A traveller has shared a simple tip to avoid losing your seat on a flight and fellow passengers replied ‘I often wondered about that’
Travellers have been given a heads-up about a simple yet potentially trip-ruining error involving boarding passes that could result in losing their seat on the plane. A savvy traveller took to social media to share a crucial tip for those using digital boarding passes, advising: “Always screenshot your boarding pass from the app. Call me paranoid, but I take that extra step just in case.”
The advice, which was posted on Reddit, was accompanied by a cautionary tale highlighting why taking a screenshot is essential.
The user recounted an incident where they were initially offered an upgrade after boarding, only to be told later that it was a mistake and they had to return to their original seat, which had been taken by another passenger. They wrote: “I finally get to first class and settle in, only for another flight attendant to come and tell me that it was a mistake and the upgrade was not available. Annoying but I guess whatever, maybe the gate agent made a mistake.”
The situation escalated when they found their original seat occupied and their boarding pass updated to the unavailable first-class seat. They continued: “Good thing I had the screenshot of the original pass and showed it to her and to the flight attendant, who then moved her somewhere in the back. A complete snafu, which of course they had no explanation for, but if I had not had that screenshot, it would have been me in the back”, reports Bristol Live.
Enthusiastic travellers flocked to the comments section to praise a fellow globetrotter for their savvy travel tip. One user exclaimed: “That’s awful! ! Great idea about the screenshot.” Another chimed in with: “I often wondered about that. So many seat changes seem to happen before a flight.”
A different user also affirmed the trick, saying: “I do it every single time, just in case my phone or the app has a connectivity issue at the wrong time.”
Yet another commenter chipped in with their nugget of advice: “I put mine on the wallet as well but if the seat changes it updates on the wallet too. Hence screenshot.”
This conversation comes amid news that Ryanair is set to ditch paper boarding passes once and for all. CEO Michael O’Leary stated that the initiative aims to be fully implemented by May, pointing out that already, up to 60 percent of customers opt for mobile boarding.
As things presently stand, flyers can still obtain a boarding pass when arriving at the airport via Ryanair, although the airline slaps a £55 fee on those who neglect to check in and download their boarding passes prior to making it to the airport. With the upcoming change, there will no longer be any possibility to check in at an airport desk, as these would be completely removed.