Passengers travelling with Ryanair will need to arrive at the airport earlier from November, as the airline is set to implement stricter check-in and bag-drop deadlines.
From 10 November, customers will be required to complete check-in and drop off any bags at least 60 minutes before their scheduled departure time. This marks a change from the current 40-minute cut-off.
The airline said the adjustment is designed to give passengers more time to pass through security and passport control, particularly during busy travel periods. It aims to reduce the number of travellers who miss flights due to delays in airport queues.
Ryanair noted that only around 20% of its passengers check in bags, meaning the majority of customers—who check in online and proceed directly to security—will not be affected by the change.
Speaking about the update, Chief Marketing Officer Dara Brady said the new timeline would improve the overall travel experience. “From 10 November, Ryanair customers will see airport check-in and bag drops close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of today’s 40 minutes,” he said.
“This will allow those customers who check in a bag more time to clear through airport security and passport queues, and get to their departure gate on time, especially during busy travel periods when queues can be longer,” Brady added.
The airline also confirmed it is expanding its use of self-service kiosks, with plans to have them available at more than 95% of its airports by October. The kiosks are expected to speed up the bag-drop process and reduce queuing at airport desks.
“This means a quicker bag drop service, less queuing at airport desks, and an even more punctual service,” Brady said.
Ryanair has already made significant changes to its boarding procedures in recent years. The airline introduced fully digital boarding passes last year, eliminating the option for passengers to print paper versions. Travellers must now use the boarding pass available through the Ryanair mobile app.
Passengers who choose to check in at the airport rather than online continue to face additional charges, with fees set at €55 per person, or €30 for flights departing from Spain.
However, the airline has said that passengers who have already checked in but are unable to access their boarding pass due to a lost or non-functioning phone will be assisted at the airport free of charge.
