Published: October 27, 2026
Ryanair has reminded passengers that airport check-in and bag drop services will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure from Tuesday, November 10, 2026, replacing the current 40-minute deadline.
The Irish low-cost airline says the change is designed to give passengers checking in luggage more time to pass through airport security and passport control and reach their departure gates before boarding begins.
New Ryanair Check-In Deadline Starts November 10
Under the revised policy, passengers using airport check-in and bag drop services must complete the process at least 60 minutes before their flight's scheduled departure.
Ryanair first announced the change in April 2026 and issued a reminder on October 27, ahead of its implementation in November.
The airline says the additional 20 minutes should help reduce the number of passengers who miss flights after being delayed in airport security or passport control queues, particularly during busy travel periods.
Who Will Be Affected by the Change?
The revised deadline mainly affects passengers who need to check in luggage at the airport. Ryanair estimates that around 20% of its passengers check in a bag.
Passengers travelling without checked luggage who have already completed online check-in will not be affected by this particular change. They can continue to proceed to airport security after arriving at the airport, subject to their travel documents and any applicable airport procedures.
Ryanair says online check-in arrangements remain unchanged. Passengers should still complete online check-in within the applicable deadline shown on the airline's website or app.
Ryanair Expands Self-Service Bag Drop
The deadline change comes as Ryanair expands its use of self-service bag-drop kiosks across its network. The airline said in its April announcement that it expected kiosks to be available at more than 95% of its airports by October 2026.
The kiosks allow eligible passengers to check in their luggage and print bag tags, with the aim of reducing queues and speeding up the airport process.
However, self-service facilities do not change the new deadline. Passengers with checked baggage should ensure that their bags have been accepted before the applicable airport check-in and bag-drop service closes.
What Passengers Should Do Before Flying
Passengers travelling with Ryanair from November 10 should plan to arrive at the airport early enough to complete check-in, hand over checked baggage, pass through security and passport control where applicable, and reach their departure gate on time.
- Complete online check-in before travelling to the airport.
- If checking in a bag, make sure it is handed over at least 60 minutes before scheduled departure.
- Allow extra time for airport queues and travel-document checks.
- Check the latest instructions for the departure airport and flight in the Ryanair app or on the airline's website.
Passengers who require visa or other travel-document verification should pay particular attention to Ryanair's specific instructions. Some document-check procedures may have separate deadlines, so travellers should not assume that the general bag-drop change replaces those requirements.
Ryanair's Official Guidance
Ryanair confirmed the new deadline in its corporate announcement published on October 27, 2026. The airline's Help Centre also explains why airport check-in and bag drop are moving to a 60-minute cut-off.
Passengers can consult the official guidance before departure:
Bottom line: From November 10, 2026, Ryanair passengers who use airport check-in or bag drop must meet the new 60-minute deadline. Those who check in online and travel without checked baggage are not affected by this specific change, but all passengers should follow the instructions for their individual flight.
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