Ryanair passengers could miss their flight from tomorrow if they follow old airport rule

Passengers travelling with airline Ryanair could actually face missing their flights or being denied boarding if they don't follow a brand new airport rule from Thursday (10 November).

Those travelling with the budget airline with check-in baggage have been told about the change to the drop-off rules which are coming into force.

Announced back in April, Ryanair revealed that those dropping off their bags for the hold of the aircraft will have to have done so by 60 minutes before the flight.

This is 20 minutes earlier when compared to the previous 40 minute cut-off window.

The airline said this gives passengers more time to clear security and passport control queues and reach their departure gate before boarding begins.

Ryanair bag drops will see the changes (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The move is meant to make things run smoother during particularly busy travel periods while also reducing the number of passengers who miss their flight due to security or passport delays.

Brit travellers have already faced well-documented delays this summer, particularly in light of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) changes.

This forces non-EU citizens to register their fingerprint and have their photograph taken, which often causes significant delays in European airports.

New baggage rules explained

The airline is notorious for its strict rules, especially when it comes to luggage. But the travel firm which is headed up by Michael O'Leary has backed the new check-in processes.

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, explained: “From Tues, 10 Nov, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.

"This small change will give the 20 percent 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.

Passengers could be denied access to flights (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"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.

"The remaining 80 percent of passengers who check in online and do not check in a bag are unaffected by this change.”

The check-in desks will close strictly 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time unless passengers are notified otherwise before flight departure. Those who do not complete check-in by then could be denied boarding without a refund.

Ryanair's new rules will apply at all airports that its planes fly in and out of. The airline will be opening check-in desks earlier while the new rules are rolled out.