Starting from June 13, 2018, travelers have to wait until 48 hours before their flight to check in. This new rule affects anyone flying with Europe’s largest budget airline, which seems to be making things more difficult for those who don’t pay extra for assigned seats.
About two years ago, passengers could check in online up to a week before their flight. This was especially convenient for people going on week-long trips. However, in 2016, Ryanair reduced this check-in window to just four days, claiming it was based on extensive feedback from their customers.
Since May 2017, the airline has been frequently criticized for splitting up groups of passengers, seating them far apart unless they pay extra for reserved seats. In response, the airline stated that they are happy to provide a random seat at no additional cost but will prioritize accommodating those willing to pay for assigned seats.
Instead of waiting to check in, passengers also have the option to pay a fee to choose their seats and check in up to two months before their flight. This rule change affects both new flight bookings and existing reservations.