Airlines are making major changes to the way their systems run at the airport. With 2026 well underway, airlines, along with everything else, are modernising the way they do things, and boarding passes are no exception.
Holidaymakers should check what type of boarding pass their airline will accept prior to making their journeys. It could lead to disappointment and a bad start to the trip if people fail to comply with new boarding pass policies.
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What flyers need to know ahead of their planned journeys
Ryanair
Since November of 2025, Ryanair has gone fully digital with its boarding passes, meaning they no longer accept paper copies. Passengers can ensure the arrival of their boarding pass via the airline's app. The airline has also claimed that in removing paper boarding passes as an option, they are able to "get rid of 300 tonnes of paper annually". Along with this, it has stated that it contributes to "lower airport costs and fares for all Ryanair passengers".
easyJet
Similar to Ryanair, easyJet accepts digital tickets via its free app. However, 21 airports in the easyJet network still require printed passes for UK-bound travellers. Also, the airline doesn't allow phone scans of PDFs.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air are an airline that does not fully support mobile boarding passes, with five destinations that don't support mobile boarding passes, meaning passengers must have paper copies. Travellers should check their airline's specific policies for both outbound and return flights in order to avoid being turned away at check-in.
The changing policies around boarding passes are confusing for all involved but particularly unhelpful for those who do not use the internet.
In going fully digital, concerns have been raised by campaign groups that older people have not been thought about in Ryanair's decision-making process.
Dennis Reed of campaign group Silver Voices, told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme the change was "the tip of an iceberg".
He explained how many services now require apps or QR codes, which older people find challenging to use.
"The digital revolution has gone completely bonkers, to be honest," he said.
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