From 10 November, Ryanair closes its airport bag drop desks 60 minutes before every scheduled flight, up from the previous cut-off of at least 40 minutes. The change applies to all of the airline’s European flights and affects passengers who check in luggage.
What happened
According to The Local France, Europe’s biggest budget airline has tightened its bag drop deadline. Passengers must now hand over any checked luggage at the Ryanair service desks at the airport at least an hour before departure. Until now, those desks stayed open until at least 40 minutes before a flight’s scheduled departure.
The Local reports that Ryanair shared the reasoning in a statement. The aim is to give passengers who check in bags more time to clear airport security and passport control, and to reach the departure gate before boarding begins. Ryanair suggests the policy will reduce the number of travellers who miss their flights because of delays at security or passport control.
Those delays have become more common. The Local notes that many European airports have seen longer-than-usual queues since the roll-out of EES checks. EES is the European Union’s Entry/Exit System, a border control process that registers non-EU travellers when they enter and leave the Schengen area. Media reports have highlighted cases of passengers being left behind because of such delays, even after their luggage had been checked in.
The Local says about 20 percent of Ryanair passengers check in baggage. The other 80 percent, who do not, are unaffected by the change.
What it means for you
If you fly with Ryanair from France or anywhere else in Europe and you plan to check in a bag, build the new 60-minute deadline into your plans. The source says the rule covers all scheduled flights, so it is not limited to particular airports or routes. Anyone who arrives at the desk less than an hour before departure risks being refused bag drop.
If you travel with only cabin luggage, nothing changes for you, according to The Local.
Here are a few practical points that follow from the source:
- Check your timings. Work backwards from your departure time and allow for the 60-minute cut-off, plus the journey to the airport and the queues you may meet on arrival.
- Allow extra time at border control. The reason for the change is that security and passport control queues have grown since EES checks began. If you are a non-EU national living in France, you may be affected by those checks on some trips.
- Check in online. The Local reminds readers that last year Ryanair stopped issuing printed boarding passes for free. Passengers must check in in advance online or through the airline’s app, or pay a check-in fee to have a ticket printed at the counter.
The article does not say whether any fee or penalty applies to passengers who miss the new deadline, so check your booking confirmation and Ryanair’s own terms if you are unsure.
What to watch next
Costs are also moving. The Local reports that Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary told investors the airline would likely bring “double-digit” price increases on airfares across Europe in 2027, mainly because of high fuel prices. The Local also points readers to a separate report that Ryanair plans to cut winter flights in Europe to save on fuel costs. If you rely on Ryanair for trips from France, it is worth checking your flight is still scheduled before you travel and keeping an eye on fares for next year.
Source: The Local France
Sources
- The Local France: Ryanair changes bag drop rules for all European travellers, accessed 12 November 2026
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