Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has issued an urgent warning for millions of Britons planning to fly with Ryanair, as the airline implements a major change to its check-in process.
What is the new Ryanair boarding pass rule?
From Wednesday, 12 November 2025, Ryanair no longer accepts home-printed boarding passes. This significant policy shift means passengers must now use a digital boarding pass, which is automatically provided when checking in online via the Ryanair website or through the myRyanair app.
The change applies to all travellers flying with the budget airline from this date forward. Those arriving at the airport with a traditional paper boarding pass printed at home will be denied access and directed to use the digital system.
How to avoid Ryanair's new fees
While the move to digital is mandatory, Ryanair has introduced a helpful concession for passengers concerned about their devices running out of power. If your phone or electronic device loses charge at the airport, staff will print your boarding pass free of charge.
This marks a substantial improvement from the previous £20 fee for this service. However, the airline's other fees remain steep. Passengers who fail to check in online before arriving at the airport now face penalties ranging from £30 to £55, a significant increase designed to encourage digital adoption.
Airline executives and Martin Lewis react
Martin Lewis alerted his followers on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "Ryanair flyer? Home-printed boarding passes won't be accepted from tomorrow (12 Nov)."
His MoneySavingExpert.com team provided additional context: "From Wednesday 12 November, Ryanair will no longer accept home-printed boarding passes. You'll instead automatically receive a digital boarding pass when you check in online or on the app."
Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary, 64, commented on the transition: "I'm old, and I travel with Ryanair on a very, very regular basis, and I use the Ryanair app, it is pretty simple, pretty easy to use."
Ryanair Chief Marketing Officer Dara Brady noted that over 80% of passengers already use digital boarding passes and emphasised the benefits: "Moving fully digital means a faster, smarter, and greener experience for passengers, whilst also providing easier access to a range of innovative in-app features."
He encouraged the remaining passengers to download the myRyanair app ahead of their travel to ensure a smooth transition to the fully digital system.
