UK airlines including Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet and TUI have different policies for boarding passes, with some switching to digital-only and others offering a choice of paper passes. Travellers are urged to check their airline's rules before heading to the airport to avoid delays or extra charges.
Ryanair: Digital-Only Boarding Passes
Ryanair has "moved to 100% Digital Boarding Passes (DBP)", meaning passengers must download the Ryanair app and check in online. Notifications are sent 48 and 24 hours before departure. Those who fail to check in online face an airport check-in charge of €/£55 for most services, or €/£30 for departures from Spain.
After check-in, the boarding pass appears automatically in the app. If a phone is lost or battery dead, Ryanair will issue a printed boarding pass at no cost, provided check-in was completed. However, passengers flying from certain Moroccan airports—Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, Tangier, Nador or Oujda—can use digital passes; others must collect a printed pass at the airport after online check-in.
Jet2: Digital and Paper Options
Jet2 offers a digital option via its app, where travellers can store boarding passes for up to eight passengers on one device. The airline recommends that groups using multiple passes on one device stay together at bag drop, security, gate and boarding.
For those preferring a physical pass, Jet2 advises: "Log in to Manage My Booking, then select 'Get boarding pass'. From here, you can either get a PDF boarding pass sent to you or save it to your device. No need to print – just show the pass on your screen when you get to the airport."
TUI: Choice of Digital or Paper
TUI states: "If you're flying with TUI Airways (flight numbers starting with TOM or BY), you have a choice. TUI Airways accepts both digital and paper boarding passes." For paper passes, travellers should print on A4 paper, ensure the copy is clear with no rips or tears, and verify the barcode remains scannable.
Not all TUI packages use TUI Airways. If a package holiday involves a flight with Ryanair or easyJet, passengers must follow that carrier's rules.
easyJet: Digital with Exceptions
easyJet lists destinations that do not accept digital boarding passes, including Antalya and Izmir, mostly in Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia. Passengers to these airports must complete online check-in and obtain a printed boarding pass.
For most services, easyJet recommends its app for offline access to mobile boarding passes via Apple or Google Wallet. Traditional paper passes remain valid, and the airline notes: "The best way to store your boarding passes is to use the free easyJet mobile App or you can choose to print them out." PDF scans on mobile devices are not accepted as airport security cannot scan them. If a pass is lost, passengers can simply print again, ensuring the entire pass is clearly printed.
