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Travelling abroad without a smartphone
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IceCreamCone10
Posts: 27 Forumite

I know there’s a separate travel sub-forum but have decided to post on here. Just wondered how relatively easy it is to travel to the EU/Schengen area without a smartphone given that printed tickets/boarding passes are no longer the default. I can check in online at home in advance and print them before I leave including any hotel booking documentation. But presumably there’s an option to print the boarding passes at the airport like the check-in desk? I won’t have the smartphone capability to scan barcodes there though.
Ditto for the return boarding pass.
Once at the destination I know a smartphone is needed for apps to get into various places but that is not an issue for me.
advance thanks.
Once at the destination I know a smartphone is needed for apps to get into various places but that is not an issue for me.
advance thanks.
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You can definitely get printed boarding passes at the airport. Some budget airlines might charge for these, but most airlines don't.N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!1 -
You may have issues abroad.
An example....Ive recently returned from Helsinki, tried to get from the train station to the airport on the train. No ticket office. The machines were all broken. The only way I could do it was to quickly install the Helsinki public transport app and get a ticket before the train departed.
Other tourists on the train didnt have the same foresight I did and at the next station ticket inspectors got on.
And as mentioned above its going to depend on the airline.1 -
QrizB said:You can definitely get printed boarding passes at the airport. Some budget airlines might charge for these, but most airlines don't.
Perhaps not with Ryanair... and the fee for airport check-in could easily be more than the cost of the air ticket.1 -
We travel a lot within the Schengen area (at least 4 months each year). We usually have all bookings, boarding passes both printed and on phone. I must admit I feel more comfortable with paper, and have only had a couple of situations over the years when using a printed copy has been a problem. Airport machines refusing to recognise either paper or phone boarding passes are not uncommon. If I remember correctly from our flights this Spring, Ryanair now insist on you having a printed copy (and yes, they take pleasure in charging you significant sums to print at the airport!) Regarding return boarding passes etc, before we had Smartphones, we always managed to find some kind person in a hotel or elsewhere who would print for us.2
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cantbelieveit23 said:. If I remember correctly from our flights this Spring, Ryanair now insist on you having a printed copy0
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IceCreamCone10 said:I know there’s a separate travel sub-forum but have decided to post on here. Just wondered how relatively easy it is to travel to the EU/Schengen area without a smartphone given that printed tickets/boarding passes are no longer the default. I can check in online at home in advance and print them before I leave including any hotel booking documentation. But presumably there’s an option to print the boarding passes at the airport like the check-in desk? I won’t have the smartphone capability to scan barcodes there though.Ditto for the return boarding pass.
Once at the destination I know a smartphone is needed for apps to get into various places but that is not an issue for me.
advance thanks.
You may also find it more difficult to sort things out if matters dont go to plan. A friend was on a coach which broke down late in the evening in France and they were basically just dropped off at the nearest town over 100 miles from their destination. Smart phone allowed them to book a room and find how to get from the town to their destination and contact their hotel to say they will be a day late checking in.1 -
Do you not have a smart phone or do you just not want to take it with you?0
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louby40 said:Do you not have a smart phone or do you just not want to take it with you?I was wondering that too, but didn't want to be the one asking 😬A smartphone is rapidly becoming a travel essential, behind passport, wallet and insurance. And I suspect some people would put it before wallet.
N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!0 -
Thanks for all your replies and the anecdotal observations. I don’t have a smartphone and haven’t travelled overseas for a while. I have a laptop which has been sufficient for me so far.0
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I don't have a smartphone and seem to manage but I haven't travelled for a couple of years.
Yes it's always the case that you can't be slick and quick but I've always found someone will help with the occasional request. At the airport, hotel reception, etc.
If they want to sell you something they'll make sure you can pay.
I've always printed everything even where it's not needed.. I've seen a few people absolutely desperate when the ticket or booking has vanished from their phone.
Granted being dumped somewhere by a coach driver is a big deal, fairly unusual,but if you're all in the same boat surely a kind soul will help.
I've found that so far. When traveling there's a lot of kindness.I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!
viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on
The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well
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