Ryanair passengers warned to make this one essential phone check before travelling
Ryanair will be phasing out paper boarding passes and only accepting digital copies by May this year.
The budget airline has made it known that by the summer passengers will not be able to use the traditional boarding passes and check-in desks when heading abroad.
They are the first carrier to go completely paperless globally, requiring passengers to use a digital PDF version of their boarding pass available on the mobile app.
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However travel experts said they worry that the change may mean some passengers will have to spend extra on tech before embarking on a trip.
Ante Dagelić, CEO of GetByFerry said: "Digital boarding passes can be highly convenient for travellers, allowing quick check-in and minimising the risk of boarding passes being lost or damaged when moving through airports or enjoying hospitality at airport gates. But they do require passengers to have access to a smartphone or device which the boarding pass can be accessed on.”
According to estimates by Finder, almost all Brits aged between 16 and 54 own a smartphone however, the same can be said for only 82% of over 65-year-olds.
This means that up to 18% of retirement-aged Brits may be unable to adhere to Ryanair’s latest development, which is estimated to account for over 2.2 million UK citizens.
For those travelling on the airline this summer, the travel expert urges passengers to ensure they have a device that is compatible with the Ryanair app, and it is downloaded ahead of travel plans.
The Ryanair app is compatible with most smartphones, with the Apple App Store noting that the current app is compatible with iOS 15.0 or later, which runs on iPhones from at least 2013 and later. The app is similarly available for Android users on the Google Play Store.
Sharing tips for travelers preparing for the change, Ante said: “If passengers are travelling with Ryanair and using a mobile boarding pass, it is important that not only is the app downloaded—but ensure that boarding passes are also downloaded to the device after checking in on the app.
“This minimises the risk of having little to no signal at the airport gate, which may otherwise delay you from jetting off to your destination.
“After accessing the digital boarding pass on your smartphone, the pass can be added to your mobile wallet—including Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, depending on your device.
“This adds an extra layer of convenience for travellers, allowing almost instant access to your boarding pass, which can be easily scanned at various points throughout the airport as you depart on your trip.”
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