Ryanair has announced the winner of its 2026 annual “Win A Million” charity scratch card draw, with Helen Swindells from Liverpool walking away with a life-changing cash prize of €500,000 — the largest payout in the promotion’s history.
Swindells purchased the winning €2 scratch card on a Ryanair flight from Krakow to Liverpool in May 2025. She had no idea at the time that the small purchase would eventually make her half a million euros richer. On Wednesday, 13 May 2026, she travelled to Slane Castle in Co. Meath, Ireland, to participate in Ryanair‘s “Win A Million” event, where she played for the chance to win a full €1 million and walked away with €500,000.
“I’m absolutely over the moon,” said Swindells. “Never in a million years did I think boarding that Ryanair flight home to Liverpool from my holiday in Krakow that I would purchase a winning Ryanair charity scratch card. I only bought the scratch card because I wanted to support Naomi House and Jacksplace. It was only €2, so I thought ‘why not?’. Little did I know that I’d win and have the opportunity to go to Slane Castle with the Ryanair team — an event that has changed my life forever.”
Swindells chose to purchase the card in support of Naomi and Jacks, a UK-based independent charity that provides expert care for over 600 seriously ill babies, children and young adults. The charity is one of 13 organisations across Europe that benefit from Ryanair‘s scratch card programme.
The €500,000 prize surpasses all previous payouts in the programme’s history. Earlier draws had produced top prizes of €100,000, including wins by Lorena Faitini from Bergamo, Italy, and Brendan Finnegan from Co. Monaghan, Ireland, who each received €100,000 in separate “Win A Million” games. Another past winner, Laura Mereacre, who moved to Liverpool from Portugal, also took home €100,000 after buying a scratch card on a flight to Portugal.
The mechanics of the promotion are straightforward. Passengers who buy a €2 scratch card on board check whether it reveals the word “Yes”. If it does, they have 28 days to register their details online and retain the original card. Registered cards are entered into the annual draw, and selected winners are invited to participate in the “Win A Million” event in Ireland.
Beyond the cash prize, Ryanair‘s scratch card programme offers a range of other rewards, including onboard spend credit, a new car every month, and cash prizes of up to €10,000. The draw for the 2026 edition closed on 18 February, and cards registered after that date have been automatically entered into the 2027 draw.
Commenting on the win, Ryanair‘s representative Aoife Greene said: “We are delighted for Helen on her incredible €500,000 ‘Win a Million’ win. Ryanair‘s charity scratch card programme continues to make a real difference to our charity partners across Europe doing extraordinary work for children and families in need, while also giving our passengers the opportunity to win fantastic prizes.”
The 13 charities supported by the programme span multiple European countries. In the United Kingdom, the beneficiary is Naomi and Jacks. In Ireland, the programme has long supported The Jack and Jill Foundation. Other partner organisations include Make-A-Wish Italy, Kinderhilfe Germany, Fundação do Gil in Portugal, and children’s charities in Spain, Poland, Belgium and France. Ryanair‘s foundation has contributed over €10 million to its designated charity partners over the course of the programme.
The record prize highlights how Ryanair‘s in-flight scratch card has grown into one of the airline industry’s most recognisable promotional tools, combining the appeal of a major jackpot with an ongoing fundraising model for children’s causes across Europe. For Helen Swindells, a routine return flight from Krakow — and a spontaneous €2 act of generosity — turned into the biggest win in the promotion’s history.
