Ryanair checked bag drop machines will not communicate with my mobile phone

[Zamracene749]

Has anybody else suffered this issue?

Is there a solution other than as helpfully suggested on the Ryanair site 'use an alternative device'?
Yeah OK, i'll just buy an extra phone then shall I?

Very nearly missed my flight from Budapest recently.
Arrived 180 mins early.
Check in queue for baggage drop took 50 minutes.
Once my turn finally came, multiple machines would not communicate with my phone. Bluetooth on, already checked in online, with boarding passes and QR code (that the machines don't use), roaming enabled with full data connection, wifi turned on then off then on, NFC enabled. App reinstalled twice whilst queuing. Phone fully updated. No joy.

Only one manual Ryanair check in desk agent available for the 6 or seven upcoming flights, busy dealing with the usual crowd of 'didn't know I had to pay for baggage, over the weight limit, outsized pushchairs, huge powerbanks, banned goods, incorrect paperwork etc etc' muppets.
Another 60 minutes passed. still only halfway through that queue and security staff refusing to allow myself and others at risk of missing our flights to be prioritised. Shrugs and a response of 'Ryanair won't pay for any extra desks agents, not our problem'.
Got to the bag drop desk at 'gate closing' time.
60 second baggage check in finally complete, baggage labels issued, then a mad dash through security, passport control, eyescans, brexit check then finally on the plane as the gate agents were about to pull the rope across and shut up shop.
Incredibly stressful, to the extent that I don't trust flying with them again. Needless to say, my suitcase arrived in Newcastle 4 days later than I did...

A few months previously, in Porto, a similar thing happened, app wouldn't communicate with machine.
Not a big deal there though, the staff just sighed and waved me to the check in agent who dealt with me immediately in the more usual way, scanned passport and QR code, done.

Since the same thing has now happened twice, I suspect my phone is part of the issue.

My question is-

Do any of you forumites have any idea why my phone will not work the bag drop machines? Fully updated Pixel7pro.
Is it down to security/adblock apps, some obscure setting, the age of the device?
Or is it down to poor implementation of a frankly crap idea by RYR? Or perhaps Budapest staff being awkward for some unknown reason?

Avoiding Ryanair is making travel plans to Europe from NE England somewhat difficult...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fragezeichnen]

I tried to use it a while back, with no luck. The staff member assisting told me that no matter what the app says, bag drop simply doesn't work on Android - at all, on any model of phone.

You have to wonder how much they saved by buying machines without a display, compared the difficulty it causes.

 

[Zamracene749]

I tried to use it a while back, with no luck. The staff member assisting told me that no matter what the app says, bag drop simply doesn't work on Android - at all, on any model of phone.

You have to wonder how much they saved by buying machines without a display, compared the difficulty it causes.

That would explain it, but how crazy is that? It isn't like RYR to make poor business decisions, but after that last trip I'd sooner pay another 100 quid to use a flag carrier or competitor and not go through the 2 hour stand and all the associated stress. Maybe they are going to introduce an Android Surcharge lol

 

[WelshBluebird]

I tried to use it a while back, with no luck. The staff member assisting told me that no matter what the app says, bag drop simply doesn't work on Android - at all, on any model of phone.

You have to wonder how much they saved by buying machines without a display, compared the difficulty it causes.

Well that is simply false. Worked fine for me back in May with my Android phone (Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7). So I think the staff member was just talking rubbish. Given android phones almost half of smartphones in the UK I think we'd hear a lot more about it that actually was the case.

 

[jon0844]

It could be a specific build of Android, perhaps impacting only one specific handset vendor, but Google offers developers the ability to test apps across multiple devices and only the most advanced apps should be at any sort of risk.

Unless the handset is really, really old then I can't see it being an issue - but it could potentially be an issue if the phone has a VPN or ad blocker on it (both of which can usually whitelist apps to avoid going through the filters).

I have no idea if Ryanair has a technical team that you or I could speak to, or that the regular customer service people could. Some companies are actually really good at dealing with odd issues, often asking for specific detail to investigate and potentially fix problems like this. I am not sure if Ryanair is one of those.

 

[westv]

Jet2 seems far simpler. No app needed. You just go to a terminal, press a few buttons, get a sticky label and drop the bag off. Always someone to assist if needed.

 

[WestAnglian]

Jet2 seems far simpler. No app needed. You just go to a terminal, press a few buttons, get a sticky label and drop the bag off. Always someone to assist if needed.

Ryanair is simpler, too, if you're at at Stansted. You scan the boarding pass and follow the prompts on the bag drop machine.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Isn't the app thing just so they can make money by selling advertising and the likes as well as save time/money because they can more easily prompt people not to be late? Everyone else finds a barcode works perfectly well.

 

[Zamracene749]

It could be a specific build of Android, perhaps impacting only one specific handset vendor, but Google offers developers the ability to test apps across multiple devices and only the most advanced apps should be at any sort of risk.

Unless the handset is really, really old then I can't see it being an issue - but it could potentially be an issue if the phone has a VPN or ad blocker on it (both of which can usually whitelist apps to avoid going through the filters).

I have no idea if Ryanair has a technical team that you or I could speak to, or that the regular customer service people could. Some companies are actually really good at dealing with odd issues, often asking for specific detail to investigate and potentially fix problems like this. I am not sure if Ryanair is one of those.

Thanks.
I do run an adguard, bitdefender and malwarebytes although I don't use a VPN. So are these likely to be the problem?
Seems crazy for ryanair to have introduced a system that requires passengers to disable all of their digital security.

My handset was purchased new in 2023, again, surely it cannot be obsolete already?

 

[skyhigh]

Last trip with Ryanair it absolutely would not work at all on the outward leg. It worked fine on the return trip though, with exactly the same phone.

 

[Snow1964]

Person in front of me couldn't get code to scan on Ryanair app, suggested she dragged it larger so virtually whole width of phone display, then hold it about 8 inches from scanner (she had it very close, almost touching the scanner), then was fine.

So problem seems to be the scanning readers are long sighted, and can't focus and read a nearby phone, they need phone bit further back.

 

[skyhigh]

Person in front of me couldn't get code to scan on Ryanair app, suggested she dragged it larger so virtually whole width of phone display, then hold it about 8 inches from scanner (she had it very close, almost touching the scanner), then was fine.

So problem seems to be the scanning readers are long sighted, and can't focus and read a nearby phone, they need phone bit further back.

I think the thread is about something different - the bag drop machines have QR codes on them which you scan with your phone.

So the problem isn't readers being able to scan a phone screen.

The phone scans the QR code fine but just can't seem to establish a connection.

 

[Lewisham2221]

I think the thread is about something different - the bag drop machines have QR codes on them which you scan with your phone.

So the problem isn't readers being able to scan a phone screen.

The phone scans the QR code fine but just can't seem to establish a connection.

I think the confusion is that Ryanair have (or had) two different types of bags drop machine. On the older ones, the machine scans your boarding pass. It's the newer ones where you have to use the Ryanair app to scan the machine.