Unprepared British holidaymakers travelling with Ryanair could be hit with hefty fines before they’ve even left the tarmac under this new policy rule. The budget airline has introduced a new £100 penalty for late arrivals.

While many prefer to arrive at the airport hours in advance of boarding, those who prefer to cut it finer should take note of this new rule. They could be hit with an on-the-spot fine if they arrive at their check-in desk less than 40 minutes before their scheduled departure. Different airlines have different check-in times, so it is always best to check the rules of who you are flying with.

At Edinburgh Airport, for example, some airlines open their desks four hours before flight times, while others open just two hours ahead. Heathrow Airport, meanwhile, recommends getting to the airport three hours before your flight if you are travelling internationally or two hours for domestic flights.

However, Ryanair has taken a stricter approach by introducing penalties for those who arrive too late.

Under the airline’s new policy, those who arrive at the airport with less than 40 minutes before their scheduled flight could face a £100 fine per passenger.

At this point, the check-in desk would already be closed and boarding underway.

The same fee also applies to passengers attempting to rebook onto the next available flight after missing their original departure.

According to Ryanair’s policy on missed departures: “Only available at less than 40 mins before and up to one hour after flight departure time.

“Also available to customers who arrive at the ticket desk up to an hour after their flight departure to move to the next available flight. The fee is charged per passenger per sector.”

These are not the only fines that travellers must contend with. Last year, a popular travel Youtuber urged tourists against making a common mistake that could also result in a hefty fine.

Meghan, from the channel Portable Professional, suggests that tourists should never leave their bags unattended, even if just for a brief moment.

She explained: “While you do want to use the washroom, find a charger and grab some water pre-flight, a big mistake that travellers make at the boarding gate is leaving the area and not bringing their luggage with them.

“Leaving your belongings unattended not only exposes you to theft and potential tampering, it also violates airport regulations which can get you into big trouble.

“Always take your carry-on and all personal items with you, unless a trusted travel partner can watch them, and this does not include the nice stranger that you just met!”