Home » AIRLINE NEWS » UK, Spain, And Austria Travellers Beware Of These Three Ryanair Fees And How To Dodge Extra Charges That Could Affect Your Travel Budget
Published on
October 18, 2025
Ryanair, a popular budget airline for UK, Spain, and Austria travellers, offers affordable flights, but there are some hidden charges that can quickly add up. If you’re planning to fly with Ryanair, it’s important to be aware of the airline’s additional fees that could potentially affect your travel budget. These charges, although not exclusive to Ryanair, can be easily avoided with proper preparation. Understanding these lesser-known fees and knowing how to avoid them can save you from unnecessary costs, ensuring your journey stays within budget. Here’s what you need to know about three common Ryanair fees and how to dodge them.
Ryanair, one of the most popular budget airlines in Europe, carries millions of passengers each year, with a record-breaking 200 million passengers flown in the past year alone. As we approach autumn 2025, many UK travellers will be planning their getaways, and it’s essential to stay updated on Ryanair’s latest travel policies to avoid unexpected charges. While Ryanair’s low-cost fares are a huge draw, there are some additional charges that passengers may not be aware of, and minor mistakes could result in penalties before even boarding the plane. Below, we outline three lesser-known fees you should know about to help you better plan for your holiday. While these fees are not unique to Ryanair, being aware of them can ensure smoother travel and avoid any last-minute surprises.
1. Ryanair’s Check-in Fee
Ryanair offers a convenient online check-in process via their website or app, but passengers who choose to check in at the airport desk will face a hefty fee. The charge for this service is £55/€55 to “cover the extra cost,” which can add a significant amount to your travel expenses. However, the fee is lower for flights departing from certain countries, such as £30/€30 for departures from Spain and £40/€40 for departures from Austria.
To avoid these charges, Ryanair strongly encourages all passengers to check in online before arriving at the airport. Doing so will allow you to skip the desk and head directly to security, where you can present your digital boarding pass. Starting from November 12, Ryanair will only accept digital boarding passes for most flights, so it’s crucial to complete this process in advance.
To ensure you have everything in order, follow these simple steps to obtain your digital boarding pass:
- Check in online via the Ryanair website or app before arriving at the airport.
- After completing your check-in, your digital boarding pass will automatically appear in the Ryanair app.
- Present your digital boarding pass at airport security and at the boarding gate.
Ryanair’s push for digital boarding passes is a step towards a more streamlined process, but it’s also essential to remember that passengers who arrive at the airport without checking in online will be charged extra for the service.
2. Name Change Fee
If you find yourself needing to alter the name on your booking—whether due to a typo or transferring the flight to someone else—you’ll be subject to Ryanair’s name change fee. This fee is important to note if you’re transferring a flight to another person, as changes can only be made online up to the day before departure.
Ryanair charges £115/€115 for name changes made online. If you need to contact a Ryanair agent to make the change, the fee increases to £160/€160. According to Ryanair’s terms, you can change your name online up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure. Alternatively, you can make name changes at the airport, up to two hours before the flight, but this will also incur a higher fee if processed by an agent.
However, there are some exceptions to these charges. If the name change involves a maiden or married name that has already been updated on your passport, there’s no fee. Additionally, Ryanair allows you to change your first or last name once within 48 hours of booking without incurring any charges, which can be helpful for minor corrections.
Ryanair also allows passengers to amend up to three characters in their name at no extra cost, as long as the correction is made at least 48 hours before the flight. This could be useful for fixing spelling errors or typos. Note, however, that middle names or hyphenated surnames are not required when booking, so passengers should be aware of that when making reservations.
If you’ve already checked in, Ryanair requires you to contact them directly to be “unchecked,” which will enable you to make further amendments to your booking via the website or app.
3. Missed Departure Fee
One of the most frustrating fees to encounter is the ‘missed departure fee.’ This penalty of £100/€100 applies to passengers who arrive at the airport too late to board their flight or after their flight has already departed. While this is a common policy among airlines, Ryanair’s fee is particularly steep and can add significant costs to your trip.
Ryanair’s website specifies that this fee is applicable not only to passengers who miss their flight but also to those who arrive late at the airport and wish to rebook on a later flight. It’s important to note that this charge is applied even if your flight has already left, and you need to be rebooked onto another flight. Therefore, it’s essential to allow ample time for airport check-in procedures, security, and boarding, especially when flying with budget carriers that may have limited flexibility with flight times.
To avoid the missed departure fee, make sure to plan ahead, arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare, and keep an eye on any possible delays leading up to your departure.
Travellers from the UK, Spain, and Austria should be aware of three hidden Ryanair fees that could impact their travel budget. Understanding these charges and how to avoid them will help keep costs down during your trip.
While Ryanair offers some of the lowest fares for European travel, it’s essential to be aware of these potential fees to avoid unexpected charges. From the check-in fee to name changes and missed departure penalties, staying informed can help ensure that your trip goes smoothly and without added stress. Checking in online, staying ahead of any necessary name changes, and giving yourself plenty of time to reach the airport will help you avoid these lesser-known charges and enjoy a hassle-free holiday.
