Are you one of the unfortunate internationals who has to travel with Ryanair to visit your parents? Well, just make sure that you’ve got the app, because your airport experience will get a whole lot more complicated without it.
From Wednesday, November 12, all Ryanair passengers will only be able to access their boarding pass through the app or mobile website. No more paper tickets allowed.
If you do show up with your printed boarding pass? In a move that reminds us of that time the whole world had a U2 album forcibly downloaded to their iTunes, you’ll be asked to ditch the paper and download the app.
Pushed to buy extras
According to Ryanair, making its customers use its app is more environmentally friendly and more cost-efficient for airports since checking in with the app tends to be easier.
However, according to AD, there may also be a financial motive (surprise, surprise), users report that the app often sends notifications pushing you to buy extras before you fly.
But there will be some exceptions
If you’re now panicking about explaining this change to your frequently flying grandmother, take a breath.
Ryanair has pointed to a few exceptions to this new rule. You won’t have to use a digital boarding pass and will receive a paper one at the airport if:
- You have already checked in, but your phone has died.
- If you lose your smartphone or tablet at the airport
- If you have already checked in online, but you do not own a smartphone or tablet
And this isn’t going to work for every destination
However, in spite of Ryanair’s goals, for some countries and airports, a digital boarding pass simply isn’t possible.
For example, in Morocco and most airports in Turkey, it is only possible to check in using a printed boarding pass.
Let’s see how this new system works out in practice…
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