Many travellers prefer to download your boarding pass on their phone for convenience and to avoid the hassle of queuing at an airport kiosk or finding a printer. However, some passengers still find comfort in having a physical boarding pass.

Ryanair’s boss, Michael O’Leary, has announced that from May 2025, the airline will go fully digital and plans are underway to eliminate airport check-in desks completely. This means the company will no longer accept printed boarding passes, requiring passengers to have their boarding passes ready for scanning on their phones.

While this may frustrate those who are not tech-savvy, Ryanair states that 60% of its passengers already use digital boarding passes, with paper versions becoming less popular.

Currently, Ryanair charges passengers a hefty £55 if they fail to check in and download their boarding passes before arriving at the airport. This change could potentially remove any hidden fees.

The rules vary for other carriers, but many are happy to accept both paper and digital boarding passes, so what are the rules for some of the UK’s most popular airlines?

TUI

TUI’s boarding pass rules depend on whether you’re flying with them or another airline. Online check-in is available for all TUI customers travelling on TUI flights (those with flight numbers beginning with TOM).

If you’ve booked through TUI but are flying with a different airline, you’ll need to check that specific airline’s website for their boarding pass rules.

On the TUI website, travellers are advised: “To log into the airline website you will be asked for your flight reference number. Please note, this is not the same as your TUI booking reference. Your flight reference number will be a 6-character alpha-numeric code and can be found on your booking confirmation, e-ticket or in manage my booking on the TUI website.”

EasyJet

EasyJet encourages customers to use its mobile app for downloading their boarding passes, promoting secure trip management and eco-friendliness. Nonetheless, the airline does note that some locations within their network may not accept mobile boarding passes.

Passengers flying from certain airports are instructed to check-in online at the EasyJet website but must present a printed boarding pass upon departure. Additionally, it’s highlighted that some airports require a document check before passengers proceed to security.

The full list of easyJet airport destinations that require you to have a printed boarding pass are:

• ADB – Izmir
• AGA – Agadir
• AYT – Antalya
• AQJ – Aqaba
• BEG – Belgrade-Beograd
• BJV – Milas Bodrum
• DJE – Djerba
• ESU – Essaouira
• HRG – Hurghada
• IVL – Ivalo
• JSH – Sitia
• LXR – Luxor
• NBE – Enfidha-Hammamet
• PRN – Pristina
• RAK – Marrakech
• RBA – Rabat Sale
• RMF – Marsa Alam
• SPX – Cairo Sphinx
• SSH – Sharm El Sheikh
• TIA – Tirana
• TNG – Tangier Ibn Batouta

British Airways

British Airways offers passengers the choice between digital and printed boarding passes, even accommodating Apple Watch users. The British Airways app serves up notifications when flights become available for check-in and provides offline access to the downloaded boarding pass via Apple devices.

Here’s how to get your boarding pass on your Apple Watch:.

• Download the British Airways app on both your iPhone and Apple Watch
• Check in for your flight using your iPhone
• Download your boarding pass to the Passbook/Wallet on your iPhone via the British Airways app
• Scan your Passbook boarding pass at security and boarding gates

Alternatively, you can print your boarding pass onto plain paper, allowing you to proceed directly through security without needing to check in at a kiosk. However, British Airways advises that this is subject to the rules of your departing airport.