Ryanair passengers express outrage over the introduction of an alleged "scandalous" new fee

Passengers flying with Ryanair claim that the airline has introduced a new fee for online boarding passes, which they find outrageous. They say they were forced to pay up to £21 to reserve a seat in order to access an electronic boarding pass. If they did not want to pay the fee, their only option was to collect a paper boarding pass at the airport. Ryanair has not yet responded to requests for comment from the BBC, so it remains unclear how many passengers have been affected by this new charge. The airline has also not provided any further details regarding the scope of the policy, which was first reported online. Passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration, with some claiming that they were told by airport check-in staff that the charge only applied to the last 20 passengers checking in. Low-cost airlines like Ryanair are known for their additional charges, such as for luggage and seat selection, which they argue help to keep their basic fares low. This practice, known as "drip pricing," has prompted the government to hold a public consultation on whether clearer information should be provided to consumers.