Ryanair changes baggage check-in rules before flight

Ryanair will start closing its airport check-in and bag drop desks earlier from Tuesday, 10 November. Instead of the current 40-minute cut-off, passengers checking in luggage will need to complete the process at least 60 minutes before scheduled departure. The airline says the change is meant to give travellers more time to clear security and passport control.

The new rule will apply across Ryanair’s network, including airports in Poland served by the carrier. It affects passengers who still check bags at the airport, a group the airline says accounts for about 20% of its customers.

Who will be affected

For passengers travelling with checked baggage, the change means arriving at the airport earlier. The cut-off moves by 20 minutes, but the practical goal is broader: Ryanair wants customers to finish bag drop sooner and head to security with more time in hand.

The airline says long queues remain one of the reasons some passengers miss their flights. It points in particular to security screening and passport control, which can slow down the journey to the departure gate during peak periods.

Most passengers will see no change

Ryanair says 80% of its customers do not check bags. Those passengers will continue to check in online before arriving at the airport and go straight to security without using airport check-in desks.

Operationally, the carrier is drawing a clearer line between two groups of travellers. One group will need to reach the bag drop area earlier. The other will keep the same routine, provided they are travelling with cabin baggage only and already have their boarding pass.

Self-service bag drop rollout continues

The rule change comes as Ryanair expands self-service bag drop kiosks across its network. The airline says more than 95% of the airports it serves should have the kiosks in place by October.

The kiosks are expected to work with the Ryanair app, allowing passengers to check in bags and print labels without relying entirely on staffed counters. According to the airline, that should reduce queues and speed up the airport process.

Dara Brady, Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, said the earlier desk closure is designed to give bag-checking passengers more time to move through the airport and reduce the number who fail to reach the gate before boarding closes. He also said the self-service kiosks should speed up baggage processing across the airline’s airport network.