Ryanair has announced a new policy that could see passengers fined €100 if they arrive at the boarding gate less than 40 minutes before their flight's departure.
The airline argues that this measure is necessary to improve punctuality, claiming that people arriving at the last-minute to board have caused flight delays and have disrupted schedules.
Despite Ryanair's justification, many passengers see this as "another money-making scheme" and describe it as "yet another abusive practice" from the airline. This new rule is in addition to the existing €55 charge for passengers who fail to check in online through the Ryanair app or website at least two hours before their flight.
Recently, one traveller, Sarah Thompson, found herself caught by Ryanair's fines while travelling from London to Barcelona. Arriving just 35 minutes before departure due to unexpected traffic delays, she was hit with the €100 late boarding fee.
Frustrated, Sarah remarked, "I understand the need for punctuality, but sometimes circumstances are beyond our control. This feels more like a penalty than a service improvement."
This development comes on the heels of a recent €107 million fine imposed on Ryanair in Spain for "abusive practices." The Ministry of Consumer Affairs highlighted several infractions, including fees for carry-on luggage, charges for "adjacent seats to accompany dependent persons," and the "exorbitant" cost of printing a boarding pass at the terminal if not previously obtained.
