How do I check in for my Ryanair flight?

Modified on: Tue, 31 Mar, 2026 at 4:16 PM

You’ll need to check in online - otherwise you’ll be charged an additional fee at the airport!  

But there’s a few things you’ll need to have handy before you check in, including:

• Your flight reference: Found in the Flights section of your Thomas Cook invoice/confirmation, labelled Airline reference or Flight booking number. (This is not your Thomas Cook booking reference).
   

For example:

Or:

1. Your email address (the one your confirmation was sent to).  
2. Your passport details.

When to check in:

• From 24 hours to 2 hours before departure (standard).
• Up to 60 days in advance if you pay Ryanair to pre-book your seat.

Don't forget, you may have to check in for your return flight while you’re away!

Before you check in:

Before you check in, you’ll need to retrieve your booking by verifying your flight.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Head to the Ryanair website.
2. Click ‘My bookings’.
3. Choose ‘Reservation number’.
4. Scroll down and click the link for bookings made via a third party (just under the yellow – ‘Retrieve your booking’ button).

1. Enter your booking reference and the name of the passenger you're verifying. Then choose one of the following:
    

• Express verification: Uses facial recognition technology to verify your identification. It takes approximately 2 minutes and there's a small admin fee of €0.59.
• Standard verification: uses your signature to verify your ID. This option doesn’t incur a fee but can take up to 7 days.
   

You’ll then need to retrieve your booking in your Ryanair account.

Still can’t see your booking?

Click 'Can't see your booking?', as shown below. Then enter your Ryanair airline reference and email address (details above).

You should now be able to view your booking!

Ryanair is a self-service airline. Meaning if you want to make any changes to your booking, you must do this directly with them.

You can do this by accessing your account, through Live chat, or by giving them a call. If you make any changes to your flight dates, times, or names, you must let us know so we can update your hotel booking, as well as transfer arrangements if you’ve pre-booked them.

If Ryanair asks for any data protection questions, please provide the following: Your email address, our phone number: 02080163289, and our address: Moor Place, 1 Fore Street Avenue, London, EC2Y 9DT.

How to check in:

Once you’ve retrieved your booking details, you can check in.

For your reservation number you’ll need to enter your flight reference number and your email address. (details on how to find these are above).

Follow these steps:

1. Click ‘Check-in’.
2. Add your passport or travel documents.
3. Your seat will be auto-assigned unless you pay Ryanair to change it.
4. You can then add any flight extras, such as baggage.
5. Download your boarding pass to your phone.
6. Scroll down to ‘View boarding pass’ and either:
7. Select ‘Print’ to generate a downloadable PDF, or
8. Save it to your phone for easy access.

That’s it! You’re all set and ready for your flight. Just don’t forget to do the same for your return flight too.

Need a little extra help checking in? Watch this quick video to guide you through Ryanair’s online check-in, step-by-step.