All passengers travelling with Ryanair have been told to take action. If they fail to complete a simple task, they could end up having to pay an extra fee at the airport
Ryanair passengers have been told to take action (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Lots of us look forward to going away but, if you travel with Ryanair, there’s some vital information plane passengers have been alerted to. Travellers have been told they must take action or they could have to pay more money at the airport.
It’s no secret that holidays can be expensive, and they can be even more costly when extra fees are imposed; however, you can avoid being stung if you follow a simple travel tip. Advice has recently been shared to help Ryanair passengers, as there’s something they need to do before travelling to the airport to fly.
It’s not the only vital information to have been shared recently either. Previously, an update was issued about seat rules.
Digital boarding passes and travel documents have become second nature for most travellers, making paper copies largely a thing of the past. But, alongside hidden fees, paperless travel can be one of the most frequent causes of unnecessary expense and holiday headaches.
According to one expert, the most frustrating thing catching holidaymakers off guard isn’t related to digital documents at all, but rather turning up at the airport without having checked in online beforehand. Ryanair levies a £55/€55 airport check-in fee when this occurs.
They’ll print your boarding pass free of charge – the £55/€55 is reported to cover performing the check-in procedure at the airport counter itself. However, prices can occasionally differ depending on your travel route.
The Ryanair website states: “If you do not check in online up to 2 hours before your scheduled departure time, you may check in at the airport up to 40 minutes before departure, but you will be charged an airport check-in fee.
“We urge all passengers to check in online before arriving at the airport so these fees can be avoided.” To help people out generally, some other travel advice has also been shared.
Why paper matters
Mark Finley, Manager and printing expert at Choice Stationery Supplies, said: “Paperless works right up until it doesn’t. A dead battery at the gate, no signal, an app that won’t load – a printed backup costs pence and takes the whole problem off the table.”
A flat battery is an inconvenience. A stolen phone is a disaster. Mobile theft ranks amongst the most widespread crimes targeting foreign visitors, with tourists singled out in airports, on public transport and in bustling city centres.
Lose your phone abroad and you lose your boarding pass, booking confirmations, insurance details and tickets in one fell swoop. Printed copies are the one safeguard that can’t be remotely pickpocketed.
Kept alongside your passport, they’ll see you through check-in, car hire and your hotel while you arrange a replacement handset.
More travel tips
Even when a digital boarding pass is accepted, there are other situations where printed documentation may be required. “Car hire desks, border officials, and some airports still want paper,” explained Mark.
“Finding out in the queue is the most expensive way to learn it.”
Mark advises printing out a number of documents before you head off on your travels. These include:
- Car hire voucher
- Visa or ETA confirmation, if required
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of return or onward travel
- Travel insurance details
- Prescription letter for any medication you are carrying
You may never need to use them but, if you keep these documents together with your passport, you’ll always have a backup should your phone break down or get lost.