As Ryanair eliminates its airport check-in counters, the low-cost carrier is also charging a fee to check in online.
The airline plans to remove all of its airport check-in counters by the fall, leaving only the web check-in option. Ryanair is not including the online check-in fee as part of the ticket price because the fee is excluded from promotional fares, said Ryanair spokesman Daniel de Carvalho.
The airline’s airport check-in elimination is scheduled to take place in three phases.
For the first phase, which started on Thursday, Ryanair is extending web check-in to passengers who are not citizens within the European Union or European Economic Area as well as to travelers with checked baggage and passengers with reduced mobility.
Also on Thursday, Ryanair started charging an online baggage check-in fee of about $6.55 and an airport check-in fee of about $13.10.
Starting in May, the airline will require all new bookings, except those made through promotions, to check in online for a fee of approximately $6.55. There will be no charge for bags checked online (excluding fees for special items like sporting equipment).
The airline will start to eliminate airport check-in counters over the summer months and the check-in fees for those locations will double.
Beginning Oct. 1, airport check-in desks will be eliminated. Passengers will have to check in through the carrier’s website and bring their checked bags to "bag drop" desks at the airport.
Also on Oct. 1, Ryanair will no longer allow children under age 16 to travel unaccompanied.
Ryanair’s current policy already prohibits unaccompanied travel for children under 14, while 15-year-old can travel alone if a parent or guardian signs an indemnity form at check-in for each departure airport.
