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Boarding pass rules for easyJet, Wizz Air, BA and TUI as Ryanair confirms change

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Ryanair will implement a major boarding pass change this winter which will see scores of travellers forced to use digital alternatives to the traditional paper boarding passes

A woman traveler checks her mobile phone in front of the airport's flight information board, preparing for her upcoming solo journey.
Ryanair’s new digital-only boarding pass policy is set to take effect in November 2025(Image: Hinterhaus Productions via Getty Images)

Like most British holidaymakers, you likely download your boarding pass onto your phone to avoid queuing at an airport kiosk or finding a printer.

While early check-in and digital boarding passes are convenient and eco-friendly, some passengers still prefer the tangible version. But Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary, has announced that in 2025, the airline will fully transition to digital, with plans to phase out airport check-in desks altogether.

This means the company will no longer accept printed boarding passes, requiring passengers to have theirs ready for scanning on their phones.

Although this might irk those who aren’t tech-savvy, Ryanair states that 60% of its customers use digital boarding passes, with paper ones becoming less popular.

A close-up of a passport and boarding pass being handed to a female airport staff member as a man chicks in for his flight.
The new Ryanair policy will see the erasure of the carrier’s airport check-in desks(Image: Hinterhaus Productions via Getty Images)

READ MORE: Every new Ryanair route coming to UK airports this summer

At present, Ryanair also charges a hefty £55 to passengers who forget to check in and download their boarding passes before arriving at the airport. This change could potentially eliminate such hidden fees.

Ryanair confirmed that the move to mobile boarding passes will be pushed to November 3, 2025, after it was initially set to take effect by May 2025. In the lead up to the new measure, here are the boarding pass rules for the UK’s most popular airlines.

TUI

The boarding pass rules for TUI depend on whether you’re flying with them. Online check-in is available for all TUI customers travelling on TUI flights (those with flight numbers starting with TOM).

If you’ve booked through TUI but are flying with a different airline, you’ll need to check that specific airline’s website for their boarding pass regulations.

On the TUI website, passengers are informed: “To log into the airline website you will be asked for your flight reference number. Please note, this is not the same as your TUI booking reference. Your flight reference number will be a 6-character alpha-numeric code and can be found on your booking confirmation, e-ticket or in manage my booking on the TUI website.”

easyJet

easyJet promotes the use of their app for downloading mobile boarding passes to keep travel details at hand whilst also cutting down on paper waste. Nonetheless, easyJet acknowledges that some airports in their network are yet to accept mobile passes.

The comprehensive list of easyJet airport destinations requiring a printout of your boarding pass is detailed below:

  • ADB – Izmir
  • AGA – Agadir
  • AYT – Antalya
  • AQJ – Aqaba
  • BEG – Belgrade-Beograd
  • BJV – Milas Bodrum
  • DJE – Djerba
  • ESU – Essaouira
  • HRG – Hurghada
  • IVL – Ivalo
  • JSH – Sitia
  • LXR – Luxor
  • NBE – Enfidha-Hammamet
  • PRN – Pristina
  • RAK – Marrakech
  • RBA – Rabat Sale
  • RMF – Marsa Alam
  • SPX – Cairo Sphinx
  • SSH – Sharm El Sheikh
  • TIA – Tirana
  • TNG – Tangier Ibn Batouta

Passengers departing from these locations can still check-in online via www.easyJet.com but should remember to print out their boarding passes for flying. Additionally, note that a portion of these airports insists on a document check pre-security.

Image of woman wearing an smart watch
British Airways passengers can access their boarding pass view their Apple Watch(Image: Jam Press)

British Airways

British Airways gives travellers the flexibility to opt for either mobile or printed boarding passes and extends the convenience to Apple Watch users as well.

If you’ve got the British Airways app installed, it can alert you when your flight is ready for check-in. Once you’ve checked in and downloaded your boarding pass, you can access it offline on your Apple device.

Here’s how to get your boarding pass on your Apple Watch:

  1. Download the British Airways app on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
  2. Check in for your flight using your iPhone.
  3. Download your boarding pass to your iPhone’s Passbook/Wallet via the British Airways app.
  4. Scan your Passbook boarding pass at security and boarding gates.

Alternatively, you can print your boarding pass on regular paper, allowing you to bypass the kiosk and head straight through security. However, BA notes that this depends on your departure airport.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air allows passengers to present both online and printed boarding passes. To board your flight, ensure your complete the following steps:

  1. Check in online on our website, using the WIZZ mobile app, or at the airport.
  2. Print or download your boarding card.
  3. If you have checked baggage to drop off, visit the baggage drop desk in advance. Check-in and baggage drop-off times can be found in the Check-in and Baggage Drop-off Times section.
  4. If you hold non-EU travel documents, please proceed to the check-in counter to have your documentation checked and your boarding card stamped.
  5. Present the boarding card, along with your travel documents, at the gate no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
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