Ryanair Extends Checked Baggage Drop Deadline to 60 Minutes
The airline aims to give passengers more time for security checks and help prevent missed flights.
Ryanair is tightening its baggage drop deadline, moving the cutoff time from 40 to 60 minutes before scheduled departure starting Tuesday, November 10, 2026. According to the airline, the adjustment is designed to provide travelers with additional time to clear security and passport control lines and reach their departure gates before boarding begins.
A spokesperson for Ryanair confirmed the policy update to the Independent, stating, "Starting Tuesday, November 10, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure instead of the previous 40 minutes." The rule change primarily impacts travelers who check bags, representing about 20 percent of the airline's total passengers, particularly during busy travel periods when lines can grow longer.
Passengers who travel exclusively with carry-on luggage are unaffected by the new baggage drop rule. They must still check in online beforehand and can proceed directly to security checkpoints and their departure gates.
The policy adjustment follows a summer marked by severe delays at passport control checkpoints for non-Schengen travelers. Incidents included 89 passengers left behind on an airfield in Lanzarote, and a Ryanair flight from Tours-Val de Loire to Marrakesh departing without 24 registered passengers. Those travelers became stuck in security and customs controls for so long that pilots chose to depart without them to maintain their assigned flight slots.
A contributing factor to recent delays is the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated European Union IT system designed to register travelers from non-EU nations. Rolled out gradually between October 12, 2025, and April 10, 2026, the system replaces manual passport stamping with the digital collection of biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints, upon entry and exit within the Schengen Area.
Beyond the baggage rule change, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary warned of significantly rising airfares across Europe. Driven by higher fuel costs, fewer available seats, and industry consolidation through bankruptcies and acquisitions, ticket prices could climb by as much as 20 percent by 2027.
Industry associations note that baggage drop deadlines vary widely depending on the airline, airport, and specific route. The German Aviation Association (BDL) advises passengers to review applicable deadlines on their booking confirmation, boarding pass, airline app, or website before traveling, while avoiding cutting it close at the airport due to long walking distances and peak-period security lines.