not have CONNECTED, WORKING mobile devices especially abroad.
They can take a screenshot of the QR code of the Ryanair app and use that instead. I've done so with other airlines when expecting an unstable connection at the airport and it worked like a charm so far. I'm also using this principle when in other shops and opening the app and finding the bar code or QR code is cumbersome: I have a folder with screenshots of shopping apps on my phone to get things done faster.
How many people fly and don't have a smartphone or access to a computer and printer?
Interesting. I fly them a lot and curious how they’ll deal with the non-Schengen flights, as it won’t let you get a mobile boarding pass. You can check in, but can’t get a boarding pass. You have to hand over passports / IDs at the airport desks for passport check & then boarding pass issue. If that will now be handled online vs at the airport, then I’m even more for it. This old way isn’t fun when you carry-on only.
They could add in functionality to allow mobile Passport scanning. United does this today and if your travel doesn't require a visa, you're able to scan your passport and get a travel ready mobile boarding pass without ever going to a check-in desk for many international destinations. They still check passports at the gate since there's no other physical passport check required in the process and they need to make sure you won't get denied...
They could add in functionality to allow mobile Passport scanning. United does this today and if your travel doesn't require a visa, you're able to scan your passport and get a travel ready mobile boarding pass without ever going to a check-in desk for many international destinations. They still check passports at the gate since there's no other physical passport check required in the process and they need to make sure you won't get denied entry to the destination country.
Yeah you can scan passports, but what about visa, residence permits and onward tickets that qualify certain passport holders to fly?
@HkCaGu - simple answer is simply to restrict travel to only those who don't require visas.
You can't legally do that if someone has a valid visa. I am sure tons of law suits will follow if they do that. Or even authorities will intervene in Europe or CAA. It is not middle east, you know....Plus ryanair is not that stupid to lose revenue.
In Canada. They issue BPs electronically. But require you to check in at the gate for document check. I suspect this is how it will be handled for the few than have visas and other unique travel documents.
I assure you that many non Schengen flights do use mobile boarding passes. I believe that Morocco is problematic, though.
Not having staff to check passengers in certainly lowers costs, but as pointed out, staff is still necessary for checking in bags, so it might not make a huge difference.
But what about removing the check in totems? Sure, they occasionally break and need maintenance, and they need paper (and someone to replace the paper), but it seems to me the economy in this case is pretty much minimal.
Seems more that they're doing this...
Not having staff to check passengers in certainly lowers costs, but as pointed out, staff is still necessary for checking in bags, so it might not make a huge difference.
But what about removing the check in totems? Sure, they occasionally break and need maintenance, and they need paper (and someone to replace the paper), but it seems to me the economy in this case is pretty much minimal.
Seems more that they're doing this because they can than because it makes any sense.
Aren't there airports (including some in which Ryanair operates) where one needs a physical boarding pass? For example: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294445-i4583-k13718409-o20-Wizzair_boarding_ticket_digital_in_Tirana_airport-Albania.html
Good for Ryanair. Anything that lessens the number of stupid and elderly that fly is a good thing. More airlines should follow in their wake. And in a case of the student has become the master, the first airline that should follow them with this is Southwest.
Elderly ?? Really ? Who else ? Disabled ? What a twat
you haven't realized that this doof just makes idiotic posts to get a reaction? dont give him what he wants
Your comment on ''elderly '' is rude and uncalled for . I am 78 and fly Ryan Air about 3 times a year , mainly from Cyprus to UK. This route is well supported by retirees in Cyprus, especially in the winter months, so Ryan Air will loose some of that business as many do not have smart phones .
"I guess I just don’t necessarily see how this will lead to material cost savings, since airport check-in desks are also used to check bags, which people will continue to do."
They could just eliminate those desks and have a glorified bag drop area where luggage need to be pre-tagged using terminals. By law/common-sense you'd probably need at least one employee available to help those with disabilities (and maybe provide assistance with oversized luggage), but...
"I guess I just don’t necessarily see how this will lead to material cost savings, since airport check-in desks are also used to check bags, which people will continue to do."
They could just eliminate those desks and have a glorified bag drop area where luggage need to be pre-tagged using terminals. By law/common-sense you'd probably need at least one employee available to help those with disabilities (and maybe provide assistance with oversized luggage), but that's still a significant drop in staff utilization.
They already have zones with self service bag drop off terminals.
You scan weigh print tag and drop off. Always staff around to assist
But weirdly at STN the bag drop-off involves passengers printing out the bag tag; but then queuing for an employee at what resembles a check-in counter who just reviews the bag with tag and pushes the button for it to start its journey on the conveyour belts.
Aren’t they just getting rid of an extra source of ancillary revenue this way???
It’s very little ancillary revenue since the vast majority check in online
You’d be surprised how many ppl forget until the airport or otherwise just screw this stuff up… once (b/c of the 60 day window) I checked in for my return flight by accident & had to pay up when my mistake was realised at the airport.
Why was it a problem if you checked in for your return flight ?
which is why they are doing it. This isn't about saving money. This is about trying to catch passengers without the online checkin and hitting them with fees.
They're not getting lots of revenue this way, as the vast majority of passengers is well aware of how punishment for not following the rules at Ryanair works.
Ryanair is a bit old skool like that: not trying to change people's behavior by motivating them, but by punishing them in case they don't do as asked.
Michael O'Leary has consistently said (and his reputation as a cheapskate backs it up) that these kinds of measures aren't to make money. Just like the paid toilets idea.
They're to prevent the airline from having to staff and pay for functions that aren't necessary, and to be able to cut the prices of their offerings and compete even more.
If £/€55 isn't enough to make you change your behavior, then modern airline...
Michael O'Leary has consistently said (and his reputation as a cheapskate backs it up) that these kinds of measures aren't to make money. Just like the paid toilets idea.
They're to prevent the airline from having to staff and pay for functions that aren't necessary, and to be able to cut the prices of their offerings and compete even more.
If £/€55 isn't enough to make you change your behavior, then modern airline travel with Ryanair (or probably daily making your way around the world) isn't for you.
Hopefully they remove the stupid 2 hour cut off for checking in online then.