ieExplains: Ryanair's boarding pass rules are changing. Here's what you need to know

The move to digital, which the airline has said has already been adopted by nearly 80% of its annual passengers. will "deliver a faster, smarter and greener travel experience." 

From Wednesday, November 12, Ryanair is getting rid of paper and moving to a 100% digital boarding pass model.

The move, which the airline has said has already been adopted by nearly 80% of its annual passengers, will "deliver a faster, smarter and greener travel experience". 

What does this mean for me? 

From today, you will no longer be able to download and print a physical paper boarding pass.

If you are flying with Ryanair, you will instead need to use the digital boarding pass generated in the Ryanair app.

How can I find my digital boarding pass? 

Once you check in online, as you would normally for a Ryanair flight, a digital boarding pass will be generated in your Ryanair app. 

This will be used instead of a paper pass at airport security and when boarding. 

Why are Ryanair making the move now? 

The airline says the change will lead to a "faster, smarter and greener experience for passengers". 

It is promising "hassle-free travel" that will be quicker, easier and lead to less stress.

Ryanair added while 80% of its passengers already use digital boarding passes, they are reminding those who still print them to download the Ryanair app. 

What happens if something happens my smartphone or tablet? 

If you have lost your phone or tablet and no longer have access to the Ryanair app — don't panic! The airline says as long as you have already checked-in online, you will receive a "free of charge" boarding pass at the airport.

If your phone or tablet runs out of battery before you get to airport security, you will also get a free-of-charge boarding pass once you have checked in online. 

If your phone or tablet runs out of battery after going through security but before boarding, Ryanair says "your details are already on our system and you will be assisted at the gate".

What if I don't have a smartphone or tablet? 

As long as you have checked in online, via someone else's phone or by computer, you will be okay. 

Ryanair says: "If passengers don’t have a smartphone or tablet, as long as they have already checked n online before arriving at the airport, they will receive a free-of-charge boarding pass at the airport."

What if I forget to check in online? 

If you don't check in online, Ryanair says you will be required to pay an airport check-in fee.

Has there been any criticism? 

Some. Advocates for older people in some quarters have criticised the plan, but Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has said this is "patronising".

Speaking in September, he said he was “amazed by the outrage”.

He said: “I’m old, and I travel on Ryanair on a very, very regular basis, and I use the Ryanair app, it is pretty simple, pretty easy to use.” He said “nobody would be cut off at the knees” and the airline would be “reasonably forgiving” of people showing up with paper boarding passes through Christmas and into January.

“The critical thing: If you’ve checked online before you get there and you lose your phone, we’ll have your name in the system.

“We will manually board you at the boarding gate so if your phone goes off, you lose your phone, your phone gets stolen, it is not going to make any issue as long as you checked in online before you got the boarding gate, which, by the way, would eliminate all the check-in fees at the airport.” 

Why has Morocco come up in all of this? 

The Moroccan government requires passengers to have a paper boarding pass, which is at odds with Ryanair's plan to go digital. The airline says anyone flying from Morocco "must check-in online as normal" and then present their digital boarding pass at the airport to collect a printed boarding pass.