Ryanair has announced that from November 10 it will close airport check-in and bag drop 60 minutes before scheduled departure, an increase from the current 40 minutes. The airline said the change is designed to give passengers more time to get through security and reach their departure gate on time.
More time for security and passport queues
In an update on its website, Ryanair stated: “From Tuesday November 10 2026, airport check-in & bag drop will close 60 mins prior to scheduled departure (from 40 mins currently) to allow more time for passengers to get through airport security and passport queues and reach their departure gate on-time, thereby reducing the very small number of passengers who miss their flights because they get stuck in airport queues.”
The airline has not clarified the reason behind security queues, but many British passengers flying from European airports have faced lengthy waits at the border because of the Entry-Exit System (EES). The system requires third-country nationals, including Brits, entering or exiting the Schengen Area for the first time since the EES launched in April to provide their fingerprints and photo.
Impact on passengers and online check-in
The EES creates a digital record valid for three years, and on subsequent visits travellers need to provide either their fingerprints or a photo. The system is designed to replace passport stamping and boost border security. Along with general security queues, the EES can cause congestion at peak travel periods such as school holidays, and many airlines have urged passengers to arrive early to factor in border checks.
Ryanair confirmed that online check-in times remain unchanged, with online check-in available up to two hours before departure via the airline's website and app. The airline said more than 99.99 per cent of its passengers check in online before arriving at the airport, so the change will affect a small minority. It added that only 20 per cent of passengers check in a bag, and the other 80 per cent will not be impacted by the 20-minute change.
Check-in fees and boarding pass rules
Passengers with a pre-reserved seat can check in online up to 60 days before departure, provided the outbound and return flights fall within those 60 days. Those without a reserved seat, who are assigned one randomly, can check in online 24 hours before the flight, with check-in closing two hours before departure.
Ryanair passengers checking in at the airport are charged a fee of £55 from most locations, £30 from Spain and £40 from Austria. Those who have checked in online but cannot present their boarding pass on the app when they arrive at the airport will receive one free of charge. Passengers departing from a Moroccan airport must check in online as normal and then collect a free boarding pass at the airport check-in desk.
