Ryanair requires web check-in, shuts down website

On May 21, Ryanair insisted that all new bookings would require online check-ins. If you don't print your boarding pass from the company's website, you're charged an extra £40.

And now the Irish budget airline has announced that for ten hours next week, its website will be completely unreachable.

The Ryanair site will be closed from 7pm (Irish summer time) Wednesday June 24 until 5am Thursday June 25 due to "an essential upgrade maintenance."

The Air Transport Users Council - the UK's official air traveler watchdog - is not pleased. "We don't think it is responsible for the airline to switch to a web-only check-in system and then have the website close down for a significant period of time," an AUC spokesman told The Herald of Glasgow.

"We would certainly want any charges that are incurred as a result of difficulties checking in to be waived.

"We're disappointed that Ryanair has seen it necessary to close down its website. Other airlines have not had to close down their websites and we would ask why Ryanair appears to be the only company that requires to close its website to carry out this work."

Ryanair has told those traveling on Thursday the 25th that "in order to avoid any inconvenience," they must do their web check-in before 6pm Wednesday the 24th.

When The Herald asked whether the airline would waive that £40 surcharge for passengers who don't make their mandatory online check-in while the site is down, a company spokesman said: "Ryanair will review the number of passengers who fail to check-in online and make a decision at that time."

The surcharge does not apply to those who booked tickets on May 20th or before. ®