Ryanair rule changes passengers may not know about

Ryanair has confirmed some major rule changes of late

Those with Ryanair flights booked for 2026 may be unaware that the budget carrier has recently introduced several changes to its policies.

As with any trip abroad, familiarising yourself with all requirements before departure is essential. Not only does this increase the likelihood of a hassle-free journey, but it could also help you avoid unnecessary additional fees. Ryanair travellers are permitted a small personal bag that fits beneath the seat in front as standard, and the regulations surrounding this were updated last summer.

Following an EU law amendment, Ryanair was required to increase the dimensions of its personal bag allowance. Under the revised rule, passengers travelling with the budget airline are now entitled to carry hand luggage measuring up to 40 x 30 x 20cm, representing a 20% increase from the previous 40 x 20 x 25cm size restrictions.

As well as this, Ryanair passengers are now required to check in online, saving their boarding pass to a smartphone or tablet. As of November 2025, Ryanair has moved to “100% digital boarding passes via its app, eliminating paper passes to reduce costs, improve service, streamline rebooking, and save 300 tonnes of paper annually”.

Online check-in is available from 60 days before your scheduled departure if you have purchased a seat, or 24 hours in advance if you are happy to be allocated a complimentary seat. Regardless of seat preference, online check-in closes two hours before the scheduled take-off time.

Once you have completed online check-in, you will receive your boarding passes and will need to save a copy. Failing to check in online will result in an airport check-in fee of £55 or 55 euros. To avoid the charge, ensure you have a valid boarding pass before heading to the airport.

For passengers without a smartphone or tablet, Ryanair will print a boarding pass free of charge, providing you have already completed your online check-in before arriving at the airport. Ryanair confirmed it will send reminders to booked passengers to complete their online check-in ahead of their departure.

And in an announcement made last week, Ryanair revealed that its check-in and bag drop services will shut one hour before departure – twenty minutes earlier than the current closing time of 40 minutes before take-off. The new policy will take effect from Tuesday, November 10.

The carrier stated that this measure is intended to allow passengers greater time to navigate airport security and passport queues. Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, 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.”