Ryanair is moving its check-in desk closure to 60 minutes before departure from November 10, hitting bag-drop passengers hardest

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026.

Budget airline Ryanair is moving its check-in desk and bag-drop cut-off to 60 minutes before departure from Tuesday November 10, bringing the deadline forward from the current 40-minute threshold. The change applies across every airport in Ryanair's network. CMO Dara Brady said the earlier closure will give the 20 per cent of passengers who travel with checked luggage extra time to get through security and passport queues, especially during peak periods.

Passengers with checked luggage who turn up after the new 60-minute deadline face being refused boarding without a refund.

Around 80 per cent of Ryanair travellers fly with hand luggage only and check in online, meaning the new rule will have little or no impact on them.

Ryanair is also introducing self-service bag-drop kiosks, with a rollout target of more than 95 per cent of its airports by this month.