Ryanair is reducing the check-in window for passengers who don’t wish to purchase a reserved seat from 7 to 4 days.
The changes will be introduced from November 1.
Under current rules, you can check in between two hours and seven days before departure.
The airline said that it’s changing its check-in policy because it will increase the choice available to customers who pay extra for reserved seats by giving them a longer time frame to choose where to sit.
“Customers who do not wish to reserve their preferred seat can check in online or on the mobile app free of charge between four days and two hours before departure and will be allocated a random seat,” said Ryanair in an email to passengers.
“Those who do reserve a specific seat – at a cost of £8 to £15 per flight – can do so up to 30 days before their flight, it added.
The change applies to both new and existing bookings. Those unwilling to accept the change will be allowed to cancel their reservation free of charge.
Customers can still check-in online or download a digital boarding pass on the mobile app up to 2 hours before their flight, free of charge.
Despite the changes Ryanair’s policy is still more generous than other rival airlines - Aer Lingus (30 hours), British Airways (24 hours), Lufthansa (23 hours) and Norwegian (24 hours).