Passengers travelling with checked baggage on Ryanair flights will need to arrive earlier at the airport from 10 November 2026, after the airline announced changes to its bag drop procedures.
Under the new rule, travellers checking in luggage must complete baggage drop-off at least 60 minutes before their scheduled departure time. The current deadline is 40 minutes before departure.
The change will apply across Ryanair's airport network regardless of destination.
Who is affected?
According to the airline, the new rule affects roughly 20% of passengers, namely those travelling with checked luggage.
The remaining 80%, who complete online check-in and travel with hand luggage only, will see no change to current procedures.
For example, passengers on a flight departing at 12pm will need to have checked in their bags by 11am, rather than 11.20am under the previous policy.
Why is Ryanair making the change?
Ryanair says the revised deadline is intended to make airport journeys smoother, particularly during busy travel periods.
According to the airline's chief marketing officer, Dara Brady, earlier baggage drop-off will give passengers more time to clear security and passport controls before reaching their departure gate.
The company also hopes the move will reduce the number of travellers missing flights because of delays at airport checkpoints.
Ryanair continues to recommend that passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure.
Warning over air fare increases
The policy change comes as Ryanair has also warned that air fares across Europe could rise significantly over the coming year.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary told Euronews that ticket prices could increase by as much as 20% over the next 12 months, citing rising fuel costs.
He said several airlines have not secured sufficient fuel-price protection beyond April 2027, leaving them more exposed to market fluctuations.
O'Leary also warned that possible airline bankruptcies and mergers could reduce seat capacity, placing further upward pressure on prices.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has announced cuts to services to Belgium in response to planned increases in aviation taxes from €2 to €7 beginning in January 2027.
For passengers, however, the most immediate change remains the new luggage deadline. From 10 November, anyone travelling with checked baggage will need to have completed the process one hour before departure to avoid missing their flight.
