Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

As students, traveling on a budget is essential, from finding the most cost-effective transportation to the best free activities. The first way that most of us often utilize to save money is by booking airfare through budget airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair. These airlines are a great way to find cheaper travel and allow more of your budget to be allocated to the experiences you want to have at your destination. Still, there are a few important things to know before swiping your card for a Ryanair flight.  

1. Online check-in 

In November of 2025, Ryanair officially moved to exclusively online check-in for all flights. This means that even if you have to check a bag, printed boarding passes are no longer accepted.  

The best way to ensure your airport experience goes smoothly is to download the Ryanair app and set a reminder for your flight check-in time. Check-in for flights opens 24 hours before the flight’s departure, and closes 2 hours before. While this gives you 22 full hours to check in, it is always better to check in as early as possible for a few reasons. Some of these include preventing unnecessary stress at the airport, increasing your chances of getting a better seat (you might even avoid a middle seat!), and, most of all, avoiding additional fees.  

Ryanair is known for low prices, but notorious for piling on additional fees. Checking in late is not an exception. By checking in later than 2 hours before your flight, you will be charged up to €55 and may be at risk of being denied boarding.  

This may seem scary, but don’t be alarmed! The positive part of Ryanair’s online check-in policy is that the process of checking in through the app is simple and easy. Once you reach the check-in page on the Ryanair app, simply input the passenger details such as passport number and other required documents. Once you do this, your boarding pass (and seat assignment if you choose to be randomly assigned) will automatically generate and be available to download to your phone’s wallet, making it even easier to pull up at the gate. 

2. Pack effectively 

A commonly known downside to flying Ryanair is the bag size policy. On Ryanair flights, each passenger, regardless of status, is allowed one personal item. This can be as small as a clutch or a crossbody bag, but backpacks must fit within their size requirements.  

According to the Ryanair website, every personal item must fit underneath the seat and fit into the dimensions 40 x 30 x 20cm. This measurement includes straps, side pocket items, and wheels if your bag has them. As a student traveler, this policy can be challenging. You may think that fitting as many things as possible into one backpack sounds doable, but the gate agents are not lenient on the size of your bag. If your bag bulges, appears overfilled, or clearly does not fit the size requirement, you will be required to test your bag in their luggage sizer. If you can easily slide your bag into the sizer with all straps and side pockets fitting, they may let you take the bag with you onto the plane. If your bag doesn’t fit or if you struggle to get it into the sizer, you may face consequences. At the gate, you may be charged up to €75 to bring your bag onto the plane, where you will have to find space in the overhead storage (which may be far away from your seat, delaying your disembarking). If you refuse payment of these fees, you may also be denied boarding.  

Not to fear! There are packing tips and tricks that can prevent you from having to face the fees and the stress. Firstly, look into a travel backpack (within the required dimensions). This one from Amazon is great, not only because it fits within Ryanair’s standards, but also because of the multiple pockets, great for organizing items you’ll need for a weekend trip.  

The second best advice to follow when packing for a Ryanair flight is to layer your clothing and pack multifunctional pieces. Consider bringing items of clothing that you can wear multiple times and with multiple different outfits. Also consider the weather in your destination. If the place you are going to is cold, consider wearing multiple layers on the plane. While it may be less comfortable to layer, it does allow you to bring more clothing.  

Lastly, remember to leave space in your bag. Chances are, you’re going to want to buy a memento from wherever you are traveling to, so make sure you have enough space to bring it home with you! Research popular items that people buy at the destination, items that you are interested in bringing back, and look into souvenirs that are space-efficient, such as jewelry, postcards, art prints, and clothing (that you can wear on the flight back!). 

3. Be on time 

Arguably, the most important advice you will hear when flying in general, but especially for Ryanair, is to be on time to the airport.  

Ryanair flight gates close 30 minutes before departure. This means that to avoid running through the airport to the very last gate (because often the Ryanair gates will be the furthest in the terminal), it is very important to be on time. It is recommended to arrive at least 2 hours early at the airport to give you time to get through TSA, get to your gate, and be able to buy snacks or use the restroom before you board the plane. If you are checking baggage, make sure to give yourself more time to get through the lines that most airlines have. Even early in the morning, the Dublin airport will have long lines to check your bags. It is recommended that if you need to check any bags to arrive at least 3 hours early. 

Being a student, you are more than likely relying on public transportation to get to the airport. To get to the Dublin International Airport from the University of Limerick by bus takes 2.5 to 3 hours. To get to the Shannon Airport from the University of Limerick by bus takes 1.5 to 2 hours. With these times in mind, make sure to consider the amount of time your route will take when calculating what time you should leave to get to the airport. 

   Flying can be a scary and stressful experience, especially if you are traveling solo or flying for the first time, but it doesn’t have to be. While even the best tips and tricks can’t always prevent tricky situations from happening, hopefully, they can prepare you for them. Happy packing and safe travels!