article_detail

Budget airline Ryanair has been quietly working away in the background to make the switch and the date is almost upon us: from Wednesday November 12, passengers will only be allowed to use digital boarding passes on their mobile phones as the old physical paper cards will be made obsolete.

 

The move has been delayed a couple of times already and most recently, Ryanair said it planned to roll out the new system on Monday November 2, to coincide with the start of the Irish airline’s winter campaign.

 

Ryanair’s switch to 100% digital boarding passes means that from Nov 12, passengers will no longer be able to download or print a paper boarding pass. Instead, travellers will need to use the digital version generated in their “myRyanair” app during check-in to board their flight.

 

The airline says the move is part of its ongoing digital transformation, which aims to make travel simpler and more efficient for its more than 206 million customers.

 

Ryanair has already introduced a number of in-app features designed to improve the customer experience, particularly during times of disruption and the busy summer season. These include “Order to Seat,” which allows passengers to order food and drinks from their phone and be served first and “Live Flight Information,” offering real-time updates on boarding times, gate changes and delays.

 

Travellers also receive direct notifications from Ryanair’s Operations Centre in the event of delays or cancellations.

 

Almost 80% of Ryanair passengers already use digital boarding passes, so the change marks a natural step forward. The airline notes that other industries, such as festivals, music and sporting events, have also made the move to fully digital ticketing with great success.

 

“To ensure a seamless transition to 100% digital boarding passes for our customers, we will make the switch from Wed Nov 12th, which is traditionally a slightly quieter time for travel following the busy mid-term break period. 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,” Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said.

 

 

Image: Freepik