Ryanair has changed its airport check-in rules from today (Tuesday, 10 November), meaning all passengers now have less time to check in at the airport. The revised procedure affects anyone flying with the budget carrier, and those who do not comply could be denied boarding without a refund.
New 60-minute check-in deadline
In a notice to passengers, Ryanair confirmed: "For all passengers flying from 10 November 2026 onwards, the check-in desks close strictly 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time unless you are notified otherwise before flight departure. If you do not complete check-in by then, you may be denied boarding without refund."
Previously, Ryanair check-in desks shut strictly 40 minutes before a flight's scheduled departure time, unless passengers were notified otherwise. Under the new rule, holidaymakers have 20 minutes less time to check in at the airport if they have not already done so online, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Fees and online check-in options
Those who fail to check in online outside the airline's designated window may incur an extra charge. "If you do not complete check-in online more than two hours before the scheduled departure time, you will be charged the airport check-in fee set out in our table of fees. If you booked a Plus or Flexi Plus ticket before the 14 of August 2025, you can check in at the airport free of charge," the budget airline warned under its 'General terms & conditions of carriage'.
Customers still have plenty of opportunities to check in for their Ryanair flight online. "Online check-in opens 60 days before the scheduled departure time if you have purchased an allocated seat. Customers can be allocated a seat free of charge if they check in online between 72 and two hours before each booked flight. You cannot check in online during the two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time," Ryanair confirmed on its website.
Other travel updates at UK airports
In addition to Ryanair's update, several UK airports have upgraded their security scanning equipment, meaning passengers can now carry up to two litres of liquids through security, rather than the former 100ml limit, and no longer need to remove them from their hand luggage. This includes Belfast International, Belfast City, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick and London Heathrow.
Elsewhere, the European Union's (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) fully launched across airports on Friday, 10 April 2026. The new system requires all British travellers heading to the Schengen area to create a digital record and submit their biometric details, including fingerprints and a photograph.
A further update took effect at 13 UK airports on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, permitting children aged 8 and above to use the eGates. Previously, eGates were only available to passengers aged 10 and over, but lowering the age threshold is expected to enable around 1.5 million additional children, who must also be at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall, to pass through the electronic gates and other re-entry points considerably more quickly.
