Ryanair is preparing to change the way its passengers perform the boarding process. The airline lowcostknown for its competitive prices and collection model for additional services, announced a significant change that will come into force later this year. With this change, the Ryanair standard will also come to an end that until November may continue to take some passengers paying 55 euros per flight.
End of paper boarding card
From November 3 of next year, Ryanair’s departure cards will be exclusively digital. The decision was confirmed by the company itself and reported by the British newspaper which highlights the company’s intention to follow more sustainable practices.
According to data provided by Ryanair, about 60% of its customers already use the company’s mobile application to check in and get the boarding card. This behavior was one of the factors that motivated the company to advance to the full elimination of the paper boarding card.
With the introduction of this new system, the company’s check-in counters at airports will no longer exist. The company justifies the measure with the objective of making experience more efficient and aligned with digital trends in the commercial aviation sector.
Reduction of additional rates
The change may have a direct impact on additional fees currently charged to passengers. One of these rates is check-in at the airport. In some countries, such as Spain, passengers who do not check digital are required to pay 30 additional euros.
On the other hand, at Portuguese airports, the value of this rate is set at 55 euros, according to the information provided on the Ryanair website.
The only way to avoid this charge is to check on online through the Ryanair website or application before the flight. This possibility is available up to 60 days before departure for those who have previously chosen the seat.
Options for passengers without chosen seat
For passengers who choose random seat assignment, online check-in can be done from 24 hours before departure and up to two hours before the flight. Outside this interval, it will be necessary to resort to face-to-face check-in, subject to specific conditions.
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If check-in is not performed up to 40 minutes before boarding, passengers may be required to pay an extra fee. This value may exceed 100 euros, according to information provided by the airline itself.
Penalizations in case of loss of flight
The rate also applies to those who arrive at the airport after the flight departure and intends to be integrated into a later flight. In these cases, the financial penalty is applied as part of the company’s place and schedule management policies.
Another relevant additional cost is the resection rate of the departure card. Even if check-in has already been done, passengers who need a physical version of the card will have to pay 20 euros.
Passenger criticism remains
These rates and penalties have been the subject of criticism from some Ryanair passengers, who often point out the existence of unexpected costs at the time of boarding as one of the company’s main inconveniences.
With the mandatory scanning of the boarding card, the company also intends to reduce its environmental footprint. The elimination of paper is pointed as a step towards a more sustainable air transport model.
Details for clarifying
Ryanair has not revealed if there will be exceptions for passengers without access to smartphones or the internet. Additional details on this digital transition should be communicated closer to the new policy implementation date.
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