As Ryanair eliminates its airport check-in counters, the low-cost carrier is also charging a fee for those who use the Web 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. The reason why the airline doesn't include the Web check-in fee as part of its base fare, said Ryanair spokesman Daniel de Carvalho, is that those fees are excluded from promotional fares.
The elimination of the airport check-in option will be phased in.
For the first phase, which began March 19, the airline started to extend Web check-in to passengers who are not citizens of countries in the European Union or European Economic Area as well as to travelers with checked baggage and passengers with reduced mobility.
The same day, Ryanair also started charging passengers an online baggage check-in fee of about $6.55 and those checking in at the airport a fee of about $13.10.
For the second phase, starting in May, the airline will require all new bookings, except those made through promotions, to check in online for an estimated fee of $6.55, but there will be no charge for bags besides normal fees for special items such as sporting equipment.
The airline will start to eliminate the airport check-in counters during the summer, and the check-in fees for those locations will double.
For the final phase, beginning Oct. 1, there will be no more airport check-in desks. Passengers will have to check in at the carrier's website and bring their checked bags to "bag drop" desks at the airport.
As of that date, too, Ryanair will no longer allow children under the age of 16 to travel unaccompanied. Ryanair policy already prohibits unaccompanied travel for children under 14, while 15-year-olds can travel alone if a parent or guardian signs an indemnity form at check-in for each departure airport.