New Ryanair check-in policy announced as passengers could be forced to miss flights

Ryanair is always ahead of the curve when it comes to saving money, whether it’s the removal of baggage desk, new rules and costs for carry-on bags or paying to select your seat

The way passengers check-in for their Ryanair flights has changed over the past few years, with people encouraged to carry out the process online or using the airline’s app.

For flyers who don’t want to do this or aren’t able to, they will be hit with a fee of €55 in order to check-in at the airport.

Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, has now announced that he is aiming to completely get rid of airport check-ins desks within the next six months.

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Speaking at a press conference in Dublin this week, he said: “We will get rid of ticket desks and then there's no reason to charge people for airport check-in.

“We want to get rid of airport checks in the same way we got rid of bag [desks]. We are working towards from May 1 that everything will be done on the app, nothing will be done on paper anymore.

“It will probably be around April or May of next year, after Easter. I think from May next year it will be 100% the app.”

He continued: “I have been reluctant to go on the app because I am terrified to get on a flight without a piece of paper, but it works so well. It tells you your gate and if there is a delay.

“The customers who want the piece of paper are the same demographic that when we first moved over to the internet they wouldn’t move over but were then the first ones to switch to the internet for cheaper airfares.”

Right now around 60% of their passengers check-in using the Ryanair app, with it expected that this number will hit 80% before 2025.

If someone is unable to check-in online, for example their phone battery dies, there are already procedures in place to deal with this, Michael said.

“If your battery dies we have your seat and your passport and we can do that at the boarding gates at the moment.

“We sometimes do that if someone's phone doesn’t scan for some reason. Once we have the name and passport that's fine but everyone will be on the app.”

People have questioned how older people will be able to navigate this more complex system, with those that don't have smartphones or access to the internet unable to check-in online.

There is also the issue that many airports require you to scan your boarding pass, which you get after checking-in, before even going through security. Therefore it would be impossible to get to the boarding gates to check-in.

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