Ryanair has changed its airport check-in rules, with desks now closing strictly 60 minutes before scheduled departure time for all flights from 10 November 2026. Passengers who do not complete check-in by then may be denied boarding without refund.
New check-in deadline
The change came into effect on Tuesday, 10 November. In a statement 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 closed strictly 40 minutes before a flight's scheduled departure time, unless passengers were advised otherwise. Under the new rule, travellers have 20 minutes less time to check in at the airport before their flight if they have not already done so online.
Online check-in and fees
Alongside the reduced timeframe, those who fail to check in online within the airline's designated window may face an additional fee. "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 their 'General terms & conditions of carriage'.
Passengers still have plenty of time 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 UK airport changes
In addition to Ryanair's update, numerous UK airports have enhanced their security scanning technology, enabling passengers to carry up to two litres of liquids through security, instead of the previous 100ml restriction, and no longer needing to remove them from their hand luggage. This includes Belfast International, Belfast City, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, and London Heathrow.
Elsewhere, this year also saw 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 change was implemented at 13 UK airports from Wednesday, 8 July 2026, permitting children aged 8 and above to use the eGates. Previously, eGates were only accessible to passengers aged 10 and over, but lowering the age threshold is estimated to allow 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 far more swiftly.
