Ryanair moves to 100% digital boarding passes: Here’s how to board a flight if you don’t have a mobile phone
November 12, 2025
Ryanair has officially moved to 100% digital boarding passes today, Wednesday, 12 November. Now, passengers must check in online and present their boarding pass on their mobile phone screen at the airport.
Originally set to roll out on 5 November, Ryanair held back the change a little longer to avoid impacting any half-term travel. While there has been some concern about confusion around the new policy, Ryanair says the first day has gone exceptionally well.
As of 13:00 today, the airline says over 98% of passengers arrived at the airport with a digital boarding pass. The other 2% had already checked in online at home and were issued free of charge boarding passes at the airport, the airline shares.
“So far, day one of Ryanair’s DBP has been a huge success as over 700 flights and more than 100,000 passengers enjoyed the improved service and better experience of paper-free boarding at Ryanair airports,” said Ryanair CMO Dara Brady. “We estimate our DBP initiative will save up to €40M annually, and this will help us to lower ticket prices and make air travel more competitive for Ryanair’s customers.”
The shift to digital boarding passes is earning Ryanair some negativity online.
From today on, I cannot travel with #Ryanair anymore, since I don't own a smartphone and they don't allow people to bring a printed boarding pass because "of the environment". What a joke.@Transport_EU
— Sharlo' (@CharlesTroupin) November 12, 2025
The principle is simple but very restrictive: without a smartphone with the app, you can no longer participate. Ryanair thereby violates the principle of free access to paid services, as set out in the European Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU and the Directive on Unfair
— AKBN™ (@akobian) November 11, 2025
But despite the confusion, Ryanair maintains that it’s simple to fly, even without a smartphone. As long as the passenger is able to check in online before arriving at the airport, the process will be smooth, as details are already in the system.
Why is Ryanair switching to digital boarding passes?
Ryanair expects the switch to fully digital boarding passes to lower airport costs and fares, provide more efficient service, including real-time flight information, improve support during disruptions, and reduce environmental impact. The airline estimates the paperless shift will eliminate around 300 tonnes of paper annually.
“Ryanair’s move to 100% digital boarding passes will mean a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class ‘myRyanair’ app, where passengers will also benefit from helpful in-app features, like Order to Seat and live flight information,” says Brady.
For most, the airline’s switch to all-digital boarding passes will not be unfamiliar. Ryanair says almost 80% of its passengers already use digital passes, and that it is following in the footsteps of other industries in moving to digital tickets.
How the Ryanair digital boarding pass works
Ryanair provides detailed instructions for passengers on how to obtain their digital boarding passes (DBP).
- You must check in online via Ryanair.com or the “myRyanair” app prior to arrival at the airport.
- After check-in, your DBP will appear automatically within the app.
- At the airport, you will present this DBP to security and the boarding gate agent.
- If you have not checked in online, and you arrive at the airport without a valid boarding pass, you will still face the usual airport check-in fee.
- Passengers flying from Morocco and from airports where paper tickets are still required must check in online as usual, then present their DBP at the airport to collect a free printed boarding pass.
What if your phone fails — or you don’t have one?
Ryanair offers guidance for passengers who lose access to their mobile device or do not have a smartphone or tablet:
- If you lose your smartphone or tablet or it dies before airport security, but you have already checked in online, you will be issued a printed boarding pass at the airport free of charge.
- If the device fails after security but before boarding, your details are already in Ryanair’s system, and you will be assisted at the gate.
- If you do not own a smartphone or tablet, you can still travel. As long as you have checked in online before arriving at the airport, you will be given a printed boarding pass at the airport free of charge. However, you will miss out on real-time updates and some enhanced app features.
- If you fail to check in before arriving at the airport, you must do so on arrival and will incur a fee for airport check-in.
- Check-in and ticket desks will still remain open at all airports to facilitate passengers who need printed boarding passes or assistance.
Ryanair’s new 100% digital boarding pass policy (in a nutshell)
| Travel scenario | Can I still board? | What Ryanair states |
|---|---|---|
| With a smartphone or tablet | Yes | Check in online and use the digital pass in the myRyanair app. |
| No smartphone or tablet | Yes | If checked in online, a free printed pass will be provided at the airport. |
| Device lost or not working | Yes | Ryanair will issue a printed pass free of charge if you’ve already checked in online. |
| Did not check in online | Check-in required | Must check in at the airport before departure. Standard fees apply. |
| Airports without digital passes | Paper pass required | Some airports and routes are excluded due to local rules; paper passes will be issued where needed. |
All information verified directly from Ryanair’s Digital Boarding Pass Help Centre .
Ryanair’s digital boarding pass initiative aligns with a broader shift across travel and ticketing industries toward fully digital ticketing. However, the airline still allows for analogue travellers (and those with low batteries) to enjoy their journey.
