Ryanair, perhaps Europe’s most famous low-cost carrier, just made a big move. They’re replacing that with a 100% digital boarding pass policy! This change which goes into effect Wednesday, will be felt across the whole airline including the flight deck, airport operations and beyond. This is not true for flights to Morocco, however—flight participants must still show a physical boarding pass.
As part of this transition, Ryanair has done the passenger a favor. Today, travelers who check in online are able to receive their boarding passes straight to their smartphones. If you’ve done online check-in but are unable to get your digital boarding pass, fear not! The airline will provide you with a free replacement at the airport. Before this ruling, Ryanair had implemented a high fee of £20 for boarding passes printed at the airport.
Ryanair mandates that all customers check in online prior to arriving at the airport, emphasizing the importance of this new policy. Notably 90% of the airline’s 206 million passengers check in online and use digital boarding passes. This is yet another sign that travelers are enthusiastically going digital when it comes to air travel.
Passengers who don’t check in online before their flight would face a large fee if they check in at the airport. This penalty can shoot up to £55. This change is meant to simplify the sales and journey experience for customers while lessening Ryanair’s operational costs.
“Moving to 100% digital boarding passes is a significant step for Ryanair,” – Michael Sheils McNamee
The move to digital boarding passes and zoning at airport terminals is intended to increase passenger efficacy. It will be a challenge for some customers to make the leap. Some people will never be comfortable with a smartphone or simply want to avoid one.
“There will be people who are not necessarily familiar with smartphones, don’t feel comfortable about them or maybe simply don’t want a smartphone at all – they will still have to check in online,” – Simon Calder
This move is emblematic of a broader shift in the airline industry towards short-sighted greed. More than ever, carriers are adopting digital capabilities to improve customer experience while streamlining their operations. The move marks a notable advancement for Ryanair as it continues to evolve in response to changing passenger preferences and technological advancements.