ryan

Online check-in via ryanair.com will open 15 days before the scheduled departure and will close four hours before the flight takes off.

The airline claims it will mean passengers can avoid time-wasting queues and delays at airport check-in desks.

Passengers print their boarding cards at home and those without bags to check in can continue directly to airport security. Thosewith bags to check in must hand them in at a ‘drop desk’ before proceeding to security.

In the run-up to the 1 October changeover, Ryanair will operate a phased-in system.

From 19 March, web check-in will be extended to non-EU and EEA citizens, those with checked baggage and reduced mobility customers.

From 1 May, all new bookings will be required to use web check-in and traditional airport check-in desks will be phased out over the summer.

A web check-in fee of £5/€5 per person, per flight, will apply to all new bookings from this date, and the airline will double the airport check-in fee to £20/€20 per person, per flight, from this date.

BEWARE: Ryanair may appear cheap but there are many hidden expenses that will increase the price significantly. A recent trip to Berlin has increased my fairs by over £100 - which would have been cheaper on EasyJet.