Ryanair shuts check-in an hour before flights

Ryanair is moving the cut-off for check-in and bag drop to one hour before departure, 20 minutes earlier than before. Passengers who need the desks will have to reach the airport sooner or risk missing their flight. In Madrid on 13 November 2026, consumer group Facua-Consumidores en Acción criticised the decision.

Facua says Ryanair is trying to save on staffing costs by asking more of passengers. The airline says the change is for operational reasons and greater efficiency. It says the earlier cut-off will give the 20% of passengers who check in bags a little more time to get through security and passport checks. Ryanair is also installing self-service bag-drop kiosks.

Facua says passengers should not have to allow more time at the airport to make up for the airline's cost savings.

Topics: Air travel

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com