Ryanair has tightened its airport check-in deadline, with desks now closing strictly 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time for all passengers flying from 10 November onwards. The change, which took effect on Tuesday, 10 November, gives travellers 20 minutes less than the previous 40-minute cut-off to complete check-in at the airport if they have not done so online.
What the new rule means
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 shut strictly 40 minutes before a flight's scheduled departure time, unless passengers were told otherwise. Under the updated rule, travellers have 20 minutes less time to check in at the airport before their flight if they have not completed online check-in.
Online check-in and fees
Those who do not check in online within the airline's designated window may face 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'.
Passengers still have plenty of time to complete their Ryanair flight check-in 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 airport changes
Alongside Ryanair's update, a number of UK airports have upgraded their security scanning equipment, meaning passengers can now carry up to two litres of liquids through security, rather than the previous 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 change was introduced 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 limit is estimated to allow approximately 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.
