Ryanair introduces new check-in rule — you’ll need to get to the airport even earlier

| Senior Lifestyle Reporter Published October 8, 2026 9:35am Updated October 8, 2026 10:40am You’ll want to make sure you are clued up on the new rules (Picture: Getty Images) If you’re not the best at time keeping and prefer to rock up to the airport less than two hours before your flight, it’s time to pay attention. Ryanair already has some pretty strict rules for travellers, and now, it’s introducing another one. The budget airline has announced that check-in and bag drop services will now close 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Passengers currently have up to 40 minutes before their flight left to check-in, but that’s set to change as of November 10, 2026 – in just over one month’s time. The new one-hour rule will apply across all airports Ryanair serves, and to every passenger. If you’re heading to the airport soon, here’s everything you need to know. Check-in and bag drop are going to close earlier for Ryanair flights (Picture: Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) What changes are being made to Ryanair’s check-in and bag drop? Currently, check-in and bag drop for the budget airline close 40 minutes before scheduled departure. However, Ryanair say this hasn’t been allowing passengers enough time to get through security, and a ‘small number of passengers’ have missed flights as a result. To combat this, the airline will be closing check-in 20 minutes earlier to help ‘provide more time for passengers to get through airport security and passport queues’. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The airline has confirmed it’ll also be opening check-in desks earlier, as a result of this. So the message is clear: If you’re travelling with the airline this winter and need to check in luggage, you’re going to want to get there earlier than usual, to avoid missing the new deadline. The airline hopes the change will give people more time to get through security (Picture: Getty Images) Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, previously said: ‘From Tuesday, 10 Nov, Ryanair customers will see airport check-in and bag drops close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of today’s 40 minutes. ‘This will allow these 20% of our customers (who check in a bag) more time to clear through airport security and passport queues, and get to their departure gate on time, especially during busy travel periods when some of these airport queues can be longer.’ This isn’t the only change the airline has made of late, as it’s also installed self-service kiosks at more than 95% of Ryanair airports These kiosks are fully integrated with the Ryanair app, giving passengers the ability to check their bags and print bag tags. This is another move to create a ‘quicker’ bag-drop service and cut waiting times. Coupled with the new 60-minute rule, it should give customers more time to go through airport security and get to their gate before boarding begins. Dara previously added that those who aren’t bringing any checked luggage won’t be impacted by the changes if they check in online before arriving. ‘The 80% who don’t check in a bag will be unaffected by this small 20-minute change, as they will continue to check in online before they arrive at the departure airport and they go straight through airport security to their departure gate,’ he explained. More Ryanair news A version of this article was first published on April 22, 2026. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Our Top Shopping Picks Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather Dyson fans are swapping to this Hoover vacuum-mop that washes floors as it cleans I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Arrow MORE: Eurostar passengers can now fall asleep in London and wake up in Germany Arrow MORE: More travel misery on Elizabeth line after signal failure causes rush hour delays Arrow MORE: The little-known European island with a ‘floating forest’ and 22°C October weather The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.