Dara Brady said Ryanair’s new 60-minute rule will close bag drop services 60 minutes before scheduled departure from Tuesday, November 10. The change applies to passengers using airport bag drop at all Ryanair airports, while people flying with hand luggage only are unaffected.
Before November 10, passengers with checked luggage or an airport check-in had up to 40 minutes before departure to complete that step. Ryanair now says travellers with 10kg, 20kg or 23kg checked bags must drop them off 60 minutes before their flight at the check-in desk.
Dara Brady on Ryanair
Brady, Ryanair CMO, said, “From Tues, 10 Nov, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.” He added, “This small change will give the 20% of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.”
He also said, “We remind passengers using airport bag drop services to arrive at the airport in good time and ensure they have checked in and dropped their bags before check-in and bag drop closes 60 minutes before departure.” Brady said, “The remaining 80% of passengers who check in online and do not check in a bag are unaffected by this change.”
UK Passengers Before November
Ryanair has changed its luggage rules for airport check-in times and checked luggage for all UK passengers starting from November 10. The shift matters most to the minority of passengers who check bags, because the airport deadline moves from 40 minutes before departure to 60 minutes before departure.
Passengers who check in online and travel without checked luggage do not need to adjust their airport timing under the new rule. For everyone using airport bag drop, the practical step is simple: arrive earlier and complete check-in before the counter closes.
Ryanair airports and bag drop
The change applies across all Ryanair airports, not only one location. For travellers carrying checked bags, the rule now runs on a single deadline: bag drop closes 60 minutes before departure, and that is the time that matters for the airport desk, security queue and boarding plan.
Brady’s warning is direct for passengers on the day of travel: if a bag is going into the hold, the airport timetable now starts an hour before departure. That leaves no room to treat the old 40-minute window as usable time.
