Ryanair passengers could face a £55 penalty for failing to complete online check-in before arriving at the airport, the budget airline has warned. The fee applies regardless of whether travellers have luggage or not, and is separate from charges for extra baggage or seat selection.
Since November 2025, Ryanair has moved to 100% digital boarding passes via its app, eliminating paper passes. Online check-in opens 60 days before departure for passengers who have bought allocated seats, or 24 hours beforehand for those with free seat allocation. The check-in window closes two hours before the scheduled departure time.
After completing online check-in, passengers must save a digital copy of their boarding pass on a smartphone or tablet. Those without a compatible device can request a free paper boarding pass at the airport, provided they have checked in online beforehand.
The airline said it will send passengers reminders to check in online shortly before their departure. The move to digital boarding passes is intended to reduce costs, improve service, streamline rebooking, and save 300 tonnes of paper annually.
