Ryanair has announced plans for a new passenger tax.
The low-cost carrier will charge passengers a fee of £6 if they check-in more than four days before their flight.
The scheme means that passengers will have to find an internet and printer connection if they are abroad for more than four days or else be landed with the early check-in fee.
The levy is to come into effect on 1 November.
Currently passengers have seven days to check in before a flight.
Anyone who has paid to reserve a seat in advance, however, will be able to check in up to a month before departure.
But beginning next month, those who have not paid for a seat reservation will have the narrow window of just four days prior to the flight to check in.
Ryanair said the new rule will give more selection time for passengers who want to pay extra for reserved seats.
“Customers who do not wish to reserve their seat will be able to check in between four days and two hours ahead of their departure . . . and will continue to be randomly allocated a seat, free of charge,” a spokesman said.
Earlier in the year the Civil Aviation Authority said it was investigating passengers’ complaints made about hidden charges.
This week, Ryanair said their profits would be lower this year because of the declining value of sterling. The airline now anticipates full-year earnings of between €1.30billion and €1.35billion, down from the previous range of €1.38billion to €1.43billion.
Both Ryanair and Easyjet have been cutting fares in order to entice more traveller demand.
