Strapped for Cash with Ryanair? Digital Boarding Pass Fees Add Up
Buckle up, Ryanair flyers in the UK! Looks like you'll be shelling out some extra cash for a digital boarding pass, according to The Mail on Sunday.
This new fee comes into play when you book online and skip the seat selection process. As eager as ever to squeeze every penny from its customers, Ryanair's list of extra costs keeps growing.
Piling on the Fees
With over 168 million passengers a year and raking in almost 1.4 billion euros in profit during the first half of 2023, Ryanair is proving once again that cheap flights can still bring in big bucks — even when vacationers are hit with various fees like:
- Hand baggage
- Seats
- Checked baggage
- Food and drinks
- Excess baggage (so much for bringing home those cute souvenirs!)
Just this past June, a political dust-up occurred when two holidaymakers wanted to bring home ensaïmada – the famous Mallorcan pastry – on the plane. Ryanair asked a hefty €45 for each pastry, leading the tourism manager of the Balearic Islands to voice concerns about the strict policy.
Consumer Protection Agencies Lodge Complaints
But Ryanair isn't the lone wolf getting dinged for extra fees. Last year, the Balearic Islands' consumer protection authority launched lawsuits against Easyjet, Volotea, and Eurowings over pricy hand luggage charges, according to The Guardian. The Culture Ministry is also investigating the situations.
The Lowdown
Travelers on a budget have grown fond of low-cost carriers like Ryanair, but they must keep a sharp eye on those pesky extra fees that can bump up the total cost of their flights.
Keep in mind that Ryanair doesn't charge for a digital boarding pass; instead, it's the printing or reissuing of a physical pass that leads to the fees. Specifically, here's the Ryanair scoop on fees related to printed passes:
- €20 for reissuing a boarding card at the airport, unless you're flying from Morocco, where printed passes are still on the docket.
- €55 for airport check-in if you overlook the online check-in.
If you choose the digital boarding pass option through the Ryanair app, you can bypass these fees and enjoy your European vacation stress-free.
Source:
Enrichment Data: Ryanair does not charge for a digital boarding pass. While there are associated fees, those charges apply to printing or reissuing a printed boarding pass. Here's the fine print on said fees:
- €20 (or £20) fee for reissuing a boarding card if you need it printed at the airport, excluding flights from Morocco where printed passes are still permitted.
- €55 (or £55) for airport check-in if you forget to check in online. These fees are avoidable when utilizing the Ryanair app for a digital boarding pass.
