Ryanair extends check-in and bag drop to help counter airport queues

Ryanair is extending check-in and bag drop by 20 minutes to give passengers more time to get through airport security and passport control queues.

This means that check-in will close 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time instead of 40 minutes.

The change is being introduced from November 10 to reduce the “very small number” of passengers who miss their flight as they are getting stuck in airport queues, according to the no-frills carrier.

The change comes as Ryanair installs more self-service bag-drop kiosks across its network, with more than 95% of airports due to have these by October. 

The self-service kiosks are fully integrated with the Ryanair app, giving passengers the ability to check in bags and print bag tags, in an effort to speed up bag-drop and cut waiting times.

This improvement will give the 20% of Ryanair guests who check-in a bag, slightly more time to get through airport security and passport queues and arrive at their departure gate before boarding starts.

The remaining 80% of passengers without checked bags are unaffected and will continue to check-in online before they arrive at the airport and go straight to their departure gate on arrival at the airport.

Ryanair chief marketing officer Dara Brady, said: “Ryanair customers will see airport check-in and bag drops close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of today’s 40 minutes.

“This will allow these 20% of our customers who check in a bag more time to clear through airport security and passport queues and get to their departure gate on-time, especially during busy travel periods when some of these airport queues can be longer.

“We are also installing self-service kiosks at over 95% of Ryanair airports before October.

“This means a quicker bag-drop service, less queuing at airport desks, and an even more punctual service for the 20% of our customers who still wish to check-in a bag, while the 80% who don’t check-in a bag will be unaffected by this small 20 minute change, as they will continue to check-in online before they arrive at the departure airport and they go straight through airport security to their departure gate.”