Ryanair makes major change to check-in and bag drop rules

The rules come into force later this year.

The change was announced yesterday by Europe's biggest airline in a communication detailing the new policies designed to "allow guests more times to get through airport security and passport queues".

While it does not directly reference the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), it does come in the wake of hundreds of British passengers struggling to get through airports in time to make their flights.

Ryanair operate flights all across Europe, mostly outside of the UK, with this change affecting all of airline's services whether flights are leaving the EU or not.

A press release from the airline announced that, from Tuesday 10 November 2026, "check-in and bag drop services at all its airports will close 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure".

This is 20 minutes up from the 40 minutes currently in place.

Ryanair said that this change will "provide more time for passengers to get through airport security and passport queues which will reduce the very small number of passengers who currently miss their flight departure as they are getting stuck in these airport queues."

The airline noted that this change will affect those who choose to check-in a bag, while those without hold luggage can continue to use the online check-in, which usually opens 24 hours before flight departure, as usual.

Ryanair added that it would be installing more self-service bag-drop kiosks across its network.

It said that 95% of airports it flies to will have these kiosks, which will be fully integrated with the Ryanair app, in place by October 2026.

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said: “From Tues 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."