Ryanair Moves to Online Check-in Only

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-fare airline, said all new passenger bookings, including those traveling with infants and checked-in bags, have moved to online check-in and “bag drop” only as Ryanair phases out the use of airport check-in desks from its 146 airports by Oct. 1, 2009.

Since May 20, Ryanair is longer accepting bookings for unaccompanied minors (under 16 years old) while all new bookings will require passengers, including infants and domestic flight passengers, to hold a valid passport or valid national identity card.

Accordingly, Ryanair removed its £10/€10 airport check-in fee and introduce a £5/€5 online check-in fee per person, per flight, on new bookings, other than promotional fares (fares of “Free,” “€1” and “€5” will include web check-in on a free of charge basis), while a €40/£40 “boarding card re-issue fee” will be introduced to encourage all passengers to arrive at the airport with their pre-printed web check-in boarding card.

“Passengers traveling without checked-in bags have already embraced our online check-in service and the extension of this service to all passengers, including those with hold luggage and those traveling with infants, will allow all passengers to forever avoid check-in queues. This will also allow Ryanair to lower our airport and handling costs and pass these savings to all passengers in the form of even lower air fares next winter,” said Stephen McNamara, a spokesman for the airline.