Ryanair check-in charge

This item appears on page 23 of the July 2009 issue.

As of May 20, the low-cost Irish airline Ryanair requires that all passengers with new bookings check in online. The airline will phase out the use of airport check-in desks by Oct. 1, 2009.

Every passenger will be charged a fee of £5/5 (near US$7.50) to check in online and get a boarding pass issued. Passengers will be required to print out boarding passes themselves from their own computers. If a passenger arrives at the airport without one (either because he was unable to access a computer or he lost it), he will be charged a “boarding card re-issue” fee of £40/40.

The airline will continue to use its “bag-drop” stations at airports for passengers who need to check luggage (10 for the first bag and 20 each for a second and third bag). Ryanair serves Europe and North Africa.