British travellers jetting off to certain holiday hotspots should be aware of a boarding pass rule that could land them a fine if ignored.
As winter approaches, many Brits may be considering a getaway from the chilly weather or even planning a festive trip to celebrate Christmas.
However, if you’re thinking about visiting one of three specific destinations, there’s an important factor to bear in mind. Nowadays, many of us opt to display our boarding passes on our mobile devices – it’s not only convenient and cost-effective, but many households no longer own printers, making it inconvenient to obtain a physical copy.
But if you’re jetting off to certain popular locations, failing to carry a hard copy could result in a substantial fine. Budget travel expert Sabrina Escapes took to TikTok to warn those travelling to Morocco in particular about the need to present a printed boarding pass.
“Airlines have just issued a boarding pass warning for holidaymakers heading to this popular destination,” she stated. “If you’ve got a trip booked, make sure you’re checking the boarding pass rules.”
She added: “Both Ryanair and easyJet have shared warnings to UK holidaymakers regarding their holidays to Morocco. This is due to the local rules in Morocco which mean you’re unable to use your mobile boarding pass.”
Those arriving in Morocco have reported being fined up to €50, roughly £42, if they fail to print their boarding passes before arriving at the airport. Airlines servicing these destinations will require passengers to present a paper copy of their boarding pass at check-in, regardless of whether they’re travelling with hand luggage, check-in baggage, or no baggage at all.
This is to ensure that travellers are properly checked in, and those who aren’t may face a fine. Reports on TripAdvisor indicate that some customers have been charged for not having their boarding passes printed off at Moroccan airports.
Consequently, the check-in queue might be longer than usual, so it’s advised to arrive at the airport well ahead of your flight time.
The requirement isn’t limited to Morocco; Ryanair also specifies that mobile boarding passes won’t be accepted in Turkey (with the exception of Dalaman Airport) and Tirana, Albania. Travellers must print their boarding passes at home before flying from these locations.
“We accept mobile boarding passes on flights from the majority of airports on our network,” states Ryanair on its website. “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).”
While there’s often an option to print your boarding pass at the airport, this service could incur an additional charge.