Ryanair ditching paper tickets: rules for Wizz Air, easyJet, BA and TUI
Ryanair has announced that it will soon stop accepting printed boarding passes at airports
With the arrival of summer, many Britons are prepping for their sun-filled getaways overseas. But prior to jetting off to the airport, staying updated on the latest advice regarding boarding passes is crucial.
Although a number of airlines continue to provide both digital and paper tickets, Ryanair is set to phase out this choice. At the beginning of the year, CEO Michael O'Leary announced the airline's aim to go totally digital and plans to discard airport check-in desks altogether.
As a result, printed boarding passes will no longer be acknowledged, with passengers required to have their digital passes prepared on mobile devices for scanning. The switch is now set to take place on 3 November 2025, having been postponed from May of this current year, as reported by the Mirror.
Despite potential issues for those less familiar with technology, Ryanair states that 60% of its clientele are already adopting digital boarding passes, and the use of paper is on the decline.
In response to this significant shift, we've compiled the most recent boarding pass regulations for four additional airlines and their implications for you.
TUI
Travel coordinators advise that if you're flying with several airlines for a TUI holiday, you must print your boarding pass onto an A4 sheet. This includes the following:
TUI
Air Europa
Albastar
ASL Airlines France
ASL Airlines Ireland
Evelop Airlines
Germania
Norwegian
Travel Service and Volotea flights
Guidance from TUI's website adds: "The barcode on the pass will need to be scanned at the airport, so the page mustn't have any rips or tears. Your boarding pass is an official security document, so you'll need to keep it safe until you reach your destination.
"Just so you know, we can't accept any unclear, faded or blurry boarding passes." If you are unable to print your boarding passes, you can collect them from a TUI airport bag drop desk.
easyJet
The budget airline promotes its app as a more eco-friendly option by enabling mobile boarding pass downloads. However, it warns that certain airports in its network may not accept digital passes.
Below is a comprehensive list of easyJet airport destinations where you may still need to print your boarding pass:
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
Travellers setting off from these airports still have the option to check in online via www.easyJet.com, but they must print out their boarding passes. Additionally, certain airports may mandate a document check prior to going through security.
British Airways
British Airways offers customers the flexibility to use either mobile or printed boarding passes and extends this feature to Apple Watch wearers. When the British Airways app is on your device, it alerts you as the check-in window opens for your journey.
Once you've checked in and have your boarding pass downloaded, it can be stored for offline viewing on your Apple device. Instructions to access your boarding pass via your Apple Watch include:
Download the British Airways app on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Check in for your flight using your iPhone.
Download your boarding pass to your iPhone's Passbook/Wallet via the British Airways app.
Scan your Passbook boarding pass at security and boarding gates.
Alternatively, printing your boarding pass at home allows you to bypass the kiosk queues and head directly to security, although BA signals that this depends on the airport from which you're departing.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air advises passengers that they can opt between using an online or printed boarding pass. To ensure you board your flight without a hitch, please heed the following instructions:
Check in online on the website, using the WIZZ mobile app, or at the airport.
Print or download your boarding card.
If you have luggage to check in, go to the baggage drop desk beforehand. You can find check-in and baggage drop-off times in the 'Check-in and Baggage Drop-off Times' section.
If you possess non-EU travel documents, go to the check-in counter to have your documents verified and your boarding pass stamped.
Show your boarding card and travel documents at the gate at least 30 minutes before departure.
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