For Ryanair travelers in 2026, the strategy for check-in depends on whether you have paid for a seat or are relying on "Random Seat Allocation." If you have purchased a specific seat, you can check in up to 60 days in advance; doing so "early" is better simply to cross a task off your list and ensure you have your boarding pass ready. However, if you are a "Basic Fare" traveler using free random allocation, checking in "early" (when the window opens 24 hours before flight) often results in being assigned the least desirable seats, such as the middle seats in the back of the plane. Interestingly, "pro" travelers sometimes wait until 2 to 4 hours before the flight to check in; since the system fills the "bad" seats first, those who check in late are sometimes randomly assigned the remaining premium or "Extra Legroom" seats at the front or exit rows for free. The risk of checking in "late" is that you might forget and miss the 2-hour cutoff, which results in a massive €55 airport check-in fee. Therefore, the safest mid-ground is checking in about 12 hours before the flight to balance seat potential with logistical safety.