Ryanair Ditches Paper Boarding Passes – Chaos Ahead for Winter Flyers!
Farewell to Paper Boarding Passes
Ryanair is shaking things up again. From November 12, 2025, paper boarding passes will be history. The budget airline is going fully digital, forcing travellers to use the Ryanair app to check in and show their boarding passes on their phones. CEO Michael O’Leary boasts that 85-90% of customers already go paperless. But if you haven’t joined the digital bandwagon yet, you better check in before arriving at the airport—or risk missing your flight.
When Does the Change Kick In? Are There Any Exceptions?
The official date to wave goodbye to paper is November 12, pushed back from the original November 3 to ease pre-Christmas travel stress. But not everyone’s affected just yet. Passengers heading to Albania will keep using paper passes until March 2026 due to local rules, and Morocco refuses to go digital too, so paper passes will still be accepted on those flights.
Phone Problems? Ryanair’s Got You Covered
Worried about your phone dying or being lost? Don’t sweat it. O’Leary told The Independent’s travel podcast:
“If you lose your phone, no problem. As long as you’ve checked in before arriving at the airport, we’ll print you a free paper boarding pass. If your battery dies, we have your sequence number at the gate to let you board.”
The message is clear: check in early or face the music.
Passengers Fuming – ‘Age Discrimination’ Claims and Boycotts Loom
The move to digital boarding passes has sparked a backlash. Some passengers slam Ryanair for discriminating against those without smartphones. But others say it’s about time.
- Abhaya Ferdo Fulgosi: “What’s the big deal? I haven’t used a paper pass in over five years!”
- Ian Scott: “Grow up! The app is so easy. Why would anyone want a paper pass?”
If you’re jetting off with Ryanair this winter, make sure you’re ready to ditch the paper or prepare for a rocky start to your trip.
