Millions of Brits aged over 55 are set to face travel chaos as Ryanair launches new rules.
From 3rd November, holidaymakers jetting off with the budget airline will be required to use digital boarding passes.
The move is to help ‘save approximately 300 tonnes of paper, eliminate airport check-in fees and allow passengers to get direct notifications on flights’.
However, it’s expected to cause some trouble for people who don’t own mobile phones.
A whopping 2.06 million Brits aged over 55 do not have one of the handy devices, according to MoneySuperMarket.
This equates to around 10 per cent of the age group.
With the new rule, customers will have to use the digital boarding pass created by the myRyanair app after they check-in.
MoneySuperMarket’s Alicia Hempsted said: ‘While in some senses this is great news, when it comes to cutting down on unnecessary waste and avoiding check-in fees, having a strict no boarding card policy means travellers need to be prepared to go digital.
From November 3, holidaymakers jetting off with the budget airline will be required to use digital boarding passes
‘If you’re used to printing off your boarding pass, make sure you’ve downloaded the Ryanair app and followed the steps to download your digital pass, or you could face delays when you get to the airport.’
Earlier this year, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary revealed that a high proportion of customers use mobile phones already and pushed for everyone to.
‘At the moment, between 85 and 90 per cent of passengers show up with smartphones,’ Mr O’Leary said.
‘Almost 100 per cent of passengers have smartphones, and we want to move everybody onto that the smartphone technology.’
O’Leary also previously spoke out about older people using technology.
He shared that his 86-year-old mother uses the Ryanair app to travel after many accused the airline of ageism.
Campaigners representing older travellers have opposed the plans, calling it a ‘disgraceful move’ and accusing the airline of putting profits above the needs of some of its customers.
In response to the criticism, O’Leary told reporters he was ‘amazed by the outrage’.
However, it’s expected to cause some trouble for people who don’t own mobile phones
The 64-year-old said: ‘I’m old, and I travel from Ryanair on a very, very regular basis, and I use the Ryanair app, it is pretty simple, pretty easy to use.’
O’Leary claimed it was a ‘myth’ that older people could not transition to changes in technology.
He said: ‘Actually, what you find is the old people firstly just get their kids or grandkids to make bookings for them, and then pretty quickly they’re adopting it themselves.
‘And it is slightly patronising, this notion that old people can’t and won’t move to mobile technology or to the apps.’
