Ryanair issues holiday warning over airports that 'won't accept' digital boarding passes

Airports in some popular holiday destinations cannot accept digital boarding passes, Ryanair warned
Airports in some popular holiday destinations cannot accept digital boarding passes, Ryanair warned -Credit:AFP/Getty Images


With summer holiday season approaching, millions of Brits will soon be jetting off abroad - but it's important to make sure you're aware of all the rules for your destination before you travel.

The majority of airlines now offer digital boarding passes that can be safely stored on your phone, meaning one less piece of paperwork to worry about. However, Ryanair has warned that there are some countries where its digital boarding passes are not yet accepted - and holidaymakers could be held up at the airport if they fail to print out their pass, Birmingham Live reports.

Ryanair advised passengers: "We accept mobile boarding passes on flights from the majority of airports on our network. However, unfortunately some airports cannot accept mobile boarding passes yet. Customers traveling from these airports must check in online and print out a paper boarding pass for their flight(s)."

The airline warned that airports in Turkey and Morocco do not accept its digital boarding passes, and neither does Tirana Airport in the capital city of Albania. You can access your boarding pass to print it out if needed via the 'My Bookings section of the Ryanair website or app.

This isn't the only travel rule that holidaymakers need to bear in mind before heading to these countries, with strict passport rules also in place. When visiting Turkey, your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive, and have a full blank page for entry and exit stamps, the FCDO advises.

Meanwhile, the embassy of Morocco in the UK advise that your passport should be valid for at least three months on your date of entry to Morocco. It's also important to make sure your passport isn't damaged, as some travellers have been refused entry when travelling on damaged passports.

While digital boarding passes may be accepted in many other popular holiday destinations, one frequent flyer has previously advised that travellers should always have a paper copy on hand in case something goes wrong. Sophie Claire Hoeller explained that technology, while handy, can also prove unreliable - especially when your phone is out of power or has no signal.

Sophie explained: "My phone has died at the airport more times than I can count. The app will crash. The battery will die. The Wi-Fi will fail. The page will time out. I'll run out of data. Tech is not to be trusted. And yes, I know that I can also take a screenshot of the mobile pass, and usually do, but that only cancels out some of the pitfalls I mention."

She added: "The airport's systems could go down; the scanner could be broken; there could be bad weather, mass cancellations, and long lines when you're already low on battery; you could drop your phone and crack the screen, rendering it un-scannable."

The FCDO also advises taking a paper copy of your travel insurance with you for the same reason. If you lose your phone abroad, this paper copy will provide the information you need, including your policy number and insurer's emergency 24-hour telephone number.