Ryanair is one of the most popular low-cost airlines, flying to over 30 countries and competing with rivals such as Jet2, easyJet, and TUI.
Budget airline Ryanair can sting passengers with £55 fines if they fail to do one thing before they turn up at the airport.
Currently, passengers can present their boarding passes in either digital or printed form -whether printed at home or issued by the airline. However, Ryanair’s new changes to going fully digital boarding means passengers will have to rely on the airline’s app for check-in and boarding. And failure to check-in before arriving to board could see customers whacked with a hefty £55 fine per-person, which is steep if an entire family misses the deadline.
While check-in is free online and via the app, failing to do so within the required window can result in hefty charges. Ryanair was previously one of the few airlines that allowed passengers to check in up to four days before departure, but this window was reduced to 48 hours, and now just 24 hours.
MSE, founded by Martin Lewis, explained: “The free check-in window is now just 24 hours before travel. With Ryanair, the golden rule is to ALWAYS check in online and print or download your boarding pass – if you don’t, you could have to cough up £55 per person, per flight.” He added: “Unless you’ve paid to reserve a seat, you can now only check in for free between two and 24 hours before departure. If you pay to reserve a seat (typically between £4.50 and £15.50 per person), you can check in for free up to 60 days before flying.”
Passengers who fail to check in online before arriving at the airport will face a £55 per person fee, a costly mistake that could total £220 for a family of four, potentially exceeding the price of the flight itself. Additionally, even if you check in online but fail to download or print your boarding pass, you’ll be charged a £20 per person reissue fee at the airport.
The clause is part of Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s plan to go digital in 2025, with proposals to scrap airport check-in desks entirely, along with paper boarding passes. He said: “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. So, I think it will be a smoother, easier journey for everybody.”
What does this mean now for travellers?
From May 2025, all Ryanair passengers must check in online and have their boarding pass downloaded to their smartphone or printed before arriving at the airport. Forgetting to do so could result in significant charges, adding unnecessary costs to your trip.
To avoid any surprises, ensure you check in as soon as it becomes available and keep a digital or printed copy of your boarding pass ready before heading to the airport.