In rule — you’ll need to get to the airport even earlier

Ryanair already has some pretty strict rules for travellers, and now, it’s introducing another one.

The budget airline has announced that check-in and bag drop services will now close 60 minutes before scheduled departure.

Previously, passengers had up to 40 minutes before their flight left to check-in, but that’s set to change as of November 10, 2026.

The new one hour rule will apply across all airports the Ryanair serves, for every passenger.

So, if you’re not the best at time keeping, here’s everything you need to know.

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What changes are being made to Ryanair’s check-in and bag drop?

However, Ryanair say this hasn’t been allowing passengers enough time to get through security, and a ‘small number of passengers’ have missed flights as a result.

To combat this, the airline will be closing check-in 20 minutes earlier to help ‘provide more time for passengers to get through airport security and passport queues’.

The airline has confirmed it’ll also be opening check-in desks earlier, as a result of this.

So the message is clear: If you’re travelling with the airline this winter and need to check in luggage, you’re going to want to get there earlier than usual, to avoid missing the new deadline.

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said: ‘From Tuesday, 10 Nov next, Ryanair customers will see airport check-in and bag drops close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of today’s 40 minutes.

‘This will allow these 20% of our 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 some of these airport queues can be longer.’
And this isn’t the only change the airline is making, as it’s also installing self-service kiosks at more than 95% of Ryanair airports before October.

These kiosks are fully integrated with the Ryanair app, giving passengers the ability to check their bags and print bag tags.

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This is another move to create a ‘quicker’ bag-drop service and cut waiting times.

Coupled with the new 60-minute rule, it should give customers more time to go through airport security and get to their gate before boarding begins.

Dara adds that those who aren’t bringing any checked luggage won’t be impacted by the changes if they check in online before arriving at the airport.

‘The 80% who don’t check in a bag will be unaffected by this small 20-minute change, as they will continue to check in online before they arrive at the departure airport and they go straight through airport security to their departure gate,’ he explained.

More Ryanair news:

• Four-week warning for easyJet passengers as fuel shortages threaten holidays and airlines cancel flights


• Ryanair is axing routes across Europe, but it’s having a love affair with Morocco


• My partner is a holiday snob – our £100 trip won him over

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.