Ryanair bans printed boarding passes in app push - but what if your phone battery dies?

Travellers must use the Ryanair app to download and store their boarding passes, except when travelling from a select few countries.

The budget carrier said it was to save 300 tonnes of paper a year but has been vague on what happens to customers who turn up with paper boarding passes.

Currently passengers can be charged up to £55 for not checking in online, and £20 to print off boarding passes at the airport.

Ryanair told us passengers will not be able to download their boarding passes, and so will only be able to use a digital one.

About 20% of Ryanair passengers use printed boarding passes, the airline estimates. That equates to about 40 million of its 200 million annual tickets sold.

Ryanair is also planning to remove all check-in desks at airports, with chief executive Michael O'Leary saying it would create "a smoother, easier journey for everybody".

He previously said: "Our goal is to eliminate check-in desks at the airport, just like we’ve done with luggage counters.

"Everything will be managed through the app, making the process fully digital and eliminating paper entirely.

"I’m one of the last remaining people still showing up with my piece of paper. It also means, once we get everybody onto the app, nobody will ever again pay for a boarding pass at an airport - the airport check-in fee will be gone."

When is Ryanair banning printed boarding passes?

Ryanair will ban paper boarding passes from November 3 2025. From this time, passengers will have to present their boarding pass via the Ryanair app.

Can I use screenshots or PDFs of my boarding pass?

Ryanair tells passengers to use the app and not rely on screenshots of boarding passes which can be less reliable when scanning.

However some passengers may want to save a copy on their phone in case of technical issues, or send copies to their travelling companions in case needed. In which case ensure all information is included in the shot including name, seat number, flight number, full barcode or QR code.

You don't need the internet to access your boarding pass but you do need it to check in.

While Ryanair says not to save pdfs of your boarding pass outside the app, iPhone users can save them to their Apple Wallet by clicking 'add to wallet' next to the boarding pass on the app.

What if my phone runs out of battery at the airport?

This is where Ryanair's rules start to sound a bit ludicrous. Because if your phone battery dies at the gate, staff can check you're on the flight and allow you to board. They may even print you off a boarding pass at the gate.

Ryanair told Which?: "If someone’s phone dies or breaks they will be assisted by staff at the gate and their details will be cross-checked and validated against our flight manifest and they will be boarded as normal."

Ryanair told the website it doesn't intend to charge passengers to print off boarding passes at the gate, although it may still charge if a pass is needed before security.

It did not say what would happen if a passenger's phone died before they passed through security in an airport where there wasn't a Ryanair check-in desk.

Ryanair only told us: “We are not planning to close check-in desks as part of this move to paperless boarding passes.”

But that does not mean check-in desks won’t be closed in future as earlier statements from CEO Mr O’Leary said he aims to eradicate check-in desks at some point.

For those worried about their phone battery dying, take a look at our next section about what you can do if you don't own a smartphone as this could provide some good backup options.

What if I don't have a smartphone?

It's estimated about 4.5 million adults in the UK (8%) do not own a smartphone.

Figures from Pew Research in 2022 found that number rises to 12% in France, 13% in Spain, 13% in Poland, 17% in Greece and 18% in Hungary.

That is potentially millions of people across Europe who would not be able to follow Ryanair's digital boarding pass rule.

So how can you fly if you don't have a digital boarding pass on Ryanair's app? A spokesperson for the airline says you have two options: "You can ask a friend or family member to download the boarding pass for you, or check in online and visit the check-in desk staff at the airport, who will provide assistance.”

However, Ryanair has not clarified if additional charges would apply to those without smartphones. NimbleFins has approached Ryanair for information.

Where does Ryanair's boarding pass rule apply?

Ryanair is banning printed boarding passes across all destinations apart from Türkiye and Morocco where mobile boarding passes are not yet accepted.

If you're travelling from either of these countries you'll need to print off your boarding passes. However, Ryanair told us you’ll still need to use the app when travelling to Türkiye and Morocco.

Ryanair said it can print out passes in these countries but it is unclear whether it will charge passengers for the privilege. The Telegraph reported it would print passes in these destinations free of charge, but Birmingham Live reported Ryanair as saying: "You do not need to print your boarding pass once you have access to the Ryanair App unless you are departing from a Moroccan airport. If you do not have access to a printer, we can print it for you at the check-in desk, but you will be charged a boarding card reissue fee for each passenger."

NimbleFins has approached Ryanair again for clarification.

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