Ryanair passengers told to arrive earlier at airport as airline introduces new '60-minute rule' for baggage

Published: 07:16 EDT, 4 November 2026 | Updated: 07:16 EDT, 4 November 2026 Passengers jetting off with Ryanair will need to be mindful of a new 60-minute rule that requires them to get to the airport earlier than before.Bag drop services for the budget airline will close an hour before the scheduled departure time, instead of the current 40 minutes.The new system will begin from November 10 and has been introduced to help travellers clear airport security and passport control queues and reach their departure gate on time.According to Ryanair, 20 per cent of passengers who travel with the airline check in a bag.For the other 80 per cent, their experience through the airport won't be affected by the change. They will be able to check in online before travelling as usual and can go straight through security to their departure gate. Ryanair's new bag drop rules mean passengers will be able to check in their luggage 20 minutes earlier than beforeRyanair chief marketing officer Dara Brady said: 'From Tuesday, November 10, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.'This small change will give the 20 per cent of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.'Mr Brady urged passengers to 'arrive at the airport in good time' to make use of bag drop services.The rule change comes after a chaotic summer for air travel, with many passengers caught up in long Entry/Exit System (EES) queues and some even missing their flights. Earlier this year, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary warned passengers that the airline 'will not wait for anybody' delayed by EES queues, insisting flights will depart without those who fail to reach the gate on time.The new digital border system was fully introduced in April, with airports across Europe reporting long queues and some passengers missing flights as a result of delays at passport control.The EES is an automated border system for non-EU nationals, including UK citizens, entering the Schengen Area, and is now operational across 29 countries.Ryanair has been one of the loudest critics of the rollout in recent months, repeatedly warning about disruption and urging European governments to temporarily suspend the system during the busy summer travel period. The new system is set to be introduced from November 10Speaking on The Telegraph's Travel Expert podcast, Mr O'Leary insisted: 'We will not wait for anybody, our priority is those passengers who are at the boarding gate when boarding starts.'If you're not at the boarding gate when we finish boarding, the plane is going without you.'In May, a Ryanair flight heading from Toulouse to London took off without 150 of its passengers on board after lengthy queues at border control.Passengers were unable to reach their gate in time for flight FR282 to London Stansted on May 30.One woman travelling on the plane said the situation in the airport was 'pure chaos', with delays beginning after security. The passenger said between 400 and 500 people were all queuing in this area, and there was no real organisational system in place.As for what rights and protection passengers might have in such scenarios, Mr O'Leary said: 'You don't have any, which is regrettable, but we're not delaying our flights for people who are stuck in passport control queues.'Instead, he urged travellers to be prepared and arrive at the airport early.