Ryanair is changing its check-in rules for all UK passengers

You’ll want to make sure you are clued up on the new rules (Picture: Getty Images)

Calling all last-minute travellers who waltz through the airport like you’ve got all the time in the world: if you’re flying with Ryanair this winter, you might want to set your alarm a little earlier.

This is because the budget airline is about to add a strict new rule to its (already) long list of regulations.

Yep, the Irish carrier has announced that check-in and bag drop services will now close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, rather than the current 40 minutes passengers have before their flight leaves.

The updated time frame is set to be introduced next month, starting from November 10. The new one-hour rule will apply across all airports Ryanair serves, and to every passenger.

So, if you’ve got a Ryanair flight booked from November onwards, whether it’s to a winter sun destination or a festive getaway, here’s everything you need to know.

Check-in and bag drop are going to close earlier for Ryanair flights (Picture: Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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

Currently, check-in and bag drop for the budget airline close 40 minutes before scheduled departure.

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.

The airline hopes the change will give people more time to get through security (Picture: Getty Images)

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, has said in a new update: ‘From Tuesday, 10 November, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.

Brady said this small change ‘will give the 20% of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag more time to clear airport security and passport control queues.’

Plus, get to their departure gate before boarding begins, ‘particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.’

This isn’t the only change the airline has made this year, as it’s also installed self-service kiosks at more than 95% of Ryanair airports.

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

What are your thoughts on Ryanair’s new check-in policy?Comment Now

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

‘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. 

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A version of this article was first published on April 22, 2026.

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