‘Two hour rule’ explained if you’re flying with Ryanair, Jet2 or EasyJet this summer

The sun’s shining, the bags are packed, the lemon Fanta and crisps are waiting to be bought. Holiday season is finally upon us.

Maybe you’ve got your annual leave booked and ready to visit the ‘Maldives of Europe’ or you’ve managed to find some cheap flights to Ibiza.

Wherever you’re going, you’ve probably had a decent look around to find the best deal to save your cash on the trip.

And it’s likely most of us Brits will be flying with the likes of Ryanair, TUI, Jet2 or easyJet this summer. But if you are, you’ll need to make sure you follow the important ‘two hour’ rule.

Because, let’s be honest, a nightmare at the airport before you’ve even taken off isn’t exactly the start you want to a holiday.

What is the 'two hour' rule?

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It's quite simple - we're talking about bags. And more specifically, bag drop if you're checking in luggage or other items like a pushchair or pram.

Basically, every airline has its own rules when it comes to getting to the airport and handing over your precious cargo.

Turn up too early? You could be made to wait around. That wouldn't be ideal really, given bag drop isn't the most spacious of places in many airports and lines can get very fully in peak months.

So, when exactly should you turn up?

If you're flying with Ryanair, the bag drop will open 'at the latest' two hours before departure. You could be lucky earlier, but there's simply no guarantee.

It says: "The Bag Drop desks open at the latest 2 hours before the scheduled flight departure time and closes 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time unless you are notified otherwise before flight departure."

EasyJet's bag drop time differs depending on the airport. If you're flying from Manchester, it'll open two hours before the departure time.

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You're in luck if you're at London Gatwick, with it opening 2.5 hours ahead of the flight time.

TUI is the same as easyJet's Gatwick terms. We're looking at 2.5 hours as a standard time frame. If you're flying further afield, it's 3.5 hours.

Its website says: "Standard check-in opens at least two-and-a-half hours before departure for short and mid-haul flights.

"And at least three-and-a-half hours before departure for long-haul flights. Arriving any earlier than this won’t mean you can check in or pass through security early."

Jet2's rules say you should get there around 2.5 hours beforehand and no later than 40 minutes before the flight. But it warns: "Please check this section of the website at least 12 hours before your flight for the latest flight information."

So, while the 'two hour' rule isn't strict to 120 minutes, the point is to make sure you check and be prepared. Travelling can be stressful enough in busy summer months without adding extra issues to your hectic schedule.

Topics: Travel, Holiday, Ryanair, Easyjet

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_