If you're flying Ryanair with a checked bag, you now need to arrive at the airport earlier than before. The airline has confirmed that bag drop desks will shut 60 minutes before scheduled departure, up from the previous 40-minute cut-off, at every airport it operates from.
The rule targets the roughly one in five Ryanair passengers who check luggage. The airline's logic is straightforward: with longer security and passport control queues at many European airports, 40 minutes simply wasn't leaving enough breathing room to get through the terminal and reach the gate before boarding closed. Ryanair says the extra 20 minutes should cut down on the small but stubborn number of flyers who miss flights after getting stuck in a queue, especially during peak holiday periods.
For the other 80 per cent travelling with hand luggage only, nothing changes. You'll still check in online before leaving for the airport, then head straight through security to your gate – no desk visit required.
Ryanair chief marketing officer Dara Brady framed the change as a small tweak with a real payoff, particularly at busy times when airport lines can stretch well past expectations.
There's a second reason to plan ahead if you're booking with the airline for later this year. CEO Michael O'Leary has warned that European airfares could rise by as much as 20 per cent in 2027 – what he called the biggest jump in history – driven by higher jet fuel costs linked to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, plus fewer seats in the market as weaker airlines exit through bankruptcies or takeovers. In short: the era of ultra-cheap fares may get squeezed, so locking in bookings early could pay off.
Why it matters for travellers: the practical takeaway depends on how you fly. Hand-luggage-only flyers can keep doing exactly what they're doing. But if you like checking a suitcase, treat the 60-minute bag drop deadline as non-negotiable – and remember it's a latest-possible moment, not a recommended arrival time. Ryanair is also famously strict on bag size and weight limits, so building in a buffer beyond the official deadline is the safer play, especially in summer or around school holidays when queues peak.
For budget travellers, the change doesn't alter the core appeal: Ryanair's checked-bag passengers are a minority precisely because the hand-luggage-only option keeps fares low. The airline's advice is to weigh and measure your cabin bag at home before you leave, and to factor in that extra 20 minutes when planning your airport run. And with the CEO predicting a fare surge in 2027, that cheap city break you've been eyeing may look considerably cheaper booked now than next year.
Story via The Independent Travel.
