Starting November 10, check-in counters and baggage drop-off areas at all Ryanair-served airports will close 60 minutes before departure, instead of the current 40 minutes. This means you’ll need to drop off your luggage 20 minutes earlier.
It is unclear whether the measure will cause a lot of additional inconvenience – such as people trying to cram their extra baggage into the cabin “en masse” because they arrive at the airport late.
Ryanair is no exception
According to Ryanair, only 1 in 5 passengers checks a suitcase into the cargo hold. The airline reasons that, because of the shorter check-in time, those passengers will now have more time to go through airport security, which means fewer people will miss their flights.
With a 60-minute deadline before departure, Ryanair is no exception. Brussels Airlines applies the same time frame for Economy passengers on short flights. However, Business Class travelers and members of certain loyalty programs are given an additional 20 minutes.
In general, the standard check-in deadline for other airlines is roughly 40 to 60 minutes before departure. For Wizz Air, TUI, and Transavia, it’s usually 40 minutes; for British Airways and Iberia, among others, on European flights it’s 45 minutes, and on intercontinental flights – such as those operated by the major U.S. airlines – it’s often 60 minutes.
Check in online up to 2 hours before departure
Passengers flying with Ryanair who do not check any luggage and check in online in advance can proceed directly to security at the airport. Online check-in with Ryanair is available 24 hours to 2 hours before departure. Passengers who do not check in online will be charged a fee at the airport.
With Ryanair, the base fare includes only a small personal bag that fits under the seat (maximum 40 x 30 x 20 cm). Anything larger requires Priority or paid checked baggage, and carry-on luggage that is too large at the gate will incur a hefty surcharge.
Ryanair operates from Charleroi and Brussels Airports in Belgium.
Last week, it was also reported that Ryanair plans to cut “fixed” costs by, among other measures, freezing wages and reducing the number of crew members per aircraft to offset the rise in costs caused by high fuel prices.
