Ryanair passengers share their fury over change to boarding passes that 'forces people to pay for seats'

5 December 2023, 08:13

Ryanair has sparked anger by changing the way boarding passes are issued
Ryanair has sparked anger by changing the way boarding passes are issued. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

Ryanair appears to have made 'stealth' changes to the way boarding passes are issued, in a move that sparked fury amongst air passengers.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Only passengers who pay extra to pick a seat will be able to download a mobile boarding pass or print one at home.

People who refuse to pay for a seat and instead allow to have one allocated on check-in will have to queue up at the airport to be issued with a boarding pass.

Charges for a reserved seat range from £4.50-£15.50.

Ryanair yesterday denied passengers will be made to pay to download boarding passes.

Read more: Age estimation tech could be used to prevent children accessing pornographic sites, new Ofcom guidance says

Read more: 'It's fine, I deserve it': Woman arrested after running over and killing boyfriend, dragging his body nearly 160 metres

"All Ryanair passengers can pay for a reserved seat if they so wish or if passengers wish to avoid this seat fee, they can select a randomly allocated seat entirely free of charge," a Ryanair spokesperson said.

Passengers took to social media to complain that if they chose the option of a randomly allocated seat they were told they would have to queue to pick up a paper boarding pass at the airport.

One angry passenger wrote: “"When and why did you start this carry on? I now have to QUEUE to collect my boarding pass at the airport?" 

Another said: “Another passenger said: "I just can't believe your new policy of not allowing passengers to create a boarding pass (mobile or print-out) unless they buy a seat, forcing them to join a check-in queue (30m or longer) to do so for no other reason for you to make a few quid. Scandalous."

Neil Buckley said: “The app said if I opted for a free random seat I'd have to go to check-in to get a paper boarding pass, which I've never seen before.

"If you wanted a digital boarding pass, it said you had to pay for a reserved seat. I was really annoyed that I had to pay to avoid the inconvenience of queueing at check-in.”

Passengers who have been issued a boarding pass but lost it, or do not have a phone, are already charged £20 by Ryanair to have it printed at the airport. If a passenger fails to check-in at home, they must pay £55 at the airport.

Passengers have complained the move effectively forces them to pay for a seat, or face the inconvenience of having to queue at the airport.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

CANADA-G7-SUMMIT-DIPLOMACY

Trump leaves G7 summit early over Middle East tensions as he issues evacuation order for Tehran

Matthew Perry attends 'The Circle' screening during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 26, 2017 in New York City.

Doctor to plead guilty to supplying Friends star Matthew Perry with ketamine

The son of a woman who died while skydiving said she was "just trying something new" when her family lost her.

‘Caring’ mother-of-four who died while skydiving was ‘just trying something new’, son says

NHS 999 staff are quitting and suffering burnout caused by the "relentless pressure" of calls, according to new research.

NHS 999 staff quitting and suffering burnout due to ‘relentless pressure’ of calls, research finds

Using a mobile phone to use TikTok video sharing site

Patients who record NHS care for TikTok or Instagram causing workers unnecessary anxiety

Russ Cook

Gen-Z adults with a fitness regime ‘more likely to have a financial plan’

Daytime view of a busy Oxford Street

Sir Sadiq Khan to pedestrianise Oxford Street ‘as quickly as possible’

Low water levels at Baitings dam near Ripponden following a very dry spring

England faces ‘huge’ water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, officials warn

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court in Wales.

Driver handed 10-year sentence after ramming pedestrians, including teenager, with SUV in Airbnb row

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates a goal.

Four people given suspended prison sentences for hate crimes after hanging effigy of Real Madrid star

Electricity prices in the UK are high because of the "insane" wholesale market, Parliament has been told.

UK electricity prices ‘way too high’ because of ‘insane’ wholesale market, Parliament told

Detectives have released CCTV footage of a man they wish to speak to following an attempted rape

Bid to trace man as police investigate attempted rape of woman in cinema

Exclusive
Jess Phillips on LBC

Victims deserve credit for grooming gangs national inquiry - not Elon Musk, says Labour minister

Israel attacked Iran's state broadcaster IRIB during a live broadcast.

Israel accused of 'war crime' after bombing Iran's state TV studio live on air and warning it would 'disappear'

The Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, where Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will visit on Wednesday Aug. 7, 2024 following riots

Pregnant teenager facing jail term following role in Rotherham riots targeting migrant hotel

Hamilton started the race in fifth and looked to be on course for a positive 70 laps - before his Grand Prix was impacted in the initial stages.

Lewis Hamilton is left 'devastated' after hitting a furry animal at 100mph in F1's Canadian Grand Prix