Ryanair rolls out a bag drop rule change — here’s what you need to know
An Orwell prize-nominated investigative journalist, Kate lives in Portugal and covers news, travel rules, tourist taxes and visas.
As of 10 November, Ryanair's bag drop desks will now close 60 minutes before departure, rather than 40.
The rule change means all travellers must complete baggage check-in one hour before their plane is scheduled to take off.
That means if you’re due to depart for a 9am flight, the luggage check-in desk will close at 8am, rather than 8.20am previously.
The airline has not announced that its bag drop desks will open any earlier to travellers to account for the new deadline.
Currently, the latest its bag-drop desks open is two hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. If this is not adjusted, the time window travellers have to drop their bags will have shrunk by a quarter.
What to do if you’re travelling with checked bags
Arrive at the airport on time and keep proof of your arrival time, such as a taxi receipt or transport ticket. Ryanair recommends arriving at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure.
You may wish to arrive earlier if you’re travelling at peak travel times, such as early in the morning, on a weekend, or close to Christmas. But keep in mind that the bag drop desk may not open until two hours before your scheduled departure, so you could be left waiting around.
You might spot Ryanair’s electronic bag drop stations in some airports — if the check-in desk hasn’t yet opened, you could try checking your bags in yourself at these stations, if the ground staff allow you to.
Should I stick to hand luggage instead?
If you’re able to travel light, it could be worthwhile skipping checked bags. This means you won’t need to stick to bag-drop schedules and can breeze through security.
Make sure you pack according to hand luggage size restrictions, though. These differ from one airline to another, and many travellers get stung at the gate with charges for oversized bags. Some flyers were fined in error due to incorrectly assembled bag sizers at the gate.
Read more: Six tips that mean I’ve never been fined for oversize hand luggage
Are hand luggage rules changing in 2026?
Not yet. From 2027, the EU will introduce new laws that permit passengers to have both an underseat and a cabin bag when you buy a standard ticket, with no extra fees. The rules will apply only to EU airlines and airlines flying from EU airports.
To find out more, read our guide to Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air’s hand luggage rules for 2027.
