Ryanair announces compulsory account sign-ups for all online bookings

From the beginning of next month, all customers using the Irish Ryanair.com website and Irish mobile app will be required to auto sign-up to the 'My Ryanair' programme before completing flight bookings, the airline announced today.

'My Ryanair' is free to join, and customers can sign up at anytime.

After November 1, anyone seeking to book a flight on the website or app will be asked to provide an email and password for auto sign-up at the payment stage.

They will not be able to complete bookings without doing so.

The move is the next step in an increasingly personalised customer experience, and will also make it easier to sell ancillary products - from coffee to car hire.

Most of Ryanair's Irish customers are already 'My Ryanair' members, the airline says, with more than 15 million voluntary sign-ups across Europe.

The change will make it "faster and simpler" to book services, increase security and make it more difficult for 'screenscraper' websites to sell on Ryanair fares - "a rising source of complaints'', according to Kenny Jacobs, its Chief Marketing Officer.

'My Ryanair' members can also create their own personal profile, store payment and passport details and set their individual travel preferences.

Ryanair's auto sign-in feature will be rolled out across all markets and Ryanair.com websites before the end of 2016, it says.

The news comes hot on the heels of other recent tweaks, including a shortening of its online check-in deadline unless passengers pay extra for allocated seating, and a new requirement for adults travelling with children to buy reserved seats.

Other airlines such as easyJet and Virgin have already made it compulsory to have an account in order to book a flight, Ryanair pointed out.

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