Ryanair is extending its airport cut-off times, with check-in and bag-drop desks closing 60 minutes before departure from Tuesday, November 10, instead of the current 40 minutes.
The change applies even to passengers who have already completed online check-in. For a flight departing at 10am, the deadline shifts from 9.20am to 9am, meaning travellers with hold luggage must have their bags processed earlier than before.
Advice for travellers with transfers
Travel expert Arber Abdullahu, from TripSIM, has advised holidaymakers to verify their airport plans before departure, especially if they have arranged a transfer. He said that having a boarding pass on a mobile device does not guarantee a checked bag has been processed or that passengers can turn up at the desk at their convenience.
"Checking in online can make you feel that everything is sorted. But if you're taking a suitcase that needs to go in the hold, you still have a separate deadline to meet at the airport," he said.
Arriving at the airport and reaching the appropriate desk are not necessarily the same, as travellers may need to park, catch a shuttle, locate their terminal and join a queue. Anyone relying on a transfer that lands shortly before the deadline should reassess the timings rather than treating the cut-off as their target arrival time.
Return journeys and online check-in
The change may also affect travellers on their homebound flight if they are overseas when the new regulation takes effect. Anyone departing before November 10 but returning on or after that date needs to verify the deadline for both journeys and ensure their hotel transfer allows adequate time to get to the airport.
"Don't assume the routine that worked on your outbound flight will work for your return. Check your hotel pick-up time and tell the transfer provider which flight you are taking," Mr Abdullahu said.
Ryanair says the revised cut-off is designed to give passengers additional time to navigate airport security and passport-control queues before reaching their departure gate. The airline states that approximately 20 per cent of its customers check in luggage, while those who complete online check-in and fly without checked baggage will not be affected by the bag-drop change.
Online check-in operates under a different deadline and remains accessible until two hours before departure. Travellers using airport check-in or bag-drop facilities should confirm the latest guidance for their flight and allow sufficient time to complete each stage of their journey.
