Ryanair’s boarding system changes today: passengers risk extra costs if they’re unprepared!

From 12 November, Ryanair has officially gone paperless: all passengers will now be required to use digital boarding passes when boarding the airline’s flights. The move aims to make Ryanair the world’s first fully paper-free airline – though the decision has already raised concerns among some travellers and travel agencies.

Full transition to digital boarding passes

Under the new system, printed boarding passes will be completely phased out and replaced by digital versions generated in the myRyanair mobile app. Passengers will no longer need a paper ticket at the airport; instead, they must present a QR code on their smartphone when boarding. According to Ryanair, 80–90% of its customers were already using digital boarding passes, so the change will not significantly affect most passengers.

The airline claims that the transition will help save over 300 tonnes of paper waste per year, representing a major step forward in its environmental sustainability efforts.

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What if you don’t have a smartphone?

The new system has prompted questions, especially from older passengers or those less comfortable with technology. According to the Association of Hungarian Travel Agencies (MUISZ), the fully digital approach could pose problems for travellers who do not own smartphones or prefer traditional paper-based methods, Turizmus.com reports.

Ryanair has offered reassurance: passengers who cannot use the app can simply take a photo or screenshot of the boarding pass generated during online check-in and present it at the airport. If a phone runs out of battery or malfunctions, the passenger’s details will still be available in the airport’s system, allowing them to board without extra charges – provided they have already checked in online.