Ryanair delays switch to digital boarding passes – Mallorca travelers granted leeway

More time for the digital switch: What changes for travelers

Good news if you're still attached to a printed boarding pass: Ryanair has pushed back the planned deadline for the end of paper boarding passes again. Instead of early November, now Wednesday, November 12 serves as the start date for the “digital-only” rule. For most of us that means a few extra days to try the myRyanair app, check the battery, or send grandma her boarding pass via WhatsApp.

Why the airline moved the date

The airline explains that the delay is intended to allow a smoother transition into the less hectic period after the autumn holidays. Sounds plausible – and honestly: better than a mess at the airport. Anyone who has stood at Palma airport on a rainy Tuesday morning and seen the check-in queue knows what I mean.

What the new process looks like

From the new date, printed boarding passes will no longer be accepted at check-in. The boarding pass must be available digitally, ideally in the myRyanair app, or as a screenshot/file on your smartphone. The airline also suggests that a main passenger can download the boarding passes for an entire group and distribute them via a messaging app.

Who will get assistance

Of course there are cases where a smartphone is not at hand — older people, devices with a dead battery, or travelers who don't feel confident online. Ryanair announces that free help at the airport will be offered. In practice this means: a counter, some patience, and in some cases a staff member who will load the boarding pass onto your phone.

How widespread is digital usage already?

The airline notes that a high share of customers already check in electronically. Not surprising: many frequent Mallorca travelers already use the app anyway. One more note: Ryanair flies from the island to various German destinations — Cologne/Bonn, Memmingen, Düsseldorf-Weeze and Frankfurt-Hahn are on the list. A quick look at the departures board in Palma shows: routines are changing, not the number of flights.

Practical tips for your next flight

A few simple things that help: check the battery before the flight, save the boarding pass as a screenshot, have the main passenger manage all boarding passes for the family, and head to the check-in desk well before departure if unsure. And yes, bringing a printed copy will no longer suffice from the cut-off date.

Oh, and if you're wondering whether more changes are coming — in the summer the allowed size for free hand luggage was slightly adjusted (now 40 x 30 x 20 cm instead of 40 x 25 x 20 cm). Small change, big impact if you want to pass the suitcase chaos test before the gate.

For those who struggle with technology: a bit of practice in a quiet corner of Passeig Mallorca or at the gate before departure can work wonders. And if everything goes wrong: airport staff are there to help. Most of the time, anyway.