Ryanair confirms 20 minute check-in change for UK passengers

Ryanair has confirmed a 20 minute check-in change for UK passengers this year to allow more time to clear airport security.

The budget airline will require all passengers to drop off and check in their bags at their airport one hour before take off, rather than the current 40 minute deadline. The change, which will take effect from November 10, will provide passengers with an extra 20 minutes to get through airport security and passport control, and reduce the number of passengers who miss flights through getting stuck in these queues.

Ryanair said most passengers will be unaffected by its 20 minute check-in change, as around 80% check-in online before arriving at the airport and go straight to their departure gate on arrival.

Only about 20% or Ryanair customers check-in bags at the airport, with the majority opting to pay for a cabin bag or travel without luggage, but the change will give these passengers slightly more time to get through security and passport queues before boarding starts.

The plans come following the introduction of Europe’s Entry Exit System (EES) on April 10 which requires non-EU citizens to register biometric data at the external borders of 29 European countries in the Schengen area.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warned this month that British travellers don’t need to do anything in advance, but should be prepared to face longer waits at the border.

In an update to its travel advice for countries in the Schengen area, the FCDO said: “On your first visit into a Schengen country, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk. Follow directions from your travel operator or the staff at your port of entry.

"You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken.

“EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border. EES is replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays. You may be asked to input biometric details every time you enter or exit.”

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said last week that the EES was causing queues of up to four hours at some airports and described the new system as “a shambles”, before suggesting the EU should postpone the full introduction until October.

The budget airline has also announced plans to install more self-service bag-drop kiosks later this year to speed up the check-in process, with more than 95% of airports due to have these in place by October.

The airline said the self-service kiosks are fully integrated with the Ryanair app to enable passengers to check-in bags and print luggage tags, helping to speed up bag-drop and reduce waiting times.

Ryanair CMO Dara Brady said: “From Tues 10 Nov next, 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.”