'Travellers not doing it either stupid or rebels': Ryanair hails paperless boarding

Ryanair has hailed the rollout of mandatory digital boarding passes a success, following comments from CEO Michael O’Leary that those who failed to check in online were 'either stupid or… just ignored our email instructions’. 

The low-cost airline’s new policy came into effect yesterday (November 12). Passengers must now use the boarding pass generated digitally when checking in online before arrival. Physically printed boarding passes are no longer accepted.

Originally scheduled for spring 2025, it was pushed back to November 3, before being delayed again to yesterday. 

Early indications from the airline indicate that the scheme is a success.

“By 13:00 more than 700 flights had departed across Europe without any delays or disruptions,” said Ryanair in a press release.

“Over 98% of passengers presented their digital boarding pass, and the remaining 2% – all of whom had checked in online before arriving at the airport – received their boarding pass free of charge at the check-in counters.” 

“So far, this first day of our transition to digital boarding passes has been a huge success: over 700 flights and more than 100,000 passengers have benefited from enhanced service and a smoother experience,” said Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Office Dara Brady.

“We estimate this initiative will save up to €40 million per year, which will help reduce ticket prices and make air travel even more competitive for Ryanair customers.” 

‘Stupid or ignored instructions’ 

Several concerns over the new policy were raised when it was announced, however Ryanair remained committed to its introduction. 

The airline’s website states that as long as passengers check in online before arrival, their digital boarding pass will be generated and they will be unaffected. 

In instances where the passenger is unable to show their digital boarding pass at the airport (ie they have no smart device, or it has been stolen / has run out of battery), a paper version can be printed for them at the check-in desk, free of charge. Fees for re-issuing boarding passes are now defunct.

If a passenger does not check in online before arrival, they must pay a physical check-in fee of €55/£55 at the airport (cheaper if travelling to Spain or Austria). They are not denied boarding. 

Prior to the rollout, Mr O’Leary said criticism of the measure was “much ado about nothing,” as quoted in The Telegraph.

“Rags will have a field day out of the idea that everybody over the age of 50 will no longer be able to fly Ryanair, which is an insult to everybody over the age of 50. A vast number of over 50-year-olds have smartphones. We know that because already over 90 per cent of our passengers are already using smartphones and digital boarding passes,” he said. 

“[Passengers] know that they have to check in the day before, because we send them SMS messages and two email confirmations, 48 hours before departure and 24 hours before departure.”

“So anybody who shows up not having checked in before they get to the airport? Either they’re stupid or they just ignored our email instructions,” he said. 

Despite Mr O’Leary’s claims, the Age UK charity argues that elderly travellers may be left behind. 

“When looking at updating ticketing, companies must not forget the four million people who have never used the internet and the many others with limited digital skills or [who] do not have a smartphone,” said Age UK director Caroline Abrahams.

“There should always be an alternative way of booking and showing tickets that does not disadvantage those who aren’t online.”