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Ryanair Switches to App-Only Boarding Passes as Digital-Only Rules Take Effect Today

Ryanair says the app-only shift cuts paper waste and streamlines boarding.

Overview

  • From 12 November, passengers must present an electronic boarding pass created in the myRyanair app to board, with online check-in typically opening 48 hours before departure.
  • Travelers who arrive without having checked in online can still check in at the airport for a fee, which Ryanair lists as €30 in Spain, €40 in Austria, and €55 in other EU countries or the UK per person each way.
  • Checked-in passengers without a smartphone will receive free assistance or a printed pass at the airport, group bookers can display or forward passes for companions, and check-in counters remain in operation for now.
  • Ryanair cites an expected reduction of roughly 300 tonnes of paper waste per year and lower airport costs as key motivations for the digital-only policy.
  • Consumer advocates demand non-digital alternatives and warn of potential equality-law challenges, while competitors like EasyJet, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Condor still offer paper options; some routes, such as to Turkey and Morocco, require paper because mobile passes are not accepted by authorities.