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All Ryanair passengers must now check-in
Dick Murray13 May 2009
No frills airline Ryanair is to stop using traditional check-in desks at airports as it moves the service entirely online.
The carrier said today that the move would allow it to halve its checking-in fees to 5 per person each flight, other than on promotional offers.
But passengers who arrive at the airport without a pre-printed boarding card taken from the internet will be charged a 40 “boarding card re-issue fee”.
Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said the new system, to be introduced from next Wednesday, will further lower the airline's costs. That in turn will allow it to drop prices for passengers by the winter.
“Passengers travelling without checked-in bags have already embraced our online check-in service and the extension of this service to all passengers, including those with hold luggage and those travelling with infants, will allow all passengers to forever avoid check-in queues,” he said.
“Ryanair's web check-in service allows passengers to check-in from 15 days to four hours before, and print, or re-print their boarding card up to 40 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time.”
The new online check-in and “bag-drop” system will be phased in at the 146 airports used by Ryanair by 1 October. It will keep staffing desks to collect passengers' checked-in bags.
The airline also announced that it will no longer accept bookings for unaccompanied passengers under the age of 16 from today.
All new bookings will require passengers — including infants and domestic flight passengers — to hold a valid passport or national identity card.
Reader views (10)
Why does their pricing policy mean that under 16s pay the same as adults yet they will not let them fly as an adult i.e. alone?
- Mark T, Sydney, Aust, 14/05/2009 02:13
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Even if Ryanair offered me a free flight and i mean free,nothing,zilch,nought,and zero. i wouldnt fly with them. The best comparison i could give is if they used the roads instead of the sky, then they would be selling tickets for travelling in the back of a lorry.
- Mr.S.Port, London, 14/05/2009 00:07
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Most people leaving from the there home destination will probably get away with checking in online however it will be the return leg of the journey which may cause difficulty for travellers.. as not all hotels have free business centres with computers and printer so you will have to look at a local internet cafe (if available) which will be at cost, or worst still pack a laptop and printer when travelling...
Then dont for get they want to also implement the £1 charge to use the onboard toilets!!
JOY!!!
- Rob, Farnham, Surrey, 13/05/2009 22:34
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I have not got a PC therefore will not use them - people contact is much better
- Grim Reaper, uk, 13/05/2009 17:20
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Having been a web check-in customer, the new system = a £10 tax; may not be flying so often...
- Raoul, London UK, 13/05/2009 17:00
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¿ Can any one surply a reliable telephone number or e-mail address to contact Ryanair ? ¿ How can any one contact them in the U.K. Ireland or any other country ?
Try and see....
- J.M.Garcia, Spain, 13/05/2009 16:59
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Why would anyone contemplate travelling on anything that is owned by O' Leary. Only the truely desperate I would imagine. I travelled by Ryan Air only once many years ago and never again. Apart from all the rip off's, the smell of old dirty socks overwhelmed me.
- James Hennessy, london england, 13/05/2009 16:57
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It's just imposible to get intouch with Ryanair. They do not answer the telephone in any country,all the number in every country do not longer exist or there's not answer. Their number in Dubling Keeps you waiting while they give you a lot of stupid kind of info and the line end off without been able to speak to any one. There's not a e-mail addrees either. Savings is one thing, been a crook is a nother.
- J.M.Garcia ( Mr ), Spain, 13/05/2009 16:44
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As with many of these Ryanair moves this will lead to more inconvenience and queuing for their unfortunate customers, and more surprise charges. One thing guaranteed with Ryanair, the 'bargain' flight is never the bargain you hope for. I avoid them now at all cost.
- Cc Rider, Marylebone, 13/05/2009 16:43
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I don't know why anyone bothers flying; what a hassle today in the modern world.
Soon they will bring back Wellingtons; and drop the passenger over the country they are visiting; that will bypass immigration control as well as save time landing the plane; carpet bombing the Costa del sol would be fun.
The only problem I can see with that is; the Germans will already sitting on the deck-chairs before we jettison the Brits on top of them.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 13/05/2009 16:42
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